[2025 Huangyuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Ancient City of Danggar (Updated May)

#AprilGoodDestinations2025 The ancient city of Danggar is a place where you can feel the traces of time when you walk around. The cobblestone street is winding and deep, with old houses of varying heights made of blue bricks and gray tiles on both sides, and carved wooden windows quietly telling the past. This small town, once an important town on the Silk Road, still retains the atmosphere of its old days of business and travel. As I walked slowly along the old street, the aroma of beef, mutton and milk tea wafted over from time to time, making me want to stay a little longer. The handicraft shops and folk museums in the ancient city are even more fascinating. I was chatting with a Tibetan shop owner in front of an old shop, listening to him talk about how his ancestors traded horses here. It felt like I was traveling back in time. The setting sun shines on the ancient walls, golden light slants across, and the streets are dyed with a layer of gentle warmth. The ancient city of Danggar is the continuation of an old dream, making people willing to calm down and listen to the stories that have not dissipated in the wind.

Address: Huangyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province Dangeer Ancient City was built in the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, more than 600 years ago. It is located on the north bank of the Yellow River, on the shore of the West Sea, and at the source of the Huangshui River. It is a major town where commerce, military, religion, folk customs, and other diverse cultures blend together, and it carries a rich and diverse history. Although it is a bit deserted now, it is still worth a visit. I walked from Yingchun Gate to Gonghai Gate. The ancient city is not small, but all the attractions are free. You can experience the historical feeling of the City God Temple, Confucian Temple, Dangeer Government Office, and Old Street, and you can also buy some souvenirs and taste some special snacks. There is also something that many tourists may not know, Gonghai Gate can be climbed by stairs, and you can stand on a high place to enjoy the whole ancient city. You will definitely have unexpected gains when you come to this century-old ancient city. There is a strong historical heritage here, and there are special lanterns during the Spring Festival, which are especially beautiful when the lights are on at night. Walking along the ancient city path, you can take unforgettable photos. By the way, when you come to Huangyuan, you must try the local signature dish, hot and sour pork tenderloin. It looks pretty good, excellent, and the environment is good.

I decided to go to Xining on a whim and went to Dangar Ancient City based on the recommendation of a netizen. It was noon and the sun was shining brightly. I enjoyed the warmth and slowly experienced the ancient city. I entered from the city gate next to the Fire Ancestor Pavilion and walked along a sloping, cobblestone-paved avenue. There were very few people at the beginning, but there were more people on the ancient street. Turning right is a tall Yingchun Gate Tower. You can see the protected original mud city wall ruins through the gate hole. Turning left is the densely packed ancient street. Walking along the ancient street, the shops on both sides are antique buildings with green bricks and gray tiles. I don't know if it is artificially old or caused by wind and sand. It always gives people a feeling of vicissitudes of life. The Huangyuan City First Elementary School, which is connected to the Confucius Temple, is worth lingering. Seeing the eight characters "Study hard and make progress every day" reminds me of the past and suddenly recalls the scene of myself as a first-grade little bean in 1977. The past is like yesterday, and I am about to retire in a blink of an eye. The original wish has basically been over-fulfilled. Another thing worth admiring is the largest Chenghuang Temple in the northwest. The colored clay sculptures naturally fade, and the building components are slightly cracked, but you can still feel the once prosperous incense!

Dangar Ancient City was once a major trading town in the northwest. In the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, the annual trade volume reached 3 million taels, which was six to seven times that of Xining Prefecture at that time. There were merchants from the UK, Russia, the United States and other countries. The ancient city now has three city gates: Gonghai Gate, Victory Gate, and Yingchun Gate. From the visitor center, enter through Gonghai Gate, follow East-West Street, exit Yingchun Gate, then turn onto Fengsheng Street, and go to Huozu Pavilion. This is the best route. The main attractions along the route include: Chenghuang Temple, Museum, Dangar Office, Renji Firm, Confucius Temple, Quanxue Institute, Huozu Pavilion, etc. All attractions are free of charge, the streets are clean and tidy, and the prices are very reasonable. Recommended specialty foods include handmade yogurt and Huangyuan pork loin. I personally feel that Huangyuan County Museum and Confucius Temple Quanxue Institute are particularly worth visiting. You can learn about historical heritage and local customs. Although it was drizzling and windy, and the photos were not good enough, there were few tourists on rainy days. Looking at the mountains in the distance, the lights were lined up above the head. If the night lights were on, walking with a paper umbrella would definitely feel like traveling through time... There is a bus from Xining City to Dangar Ancient City, which costs CNY 7. Accommodation in Huangyuan County is also very convenient. If you have time, you can also visit Zanpu Linka (i.e. Tibetan King Palace) and Stone Carving Park.

