City guide · 西宁 Xining
Xining
Gateway to the Tibetan Plateau: Kumbum Monastery, the Dongguan Mosque and cool summers
Xining is the capital of Qinghai Province and the gateway to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "Summer Capital of China": the city center sits at 2,261 meters above sea level, with summer average temperatures of 17 to 19 degrees Celsius, as cool as autumn. You can spend two to three days visiting Kumbum Monastery, the Dongguan Mosque, the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum, and Beishan Temple, then use Xining as a starting point for Qinghai Lake or the Menyuan rapeseed flower fields. Also worth visiting in the city: Dongguan Mosque, Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum, Beishan Temple, Ma Bufang Mansion, Nanshan Park, Xining Confucian Temple, Riyue Mountain (Huangyuan County), Laoye Mountain (Datong County), Xining Botanical Garden, Qinghai Provincial Museum and Mojia Street.
History
How the city came to be
Xining is a plateau city with more than 2,100 years of history, formerly called "Huangzhong," located in the Huangshui River valley basin. In the Western Han dynasty, this area was the base where General Zhao Chongguo established military farms; thereafter Xining became a thoroughfare on the Qinghai route of the Silk Road and an important town connecting the Central Plains with the western borderlands, and it was also a necessary stop on the historic Tang-Tibet Ancient Road. In the third year of the Yifeng era of the Tang dynasty (678), Shancheng County was established; in the third year of the Chongning era of the Song dynasty (1104), Song troops entered the Huangshui River valley and Shanzhou was renamed Xining Prefecture, and the place name "Xining" has been used ever since. In the sixth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty (1373), Xining Prefecture was changed to Xining Garrison; in the third year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing dynasty (1725), Xining Garrison was changed to Xining Prefecture, and in 1724 an Imperial Commissioner for Mongol and Tibetan Affairs in Qinghai (commonly called the Xining Amban) was appointed, governing the Mongol and Tibetan tribes within Qinghai. In 1929, the Nationalist Government established Qinghai Province, with Xining County as the provincial capital. In August 1945, the special provincial capital district was changed to the Xining Municipal Preparatory Office; in January 1946, Xining County was renamed Huangzhong County, and in June 1946, Xining City was formally established. On September 5, 1949, the People's Liberation Army captured Xining, and on September 8 the Municipal People's Government was established. In January 1960, the State Council approved raising Xining City to a prefecture-level city. Today, Xining is the terminus of the Lanzhou-Qinghai Railway and the starting point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, and it remains a key transport hub to the interior of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
- Western Han dynastyZhao Chongguo established military farms around Huangzhong.
- 678Shancheng County established.
- 1104Shanzhou renamed Xining Prefecture; the place name "Xining" has been used ever since.
- 1373Xining Prefecture changed to Xining Garrison.
- 1724the Xining Amban appointed.
- 1725Xining Garrison changed to Xining Prefecture.
- 1929Qinghai Province established, with Xining County as the provincial capital.
- June 1946Xining City formally established.
- September 5, 1949the People's Liberation Army captured Xining.
- January 1960Xining City raised to a prefecture-level city.
- 2006the Qinghai-Tibet Railway fully opened, with Xining as one of its important starting points.
Stories
Stories of the city
The Tree of Great Merit
Legend · Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Monastery)
Legend has it that after Tsongkhapa was born, his father buried the afterbirth where the monastery now stands, and a bodhi tree grew there (another version says the tree sprang up where blood from the umbilical cord fell); images of the Buddha and sacred syllables appeared on its leaves and bark, and it became known as the “Bodhi Treasure Tree” or “Tree of Great Merit”. The name “Ta'er” (stupa) recalls that the stupa came first and the monastery later.
Differing founding dates
History · Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Monastery)
According to Wikipedia, a stupa was built in 1379 to commemorate Tsongkhapa, a small temple in 1560, and the great monastery in 1583. Sources differ on which counts as the “founding” year, and all three dates are cited; the monastery and heritage authorities' announcements prevail.
Trips beyond the city
These places can be explored from this city but lie outside it. See each place for transport and visiting guidance.
