Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Administrative prefecture in northwestern Sichuan, China.
Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture is a mountainous administrative region in northwestern Sichuan containing thirteen counties and multiple ecological zones. The territory ranges from forested valleys to high plateaus, creating diverse landscape and terrain types throughout.
The region became an autonomous prefecture in 1952, formally recognizing the ancestral lands of Tibetan and Qiang peoples in northwestern Sichuan. This official status established self-governance for these communities and their territories.
The prefecture is home to Tibetan and Qiang communities whose traditions shape daily life, visible in monasteries, local rituals, and craftsmanship. These peoples maintain their customs through religious practice, seasonal celebrations, and traditional skills passed down through families.
Two airports, Hongyuan and Jiuzhai Huanglong, serve the prefecture and offer connection options depending on your travel plans. A railway connection between Chengdu and Lanzhou is under construction and will improve access once completed.
The region contains the sources of major river systems including the Min River and Dadu River, which sustain agriculture and water supplies across the area. These water sources remain essential to the life and economy of downstream communities.
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