Ancient Tangbo Road

Last Update : 1/20/2008 7:26:02 PM Edit

Ancient Tangbo Road is one of the three famous ancient civilized roads in the Chinese history. Since Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), it had been the only way to Qinghai, Tibet, Nepal, India and other foreign counties from the hinterland of China. The road crosses the vast land of Western China and links the southwestern neighboring countries, so it is also called 'Southern Silk Road'.

Last Update : 1/20/2008 7:26:16 PM Edit

History

The road between the central China and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau had been basically formed after the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). During the early Tang Dynasty, Songtsen Gampo (reigned 629 - 650) untied Tibet and founded the Tubo Kingdom (7th century-877). The flourish of Tang Dynasty and the brilliance of Han culture aroused much interest to this wise king. To enhance the relationship between Tang and Tubo, in 640 Emperor Taizong (reigned 627 - 649) of Tang promised the second marriage proposal of Songtsen Gampo, and married his daughter Princess Wencheng to him.

Last Update : 1/20/2008 7:26:56 PM Edit

The next year, Princess Wencheng started the journey to Tibet from the capital Changan (present Xian City). To smooth the trip, Emperor Taizong commanded the officials en-route to build roads, bridges and Buddhist chapels and carve out ways. Songtsen Gampo welcomed the princess for himself at the headstream of Yellow River (Zhaling Lake and Eling Lake). Then he accompanied with the princess to the capital of his kingdom - Luoxie (present Lhasa) and held the wedding ceremony.

Last Update : 1/20/2008 7:27:10 PM Edit

The marriage of Princess Wencheng and Songtsen Gampo was a piece of much influential event on the history of Ancient Tangbo Road. Since then frequent political and commercial communications between Tang and Tubo began. The road was gradually buzzed with many embassies and merchants, and developed into a well-known official and trade path. In 709 King Tride Tsugtsen (reigned 703 - 755) of Tubo proposed another marriage to Tang, and Princess Jincheng was married to him, who also entered Tibet along the Tangbo Road.

Last Update : 1/20/2008 7:28:02 PM Edit

Route

Ancient Tangbo Road extends from Xian to Lhasa, crossing Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet, with a distance of around 3,000 km (1,864), half of which lying within Qinghai. The road is divided into the eastern section and the western section at Xining, a very important transfer post then.

Last Update : 1/20/2008 7:28:18 PM Edit

The route goes like this: Xian City (Shaanxi) - Xianyang City - westwards along eastern section of Silk Road - Long Mountain - Tianshui City (Gansu) - Longxi County - Lintao County - Linxia Hui Prefecture - Bingling Temple/Dahejia - cross Yellow River - Guanting Town, Minhe County (Qinghai) - Gushan Town - Ledu County - Xining - Huangyuan County - Riyue Mountain - cross Daotang River - Qiaboqia Town (Buddhist Chapel of Princess Wencheng) - Qieji Grassland - Dahe Dam - Hot Spring - Huashi Gorge - Huangheyan - by pass Zhaling Lake and Eling Lake - cross Bayan Har Mountains - cross Qingshui River, Yushu Tibetan Prefecture - cross Tongtian River - Jiegubatang - upstream Ziqu River - Zaduo County - along Qinghai-Tibet Highway - Dangqu River - Tanggula Mountain Pass - Nakchu (Tibet) - Yampachen - Lhasa.

Last Update : 1/20/2008 7:28:31 PM Edit

Ancient Tangbo Road almost coincides with the Silk Road within Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces, with Qingkang Road (part of 214 National Highway) from Xining to Yushu, and with Qinghai-Tibet Highway from Nakchu to Lhasa. The condition of the road, especially the western section, is very tougher and challenging, whereas, it remains of much spectacular natural scenery and primitive cultural relics. Many stories and legends related with the road also make it a most mystical sight to explore.