🌈Attractions: Dangar is the Mongolian transliteration of the Tibetan word "Donkor", which means "white conch". It was built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty and covers an area of ​​250,000 square meters. There are more than 12 scenic spots in the ancient city, including Gonghai Gate, City God Temple, Dangar Office, Confucian Temple, Quyuan, Performance Hall, Zhenhai Xieying, Yingchun Gate, etc. It has been known as "Little Beijing", "Tea and Horse Commercial Capital", and "Sea Commercial Capital" since ancient times. Why was Danggar built? Why did ethnic trade arise here more than 600 years ago? It is said that the total annual trade volume here at that time was about 3 million taels of silver, which was six or seven times the total trade volume of Xining at that time. It once became the ethnic trade center of Qinghai region. Dangar is both static and dynamic; it is a place of sedimented history and a present filled with the smell of fireworks. This century-old ancient city, which carries the historical and cultural context of Huangyuan, has many, many stories. Today, we will re-enter the ancient city of Danggar and unveil the mysterious veil of this ancient city for you. Where did Dangar come from? Why is Danggar so important in history? Dangar means "white conch" in Mongolian. The name comes from the famous Tibetan Buddhist temple Dongkor. In the fifth year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1648 AD), Dongkor Temple was moved from Tibet to a place a hundred meters east of the ancient city of Danggar. At that time, it became a famous temple in Qinghai and Tibet. Historically, Danggar was not only an important trade center at that time, but also a strategic fortress that military strategists must fight for. Since the Western Han Dynasty, wars have occurred continuously, leaving behind more than 20 sites and military facilities. At this point, we have to mention the locational advantages of Danggar: it has mountains to defend against foreign enemies, and is connected to Xinjiang in the north, Tibet in the west, Xining and Lanzhou in the east, and Sichuan in the south. It is the meeting point of the southeast, northwest, and northeast, and is the gateway from the mainland to Tibet and Xinjiang. It is located on the agricultural and pastoral interlaced line in Qinghai Province, with the pastoral area to the west and the agricultural area to the east. After Yongzheng's reign, it became the administrative dividing point between Gansu Province and the Mongolian and Tibetan nomadic area under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Qinghai (this was the geographical scope of "Qinghai" in the Qing Dynasty), that is, it was located at the junction of the so-called "inside the border" and "outside the border". In August of the first year of Yongzheng's reign, after the death of Emperor Kangxi, Lobsang Danjin took the opportunity to incite an uprising against the Qing Dynasty. In October, the imperial court appointed Nian Gengyao, the governor-general of Sichuan and Shaanxi, as the general of Fuyuan, and mobilized elite troops from all over Shaanxi and Gansu to Qinghai to quell the rebellion of Lobsang Danjin. In the spring of the second year of Yongzheng's reign, Nian Gengyao wrote "Thirteen Articles on the Post-War Affairs in Qinghai". In May, the Qing court adopted Nian Gengyao's suggestions and carried out a comprehensive rectification to strengthen the politics and economy of Qinghai. In the third year of Yongzheng's reign (1725 AD), the imperial court approved the relocation of the trading site to Danggar Monastery (Donkor Monastery) outside Xiningkou, and Danggar thus became a legal border market designated by the government. It was in this context that in the fifth year of Yongzheng's reign, the ancient city of Danggar was built on the site of the former Xining Weizhi of the Ming Dynasty, and the Danggar Camp was established to be responsible for the military defense of Danggar and the area around Qinghai Lake and to maintain the normal order of Danggar's commercial trade. Danggar is located in such a superior geographical location. Since the Qing government established a mutual market in Danggar, Danggar's commercial status has surpassed Xining and has become the ethnic trade center of Qinghai region. Why did ethnic trade emerge? Today, when people walk into the 800-meter-long Dangar Street, with the City God Temple, Dangar Office, Renji Commercial Bank, Confucian Temple, business shops, and Huozu Pavilion running through it, people can vaguely see from these ancient buildings the gathering of merchants and the bustling prosperity of the past. In fact, Danggar's border trade originated in the Tang Dynasty. That was in the 19th year of Kaiyuan (731 AD). Emperor Xuanzong of Tang adopted the suggestion of Prime Minister Pei Guangting and approved Tubo to exchange horses, livestock, tea, grain, cloth, furs and other products for trade in Chiling (now the city of Harakutu at the foot of Riyue Mountain in Huangyuan County). From then on, Harakutu gradually became an important place for business and travel, marking the official start of the Danggar tea-horse trade and the beginning of the integration of farming culture and grassland culture. Since then, the Tang Dynasty exchanged a large number of war horses, oxen and other livestock products from Tubo, which not only strengthened the strength of the Tang Dynasty army, but also provided oxen for farming. During the nearly forty years from Zhenguan to Linde (627-665 AD), the number of official horses of the Tang Dynasty grew to more than 700,000, and the Tubo herdsmen also exchanged a large amount of tea, grain and other daily necessities through trade, which was a prosperous time at the time. This mutually beneficial transaction brought benefits to both the Tang Dynasty and the Tibetan herdsmen. Over the next thousand years, border trade continued intermittently. During the more than 60 years during the reigns of Jiaqing, Daoguang and Xianfeng (1796-1860 AD), the development of Dangar ethnic trade reached its peak and became an important commercial distribution center in the west. Merchants and craftsmen from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hunan, Gansu and other places have taken a fancy to this Feng Shui treasure land and have come here to engage in trade, processing, manufacturing and other industries. At that time, there were as many as two or three hundred kinds of goods traded here, and the total annual trade volume was about 3 million taels of silver, which was six or seven times the total trade volume of Xining at that time. The East-West Street in the city and Fengsheng Street, Dongguan, Xiguan Street and Nanchengtai outside the city all became prosperous commercial and trade areas. Why is China's earliest advertising light box here? When talking about Huangyuan, we have to mention the row of lanterns! Huangyuan Lantern Festival originated in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, with a history of more than 200 years and profound cultural connotations. In order to attract customers at night, street merchants initially made light boxes for advertising billboards, lit candles inside, and hung them on the doors of their shops. Later, these light boxes gradually developed into billboard lights with bases, patterns, and various forms. Today's row of lanterns are the evolution of this type of advertising sign. It can be said that the Huangyuan row of lanterns are the earliest advertising light boxes in China. Every time around the Lantern Festival in the first month of the lunar calendar, when you walk on the streets of Huangyuan, you will feel that the river of lights and the stars are integrated into one, giving you a dreamlike and intoxicated feeling, as if you are wandering in the streets and markets, enjoying the beautiful scenery. They tell the past, present and future of the ancient city. Huangyuan lantern festival has a long history. As early as during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi envied the prosperity of the Dandi ethnic trade and moved their families here, bringing advanced culture and art from the mainland to Huangyuan, which effectively promoted the economic development of Huangyuan. It is said that in the past, in order to attract customers at night, street merchants made business billboards, lit candles in lanterns, and hung them on the doors of their shops. Afterwards, various businesses, shops, offices and units imitated large rows of lanterns across the streets in fan-shaped, oval-shaped, plum-blossom-shaped, phoenix-shaped, and bridge-shaped shapes, which became all the rage. Dang Qingyun, 56 years old this year, is the inheritor of the county-level intangible cultural heritage of Huangyuan Pai Lanterns. Thanks to the influence of his family culture, he has had a special liking for the art of Pai Lanterns since childhood. He has been committed to the development of Huangyuan Pai Lanterns for decades and has also witnessed the development and changes of Huangyuan Pai Lanterns. Through their continuous exploration and improvement, today's Huangyuan lanterns, based on the original paintings, have incorporated many national and provincial intangible cultural heritages such as leather embroidery, sachets, paper cutting, shadow puppets, pile embroidery, paper quilling paintings, peasant paintings, Tibetan embroidery, and coil embroidery, making the lanterns more ornamental, researchable, and collectible. What makes Dangar proud is that in 2006, Huangyuan Pai Lanterns were approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage representative projects, and Huangyuan has thus become the "Hometown of Chinese Pai Lanterns". (Text content comes from Xining Evening News) 🎟️Ticket information: Free of charge 🕐️Scenic area opening hours: Open all day 💗Other tips: The weather is unpredictable, remember to bring an umbrella

