(TibetanReview.net, Oct05’26) – The Qilian (Tibetan: Chilen or Dhola) county in Haibei (Tsojang) Prefecture, Qinghai province, which is considered by Tibetans as the bulk of their historical Amdo (or Domey) province, has been overrun by Chinese tourists during China’s week-long National Day holiday which began on Oct 1, following the completion of a national highway. A place with a population of only about 50,000 suddenly found itself receiving more than 100,000 visitors in a single day, reported China’s official globaltimes.cn Oct 5.
While all the county’s more than 400 hotels and guesthouses were fully booked, nearly 500 people were accommodated in publicly provided beds on Oct 3, the report said, citing local cultural and tourism authorities. Some tourists have been cited as saying Oct 5 that “it’s like winning the lottery” to find accommodation there.
Nearly 35,000 vehicles entered the county on Oct 3, bringing more than 100,000 people into the area, Feng Lingling, head of the local tourism bureau, has said.
Nearly 500 people were stated to have been accommodated free of charge in local school dormitories arranged by the Qilian tourism bureau.
As rooms ran out, the Qilian tourism bureau activated its emergency response plan. It coordinated with the local education department to open dormitories at two schools as free temporary shelters, accommodating 453 people. Between Oct 3 and 2:30 am on Oct 4, the bureau handled 510 calls for help involving more than 800 visitors, the report said.
The sudden influx of tourists, including those passing through the area, was driven by the viral popularity of Highway No. 9. The scenic route has attracted widespread attention online this year, drawing large numbers of tourists to Qilian during the National Day holiday, although the county’s traditional peak tourism season is usually July and August, the report said.
The county gets its name from its surrounding mountains and is populated mainly by Tibetans as well as Huis, Hans, Monguors, Gaoshanse, Zhuangs and Koreans. The main religions are Tibetan Buddhism and Islam. Tibetans are mainly concentrated in Arou (Arig Township), Ebao (Kharmar Town), Yeniugou (Dronglung Township), and kekexili (or Kekeli) Township. Mongolians mainly live in Mole (Muri Town) and Yeniugou, while the Huis are concentrated in Babaoxiang (Tsunmoshong Town) and the county itself.