Travel the World and Earn Rewards by Checking in at Various Locations!

70: Local customsTwo vehicles formed a temporary convoy.

The white brabus g900 led the way, with the muddy old land cruiser following closely behind.

With a local leading the way, the speed increased significantly.

They passed through several narrow tunnels and rounded the final mountain ridge.

Four o’clock in the afternoon.

The full view of the Jiaju Tibetan Village in Danba finally unfolded before their eyes without reservation.

The sun shone obliquely.

Hundreds of red and white Tibetan-style watchtowers were built against the mountains, scattered in an orderly fashion among the lush green trees.

Wisps of cooking smoke rose up.

The strong visual impact of the colors was so beautiful it looked like an oil painting rich in heavy ink and color.

”That is Jiaju. We’re going straight up; I have friends there.”

Through the walkie-talkie (equipment Jiang Yuan carried with him), came the uncle’s hearty voice.

”Little brother, once you enter here, you’re in Danba County.”

”It’s known as the narrowest county in the country. Look at this road; it’s hard for any slightly larger car to make a U-turn.”

Jiang Yuan gripped the steering wheel, looking out the window.

It was indeed narrow.

The entire county seemed to have been forcibly stuffed into the crevice of the canyon.

Beside it was the surging and roaring Dadu River, the sound of the water thundering, almost drowning out the bustle of the street.

There was only one main road, winding along the riverbank.

Looking up, there was a sliver of sky; looking down, there were rapids.

This was the legendary ”Valley of Beauties.”

There is an old saying: Kangba men, Danba women.

It is said that this is the Location of the ancient Eastern Queen’s Kingdom. The girls walking by the roadside indeed mostly had fair skin and high-bridged noses; their beauty ranked high throughout all of Western Sichuan.

Passing through the crowded county, the two vehicles began to climb the slope.

This time, it was Uncle Dorje’s old land cruiser that led the way.

The Jiaju Tibetan Village was located halfway up the mountain, several hundred meters higher in altitude than the county.

As the mountain road wound upward, the view gradually opened up.

Soon, a huge archway reading ”Jiaju Tibetan Village” appeared before them.

This is a formal 4A-level scenic spot, with an admission ticket of fifty per person.

But with a local ”native” leading the way, that was no longer an issue.

Uncle Dorje lowered the car window, shouted a few words in the local dialect to the Tibetan security guard at the gate, and pointed at the big white car behind.

Because he knew the security guard, the barrier was raised after he handed over a cigarette.

This is the charm of a society based on human relationships.

Once inside the village, the atmosphere changed abruptly.

Red and white watchtowers were scattered all over the mountains, nestled among the lush green trees in an orderly fashion.

The roadside was covered with small flowers of various colors—red, purple, and yellow—swaying gracefully in the wind.

Although Jiang Yuan couldn’t name them, he assumed these were, in a broad sense, ”gesang flower.”

The convoy made several turns within the village.

Avoiding the observation decks crowded with tourists, they ducked into a small forest path.

Finally, they stopped in front of a detached Tibetan house hidden deep in a walnut grove.

At the entrance was a large, spacious open area paved with tamped lime.

Not to mention parking two cars, it would be enough for seven or eight.

”Tsering! I’m here!”

As soon as Uncle Dorje got out of the car, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

”Uncle Dorje! tashi delek!”

A little boy, looking about eleven or twelve years old, rushed out of the house like a little cannonball.

His skin was dark, but his eyes were as bright as the stars in the sky.

The two of them exchanged something quickly in fluent Tibetan.

Jiang Yuan couldn’t understand, only feeling like it was some kind of rhythmic incantation.

But he could feel the affection that was beyond words.

”Little brother, come and meet him.”

Uncle Dorje put his arm around the little boy’s shoulder and introduced him with a smile:

”His name is Tashi Tsering; he is my friend’s child.”

After speaking, he patted his forehead somewhat embarrassedly:

”Right, we’ve been chatting the whole way, and I’ve just been bragging.”

”Let me introduce myself formally, my name is Tenzin Dorje.”

Jiang Yuan smiled and handed over a cigarette.

”Uncle Dorje, my name is Jiang Yuan, I’m from Hebei.”

”Hebei?”