📍Dangaer Ancient City, Huangyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province 🛎Opening hours: All day, with various exhibition halls and snack shops open only during the day. At night, you can enjoy the night view of the main street. 🛎Free admission. 👉Impressions of the Ancient City This place was an important node on the ancient Silk Road. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, it has witnessed countless merchants and travelers, earning the nickname 'Tea and Horse Trade City' and 'Little Beijing.' The architecture of the ancient city retains many features of the Ming and Qing periods, with blue bricks and grey tiles, exuding a simple and elegant charm. Walking through the streets of the ancient city, I seem to hear the echoes of history. Every brick and tile, every stone and wood, carries stories of the past. There are many exhibition halls in the ancient city, such as the ancient yamen (government office), commodity trading center, and there are performances of court trials at the yamen at regular intervals during the day. As night falls, the city walls of the ancient city are adorned with lights, making them even more beautiful, like a golden dragon winding through the night. The lights reflecting on the ancient bricks and stones emit a unique charm. Walking on the ancient streets at night, the lanterns on both sides gradually light up, casting a warm and mysterious atmosphere on the streets. The light and shadow of the lanterns sway with the wind, as if telling the stories of the ancient city. 👉Overall, you can visit exhibitions and snack shops during the day and enjoy the night view at night. No matter when you come, there are surprises everywhere.

