Aba, Sichuan

Aba City (Chinese: 阿坝镇; Pinyin: "Ābà Zhèn"; Tibetan: "Ngawa") is the main city in Aba County, within the Aba (Ngawa) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern Sichuan, China. It is located on the Tibetan plateau at an elevation of 3200 metres. Aba County has 70,000 inhabitants, about 8,000 of them Tibetan monks. There are 37 monasteries in the area, two of the largest in Aba City itself. There are mainly grasslands and forested valleys in the south.

Culture

Aba County is mainly inhabited by Tibetans. The major festivals are: [ [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/citylife/2007-02/05/content_801051_2.htm Aba County - the sacred land ] ]

*Great Prayer Festival: January 8 to January 15 according to the Tibetan calendar
*Six-Four Festival: June 11 to June 17 according to the Tibetan calendar
*Zachong Festival: September 15 to September 17 according to the lunar calendar
*Horse Race Festival: Middle of July according to the lunar calendar

Transport

Aba County is well connected to many provincial towns and cities. Aba is the biggest transport hub within the prefecture. There are long haul buses heading for Aba from Chengdu City, Mianyang City, Songpan County, Ma'er Kang County, Jinchuan County, Wenchuan County, Hongyuan County, Heishui County and Xiangtang County daily. [ [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/citylife/2007-02/05/content_801051_2.htm Aba County - the sacred land ] ]

Attractions

*Huanglong Valley - scenic spot very close by
*Wolong Nature Reserve - China's largest natural habitat for giant pandas
*Jiuzhaigou - scenic spot
*Miyaluo - scenic spot

References