Four ethnic groups live on the same street, but their customs are different.
Songzhou has been a place of "tea and horse trade" since ancient times. Historically, the vast Songzhou grassland was rich in horses and yaks, and the herdsmen lived on beef, mutton, butter, and tsampa. "You can't understand the fishy flesh without tea." The feudal dynasty had to fight for years and needed enough war horses, which had to be obtained from Tibetan areas. From this, the mutually beneficial tea-horse business quietly emerged.
Songzhou, located on the border, has naturally become a business center, where many people with business awareness gather. Over time, Songzhou gradually formed a multi-ethnic pattern.
Nowadays, the ancient city of Songzhou is mainly inhabited by four ethnic groups: Tibetan, Qiang, Hui and Han. It is even called the epitome of the ethnic structure of Aba Prefecture. On every ancient street, you can see buildings with different styles adjacent to each other, and people of all ethnic groups wearing various costumes; the Chenghuang Temple and Guanyin Corner on the west side of the ancient city are far away from the mosque and Gongbei in the north, and the Tibetan Buddhist temple in the south of the city Buddhist temples and Qiang fortresses are built adjacent to each other.
For thousands of years, Tibetan, Qiang, Hui and Han people have lived in the same city, but there has not been much assimilation. Nowadays, all ethnic groups still follow their own customs and habits without interfering with each other, but they can also respect each other and live in peace with each other, which is really amazing.
In the long history, the Tibetan, Qiang, Hui and Han nationalities here have experienced countless wars and ups and downs together with the ancient city. The ancient city wall records and displays the vicissitudes of the changes and the profound and heroic nationality. style. Now you can climb to the top of the city and enjoy the majestic scenery around it. Songzhou City has lost its former offensive and defensive purpose and has become a major scenic spot for people to pay homage to the ancient battlefield. It will definitely arouse endless emotions and nostalgia.
Since the Tang Dynasty, Tubo has used horses to establish a barter relationship with the Tang Dynasty. The statue of Princess Wencheng and Songtsan cadre getting married has not only become a landmark building at the entrance of Songzhou ancient city, telling people about the "War between Tang and Bo" that happened here more than a thousand years ago, which prompted Princess Wencheng to enter Tibet and marry. Ancient chariots, crossbows, trebuchets, fireworks, trumpets, war drums, and plaster statues of officers and soldiers of the Tang Dynasty are all arranged to fully reflect the historical events of the border battlefield.
The high and thick city wall is stern and indifferent, stretching across the city like an iron wall. The circular city gate has no gate and is open day and night. People, vehicles and animals can come in and out at any time. Above the city gate, there is a big word "Songzhou". Visitors will feel the tragedy of the ancient battlefield in the smoke. with grandeur. The South Bridge, with its flying pavilions, painted pillars and carved beams, is like the buckle of a jade belt that closely connects the north and south streets. The Minjiang River under the bridge cuts off Songzhou City in the middle. It is said that Wan Ao dug it to break the wind and cut off the elephant's legs. "The water passes through the city, and the moon reflects the ancient pine bridge" has since become a scene in Songzhou. Scenes such as Tibetan "butter tea", stone-milled tsampa, spinning, weaving carpets, and weaving Pulu are integrated into the scene to recreate the prosperous age of Tibetan and Han people of all ethnic groups living together in the ancient frontier fortress city of the Tang Dynasty, with simplicity, kindness, unity and harmony. In this situation, we are building a beautiful home together.
In the hazy white night, it is clearly visible. The crenellations on the city wall stand out in rows. The archery tower with its cornices and raised corners stands tall and clear. The copper wind chime hanging on the corner of the watchtower swayed slightly, emitting a string of crisp copper sounds, which made people feel as if the flowing air carried the rhythm of the ancient plateau.
Colorful costumes, unique customs, unique architecture... The ancient city is inhabited by Tibetan, Qiang, Hui and Han people. The various ethnic groups interact with each other and integrate with each other. While maintaining their own individuality, they have formed It has a unique, long-standing and rich national customs and local characteristics. In the unique "Yiqing Square", "Songzhou Square", "Datang Songzhou Square" and "Guyun Square", we can listen to a Tibetan song and dance a Guozhuang song, allowing us to feel this rich flavor more deeply. National customs.
Today’s ancient city of Songpan has been repositioned as another cultural landscape as famous as Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou. It is based on the millennium ancient city culture and highlights the architectural styles of the Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties. The ancient city of Zhouzhou is built into the first cultural ancient city on the Chinese plateau on the Nine Ring Road, which is as famous as Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou.
Songpan City is very lively at night. The prices here are relatively affordable. You can buy some yak jerky, ethnic handicrafts, Tibetan knives, etc. to take back. There are barbecue stalls everywhere on the roadside, and small shops and restaurants are open until 11 o'clock. If you like yak heads, you don’t need to spend money to buy them. Where fresh yak meat is sold in the market, there are discarded yaks everywhere, with shredded meat and blood stains. You can ask the locals to process these primitive yak heads for just a few dozen yuan. If you are not afraid of trouble, you can bring it back for home decoration.
On Songzhou Street, most of the shops sell agate, jade, silverware, gold goods, ornaments, furs and other items unique to Tibetan areas. They are colorful and dazzling. Various items emit light red, green, bright white, golden, etc.
In the streets and alleys of Songzhou, we can still see groups of horse drivers and hear their loud shouts. These caravans are no longer the caravans on the Tea Horse Road. They are not carrying cloth, salt, and tea, but tourists from other places. These guests are usually from Southeast Asia or Hong Kong and Macao. They come to experience the ancient folk customs of the plateau and ride horses over the mountains to enjoy the scenery. Li Guiquan, a farmer from Shunjiang, Songpan, is a horse leader. With only a primary school education, he established the "Happy Trail Horseback Riding Tour Company" in 1996.
In July 1997, Lorna Anne Wilkins, a Scottish girl who taught at Luoyang Normal College in Henan Province, met Li Guiquan while riding in Songpan. Unexpectedly, Li Guiquan talked to her in fluent English. The fire of love is lit on the ancient road. On July 18, 1999, a team of 30 horses came to welcome the bride. In accordance with the traditional Chinese form, Li Guiquan held a wedding with this Scottish blonde girl in the ancient city of Songzhou.
The Songzhou Ancient Tea Horse Road has a profound history. It is not just an ancient road, an ancient road for horse caravans to walk. With the progress and development of society, it has become a link connecting the northwest. It is a major channel for national integration, economic development, and cultural exchanges.
"The moon shines brightly in Qin and closes in Han."
Re-walking the Ancient Tea Horse Road in Songzhou, you can experience Yulei Pass, Yanmen Pass, Dashi Pass, Huangsheng Pass...