The Rise of Qionglong Silver City in Zanda

Zanda is widely known for two places: Zanda Earth Forest and the ruins of the Guge Kingdom.

However, apart from these, a recently popularized destination is Qionglong Silver City. From Menshi Township on National Highway 219, heading south for about a few dozen kilometers, you will reach Qionglong Silver City. Due to the rugged roads, many tourists arrive by off-road vehicles. What surprised me was the presence of young people among the visitors. Qionglong Silver City is part of the ruins of the ancient Xiangxiong Kingdom. Like the Guge Kingdom, Loulan, and Tibet, Xiangxiong only briefly appeared in history.

There is hardly any detailed documentation of it, with only a few relics left for future generations to discover and study. Thanks to the irrigation of the Xiangquan River, this place must have been fertile and rich in resources in ancient times. According to research, the Xiangxiong Kingdom had a population of two to three million people. It seems incredible that so many people could have lived in such a narrow river valley. Around the 7th or 8th century (during the mid-Tang Dynasty), the Tibetans conquered Xiangxiong.

The present-day Qionglong Silver City is one of its main remaining relics. Located on a plateau over 4,300 meters above sea level, Qionglong Silver City resembles a giant roc spreading its wings (as shown in the enlarged image of Picture 1). What remains today are mainly caves where ancient people once lived and practiced. On the day of our visit, the sun was scorching, but the wind was strong, making it feel quite chilly. We cooked lunch by the Xiangquan River. While resting, we saw streams of vehicles and people passing by, continuously arriving. Unattended barren land becomes contested when it is cultivated. This once obscure place just a few years ago is now bustling with crowds, something I never expected.