A Tour of History, Culture and Religious Heritage in Tacheng

Tacheng Township lies in the northwest of Yulong County, 145 kilometres from the county seat. It is among the earliest settlements of the Naxi people and occupies a prominent position in the history of southwest China.

According to legend, Shi Wansui, a Sui Dynasty general who campaigned against local tribal leaders in Yunnan, built an iron chain bridge across the Jinsha River in Tazha Village of Tacheng. Historically, it was known as "the First Bridge on the Yangtze River". In the 7th century, the powerful Tubo extended its influence into southwest China and established the Shenchuan Military Governor's Office and the Iron Bridge Military Commission here. Some records hold that the bridge was constructed by the Tubo to administer the Mosya River Basin inhabited by the Naxi people. Later, the Nanzhao Kingdom also set up the Iron Bridge Military Commissioner here.

Backed by the Tang Dynasty, the Nanzhao army inflicted a heavy defeat on the Tubo troops. They cut down the iron bridge and sank it into the Jinsha River. More than ten thousand Mosya households under Tubo rule were relocated to central Yunnan.

Regarding this bridge, Volume Six of Man Shu by Fan Chuo records: "The Iron Bridge City is a three-day journey north of Jianchuan. In the tenth year of the Zhenyuan reign, Yimouxun of Nanzhao captured the eastern and western cities and severed the iron chain bridge."

The Yuan Dynasty Unified Records on historical sites of the Lijiang Circuit reads: "The Iron Bridge stands north of Jujin Prefecture. A city known as Iron Bridge City was built here, where the Tubo stationed the Iron Bridge Military Commissioner. After Yimouxun defeated the Tubo and cut the bridge, it fell into disuse, yet its foundations remain visible."

The ancient Iron Bridge is located in Tazha Village, Tacheng Township, Yulong County. It served as a vital passage linking ancient Yunnan with Xizang and was a key ferry along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. On the sheer cliffs on both banks, the anchorage holes for iron chains made more than a thousand years ago can still be seen. Local residents say that when the river water is exceptionally clear, the massive iron chains lying on the riverbed are faintly visible. Today, crystal-clear water on the Jinsha River has become rare. Buried deep in the river forever, those iron chains carry the dust of a thousand years of history. A stone monument marking the Ancient Iron Bridge Site now stands on the riverbank.

Seven out of the thirteen major monasteries in western Yunnan in history were situated in Lijiang, all belonging to the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. For historical reasons, religious activities of this sect survive only in Tacheng Township of Yulong County nowadays.

In the Tibetan language, Tacheng means "the end". Legend has it that a Tibetan Buddhist scripture preacher travelled from India through Xizang and Deqin to spread the Dharma and passed away here, hence the place name. A great many cultural relics were left behind.

Adjacent to the Layuan Temple in Weixi and the Cave of Patriarch Bodhidharma, which enjoy high prestige among ethnic minorities in northwest Yunnan, Tacheng is well positioned to develop religious cultural tourism. Local folk festivals include the Reba Dance Festival and the Mountain Circumambulation Festival.

Tacheng was also renowned as a hometown of Dongba culture and produced numerous distinguished merchant Dongba priests. Up to now, traditional Dongba rituals and customs have been well preserved in Badian and Shuming villages, where the ancient Naxi traditions remain intact. It is an ideal place to experience and study Dongba culture.

In addition, Tacheng is the birthplace of the Lerba Dance, a folk performance that integrates the religious and folk dance arts of the Naxi and Tibetan peoples. Therefore, Tacheng boasts rich and diversified cultural tourism resources.