Songpan County

Infobox Settlement
name =Songpan County
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settlement_type =County
total_type =
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translit_lang1=Chinese
translit_lang1_type=Characters
translit_lang1_info=松潘县
translit_lang1_type1=Pinyin
translit_lang1_info1=Sōngpān Xiàn

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image_caption = Natural scenery in Huanglong


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map_caption = Location of Songpan County in Sichuan, China


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pushpin_map_caption = Location in China
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = China
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Sichuan
subdivision_type2 = Prefecture
subdivision_name2 = Ngawa
seat_type = County seat
seat = Jin'an (进安镇)
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area_total_km2 =8608
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population_total =68000
population_density_km2 =auto
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population_blank1_title =Major nationalities
population_blank1 = Tibetan, Han, Qiang
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timezone = China Standard
utc_offset = +8
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coor_type =
latd=32 |latm=39 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=103 |longm=36 |longs= |longEW=E
postal_code_type =Postal code
postal_code =623300
area_code =0837
website =
footnotes = Songpan County (Chinese: 松潘县; Hanyu Pinyin: Sōngpān Xiàn) is located at a latitude and longitude within 32°06′—33°09′ N 102°38′—104°15′ E. It is one of the 13 counties of the Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of northwestern Sichuan province, China. It has an area of 8608 km², and a population of approximately 68 thousands formed by Tibetan, Qiang, Han and Hui.

Economy and Tourism

The economy of Songpan is dominated by agriculture and livestock raising. In recent years, tourism has become an increasingly important sector, and is actively promoted by the authorities. Apart from the scenic attraction of Huanglong which is located in the county, Songpan with its strategic location also acts as the gateway to Jiuzhaigou Valley at the north.

History

The ancient city of Songpan was built during Tang Dynasty and it was later rebuilt during Ming Dynasty. Songpan was an important military post. It was also an important economic and trading center for horse and tea exchange between Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet. In 1935, led by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, the retreating Chinese Communist Army marched through the plateau of Songpan to advance to the north western province.

While Songpan can be a charming city in its own right, the countryside surrounding the city offers a variety of tourist attractions. The hills surrounding the city are visual delights of Tibetan cattle herders leading their livestock over rolling grasses, endless valleys, and generally beautiful landscape. All of this can be seen through affordable horseback riding outlets on the outskirts of the city.

ee also

*Jiandi Dao
*1976 Songpan-Pingwu earthquake

External links

* [http://www.chinatrekking.com/destinations/sichuan/songpan Songpan travel information]