Huzhu Tu Nationality Homeland Tourism Area is located in Weiyuan Town, Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, Haidong City, Qinghai Province, 31 kilometers away from Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai. The total area of the scenic area is 6.81 square kilometers, with a core tourist area of 3.25 square kilometers. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area includes five core attractions: Tianyoude China High-Qingke Wine Source, Rainbow Tribe Tu Nationality Park, Nadun Manor, Western Tu Folk Culture Village, and Xiaozhuang Tu Folk Culture Village. These attractions showcase the colorful folk culture, time-honored high-Qingke wine culture, aged mingliu wine culture, ancient and pure architectural culture, unique residential culture, and simple mysterious religious culture of the Tu nationality. It is the most comprehensive, purest, and authentic comprehensive tourism attraction themed on "Tu culture" in the world, integrating sightseeing, leisure vacation, folk experience, and religious pilgrimage.
History and Culture
The Tu nationality is one of the ancient ethnic groups living in Qinghai for generations. Due to its unique cultural and natural conditions, it has formed a unique Qinghai Tu culture and art. The Tu people originally believed in polytheism, and some also believed in Taoism. After the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, they generally believed in Lamaism, but folk beliefs still exist. There are more than 40 Lamaist monasteries in Tu areas, including famous ones such as Youning Temple, Quezang Temple, and Guanghui Temple. Among them, Youning Temple is known as the "Mother of Monasteries in Northern Huangshui," producing many famous monks such as Zhangjia, Tuguan, and Songbu Living Buddhas, which have great influence in the entire Tibetan and Mongolian areas.
The ancestors of the Tu people, the Tuyuhun, believed in Shamanism when they were in Liaodong. To this day, Shamanist customs can still be seen in the lives of the Tu people, such as Aobao sacrifices, White Tiger sacrifices, and divine sheep selection. In addition, the Tu people have rich traditional festivals, such as the Youning Temple Sutra Viewing Meeting on the 14th day of the first lunar month, the Weibian Town Sumo Meeting on the second day of the second lunar month, the March 3rd and April 8th Temple Fairs, the Danma Drama Meeting on the 11th day of the sixth lunar month, the "Youth" Meeting on the 13th and 29th days of the sixth lunar month, and the "Nadun" (Harvest Celebration) in Minhe Sanchuan Area from July 23rd to September. Among them, the Sumo Meeting, Danma Drama Meeting, and Nadun Festival are the most ethnically characteristic.
Main Attractions
Rainbow Tribe Tu Nationality Park
Rainbow Tribe Tu Nationality Park is a large-scale Tu folk culture theme park located in the southwest of Weiyuan Town, Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, Qinghai Province, 30 kilometers away from the provincial capital Xining. It covers an area of 120,000 square meters with a construction area of 13,000 square meters. It is a large-scale ancient architectural complex of Tu folk culture built with blue bricks and tiles, raw soil adobe, brick carvings, and wood carvings. Main tourist projects include century-old oil mills, Shiyide wineries, equestrian clubs, archery ranges, living Buddha courtyards, Anzhao Squares, Tusi mansions, Zhuangkuo courtyards, production and life exhibition halls, Tu costume exhibition halls, Tu altars, religious exhibition halls, intangible cultural heritage inheritance and protection centers, Tu archways, Rainbow Gates, 18 Workshops Commercial Streets, and Tuyuhun Camps.
Nadun Manor
Nadun Manor is located in the core position of Huzhu Tu Nationality Homeland, covering an area of nearly 50 mu, and was founded in August 2005. It has a high-Qingke mingliu wine culture museum focusing on displaying the thousand-year-old wine culture of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, reproducing the 1,300-year brewing and inheritance history of high-Qingke wine; an underground wine cellar displaying the century-old burial history of Weiyuan high-Qingke mingliu wine; and a Jinhua Art Center displaying Tu national intangible cultural heritage such as Hua'er, costumes, Tu weddings, and pan embroidery.
Western Tu Folk Culture Village
Western Tu Folk Culture Village covers an area of 20,000 square meters and is a large-scale folk tourism attraction integrating Tu architectural culture, costume culture, food culture, folk culture, and high-Qingke wine culture, known as the "First Tu Village in China." The attraction includes the "World's Largest Mani Stone," a three-courtyard imitation Ming Dynasty Tusi mansion inn, primitive ancient water mills and century-old oil mills, Qing Dynasty Daoguang-era Tu residences, the well-known Hehuang Weiyuan Distillery, a Lunziqiu Art Square displaying Tu songs and dances, Tibetan Buddhist architecture "Bengkang," a "Circle Banquet" reflecting the oldest traditional banquet culture of the Tu people, and a Tu folk culture exhibition hall.
Tianyoude China High-Qingke Wine Source
Tianyoude China High-Qingke Wine Source is the largest high-Qingke wine production base and high-Qingke wine origin protection base in China. Huzhu high-Qingke wine originated in the Yuan Dynasty, flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, developed in modern times, and has been brilliant today. Currently, the company has a registered capital of 450 million yuan, total assets of 1.8 billion yuan, covers an area of 300,000 square meters, has more than 1,800 employees, an annual high-Qingke raw wine production capacity of 15,000 tons, and produces more than 100 varieties of high-Qingke wine products in four major series: "Huzhu," "Tianyoude," "Eight Workshops," and "Yongqinghe."