In the vast expanse of Qinghai, if Xining is a modern city🏙️, then Dangar Ancient City is a historical treasure that has been preserved for thousands of years. Today, let's step into this ancient and vibrant city🏰 and explore the stories hidden within its walls and bricks. Dangar Ancient City, located in Huangyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province🎉, is one of the largest and oldest existing ancient cities on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Walking on the bluestone roads of the ancient city🚶‍♂️, it feels as if every step touches the tail of history, and the weighty past rushes to the heart. On both sides of the streets of the ancient city, rows of wooden structures are arranged in an orderly manner🏡. They are either exquisite shops or deep courtyards, and every door seems to hide an unknown story🗝️. These buildings integrate the cultural characteristics of Han, Tibetan, Mongolian, and other ethnic groups🎨, showcasing the cultural fusion and collision of Dangar Ancient City. Entering an antique teahouse🍵, tasting a cup of rich Qinghai tea, and feeling the long history and life philosophy contained in the tea fragrance🤔. Here, time seems to slow down⏳, giving people the opportunity to calm down and listen to the echoes from ancient times👂. Continuing along the streets of the ancient city🚶‍♀️, you come to an open square. This was once the most prosperous area of the ancient city🎆, bustling with merchants and traffic. Today, although the square is less noisy😌, you can still feel the settled prosperity and bustle😄. In Dangar Ancient City, the towering city walls🧱 must be mentioned. The city walls have withstood countless storms💦 and still stand tall, guarding the peace and tranquility of this ancient city🌟. Standing on the city walls and looking into the distance👀, you can see the mountains embracing, lush and green🍃, making one intoxicated by this ancient and beautiful land😍. As night falls🌙, the night view of the ancient city has a unique charm. The red lanterns on the streets light up🎉, illuminating every bluestone, every wooden building🏠. At this moment, Dangar Ancient City seems to travel through a time tunnel🚀, returning to that prosperous old era🎭. Dangar Ancient City is not only a museum of history🏺 but also a living historical scroll📖. Here, we can touch the veins of history🤝 and feel the charm of culture💫. If you are also interested in history and culture🤔, why not come to Dangar Ancient City to walk around and see👀, let this ancient city tell you those long-sealed stories📜.

I have shared the introduction of Huangyuan Dangar Ancient City before, but this time due to the rain, I was unable to go to the Erlang Sword Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake, and my trip was stopped in Huangyuan County. I couldn't just spend it in the hotel, right? I have successively shared the Arctic Mountain Scenic Area and the Huangyuan County Museum. Walking in the rain in the quaint Huangyuan Dangar Ancient City has a unique romance! When entering Dangar Ancient City, the rain was not heavy, it was drizzling, and the ancient city was bustling with tourists, and the street merchants were doing business as usual! Gradually, the rain became more urgent, there were fewer pedestrians on the road, some were drinking tea by the roadside to avoid the rain; some were admiring items in different shops; some were slowly savoring at the Confucian temple, each experiencing the ancient city in their own different ways! Dangar Ancient City, transliterated from the Mongolian pronunciation of the Tibetan 'Dongkor', means 'White Conch'. It is located on the north bank of the Yellow River, by the West Sea, at the source of the Huangshui River, 40 kilometers from Xining City. Dangar Ancient City was founded during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 600 years. Since the Western Han Dynasty, it has gradually become a town where commerce, military, religion, and folk customs of multiple cultures blend, known as the 'Throat of Sea-Tibet', 'Tea Horse Commercial Capital', and 'Little Beijing'. The main street of the ancient city, less than a kilometer long, connects the City God Temple, Confucian Temple, Dangar Hall, and other buildings. The crisscrossing quiet alleys, uniquely structured residential courtyards, majestic temples and monasteries, well-preserved 'Xie Jia' shops, and the distinct Huangyuan lanterns all carry the profound multicultural information. The West Gate Arch of Dangar, the Hai Men Yuan, originated from the Qiang people's custom of sea worship at that time. Officials who worshiped the sea would go west from this gate to see the West Sea God at Qinghai Lake. 'Arch' means 'to bow', and 'sea' means 'to worship the sea', both expressing respect. There are large display boards on the city tower, as well as some characteristic old photo materials, etc. Dangar Hall was built in the ninth year of the Daoguang period, and in the second year of the Republic of China, it was changed to the Huangyuan County Office. Here you can see the wonderful performance of the Yamen trial.

The ancient city of Tanjung is a station that will pass through the Qinghai ring road. It has been prosperous in history due to the mutual exchange of tea and horses.