Xiaozhuang Tu Folk Culture Village
Xiaozhuang Tu Folk Culture Village in Weiyuan Town is one of the "Top Ten Traditional Villages" in Huzhu County, with Tu people accounting for 98.3% of the total population and 90 rural tourism households. It has been rated as a national rural tourism demonstration site, the most beautiful village in Qinghai Province, and one of the first national rural tourism maker demonstration bases by relevant national and provincial departments.
Cuisine
Bianshi
Bianshi is stuffed with "Hailiu" (oil-fried noodles) and sealed into a fish shape on both sides. On the evening of the first day of the tenth lunar month, it is first offered to ancestors for sacrifice, and then the whole family enjoys it together.
Ximairi
In Tu language, it is a ceremonial offering filled with fried noodles in a painted round fried noodle box, decorated with butter flowers, and topped with the sun and moon. It symbolizes shining with the sun and moon and auspicious perfection. In the Huzhu area, when entertaining guests or welcoming distinguished guests, the Tu people set up a table at the gate with jujube boxes and "Ximairi"; "Ximairi" is placed on the table for family banquets, and large "Circle Banquets" at weddings and funerals also require "Ximairi," making it a noble ceremonial offering.
Halihai
In Tu language, it means nettle, a food made from nettles in Datong, Huzhu, and other places.
Hailiu
In Tu language, it means oil-fried noodles. Add seasonings such as Sichuan pepper powder and salt to an appropriate amount of water, pour in green oil, and then evenly sprinkle high-Qingke flour or white flour on it so that the ratio of water, oil, and flour is 2:1:4. Then pierce several holes with chopsticks, bring to a boil over low heat, and steam slowly until cooked. When eating, add scallions and spices and mix well. If added with pea flour paste, it is fragrant, delicious, and not greasy.
Mahafangzi
In Tu language, "Maha" means meat, referring to meat squares or chunks. During festivals or other grand celebrations, the Tu people treat guests with large pieces of pork, cutting a whole piece of pork according to the size of the wooden plate, generally about 2-5 kilograms, without any seasonings, and inserting a five-inch knife for guests to cut and eat by themselves, also known as hand-grabbed pork. At weddings, the groom's family presents "Mahafangzi" to the elders and honored guests of the bride's family to show that the two families have successfully become close relatives.
High-Qingke Wine
The Tu people often treat guests with wine, taking pleasure in making guests drunk. Here, high-Qingke wine is brewed with Walan high-Qingke, a unique ancient crop on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, using traditional craftsmanship, with a mellow aroma, refreshing sweetness, and pleasant taste.
Admission Tickets
Full price: 120 CNY, Half price: 60 CNY
Ticket prices may be adjusted, but the difference is not significant. Seniors, children, military personnel, and students can enjoy free admission or half-price discounts with valid certificates.
Opening Hours
Open year-round from 08:30 to 18:00
Opening hours may be adjusted according to seasonal changes and tourist numbers; please refer to the scenic area's announcement.
Recommended Itinerary
Visitors can first go to the Rainbow Tribe Tu Nationality Park to experience Tu folk culture; then proceed to Nadun Manor to learn about high-Qingke wine culture and Tu intangible cultural heritage; then visit the Western Tu Folk Culture Village to experience Tu architecture, costumes, food, and other cultures; then tour Tianyoude China High-Qingke Wine Source to explore the brewing history of high-Qingke wine; and finally visit Xiaozhuang Tu Folk Culture Village to experience Tu rural life. Of course, visitors can also adjust the itinerary according to their interests and time.
Transportation
- Starting from Xining, take a bus to Huzhu County at Xining Long-Distance Bus Station, and after arriving in Huzhu County, transfer to a local bus or taxi to reach the scenic area.
- For self-driving, take Lanxi Expressway, Pingda Highway, Weibei Highway, Ninghu Highway, etc., to the scenic area. The scenic area has a parking lot for convenient parking.
Must-See Attractions
- Rainbow Tribe Tu Nationality Park: A large-scale Tu ethnic folk culture theme park that centrally displays Tu history, folk culture, etc., with many tourism projects, strong appreciation, entertainment, and participation.
- Nadun Manor: Displays Tu folk customs and high-Qingke wine culture, with attractions such as the high-Qingke mingliu wine culture museum, underground wine cellar, and Jinhua Art Center.
- Western Tu Folk Culture Village: Integrates various Tu cultures, with characteristic attractions such as the "World's Largest Mani Stone" and the imitation Ming Dynasty Tusi mansion inn.
Travel Tips
- It is recommended to allocate one day for the visit to fully experience the attractions and cultural activities in the scenic area.
- Participate in some folk experience activities in the scenic area, such as Tu wedding experiences and high-Qingke wine brewing experiences, to gain a deeper understanding of Tu culture.
- When tasting local cuisine, choose appropriately according to personal taste to avoid waste.
Notes
- It is forbidden to eat meat of round-hoofed livestock (horses, mules, donkeys).
- It is forbidden to defecate or urinate in livestock pens.
- It is taboo to serve tea to guests with cracked bowls.
- Do not ask guests "Have you eaten?" or "Do you want to eat?"
- Arguing or hitting children in front of guests is the greatest rudeness.
- When entering a Tu household, you must first greet outside the courtyard and wait for a response before entering.
- Do not enter the bedrooms of young women at will, and do not joke with unmarried girls.
- It is forbidden for guests to count their sheep.
- Smoking, spitting, random touching, and loud noise are prohibited in Buddha halls and main halls.
- Do not step over monks' kneeling pads or other items.
- It is forbidden to sneeze or cough at butter lamps.
- When turning prayer wheels in Buddha halls, turn them from left to right; do not reverse the direction.
- Hunting and defecating anywhere are prohibited near monasteries.