This is a set of old photos taken in Xining, Qinghai in 1933. The photos come from foreign explorers who came to Qinghai for inspection at that time. Xining, formerly known as Qingtang City , Xiping County , Shanzhou , is located in the northwest region, eastern Qinghai, and the middle reaches of Huangshui valley basin. The name of Xining comes from the meaning of "An Ning in the West Frontier". Xining is The eastern gateway of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the only place that must pass through the ancient "Silk Road" south road and the " Tang-Tibet Ancient Road". It has been an important transportation route and military center in the northwest since ancient times. It is known as the "Key to the West Sea" and the "Throat of the Sea and Tibet".
Let us take a look at what Xining looked like nearly 90 years ago through this set of old photos.
In 1933, two young men drove two donkeys carrying goods across the Huangshui River Bridge in Xining. In the distance is near the West Gate of Xining. Huangshui River, also known as Xining River, flows through the north of Xining City. Every spring and summer, the ice and snow in the upper reaches of the Huangshui River melt, and the water source is sufficient. It flows to Xining's Xijiao River, Beichuan River, Nanchuan River, and is poured into the Huangshui. Then the river water rises suddenly and the waves are rough, so it is called "Huangliu Spring Rise" and it is one of the eight ancient scenic spots in Xining.
In Xining in 1933, there was a gate tower on the city wall that had gone through many vicissitudes of life. Emperor Wen of Wei In the third year of Huangchu (AD 222), Xiping County was expanded and began to build a city here. Northern Song Dynasty In the third year of Chongning (AD 1104), it was changed to Xining Prefecture. At this point, the name "Xining" began to appear in history. The ancient city of Xining at that time was also known as the "Three Connected Cities" because the three cities were connected. The central city of the three connected cities is the inner city, and the east and west sides are Guancheng. The three cities are connected in a series, with the same scale and style. There are city gates on both sides of the east city.
In Xining City in 1933, in a restaurant, a caravan mule driver was eating noodles. Speaking of noodles, no one would think that the ancestor of noodles is in Qinghai. In the habits of Xining people, noodles are an indispensable food. They have a bowl of noodles when they get up in the morning and a bowl of noodles for lunch. Xining pasta is called the root of pasta.
In Xining in 1933, there was a village by the Huangshui River. In the distance was a stretch of mountains and green trees along the river. The Huangshui River, known as Xining's "Mother River", has nourished the people living on this land for thousands of years.
Xining Public Square in 1933. This public square looked very empty and had no facilities. It was just an open space. I don’t know what it was mainly used for at that time. It might have been used for some gatherings.
In Xining’s public square in 1933, pedestrians were coming and going, and there were people sitting and resting on the ground.
Xining in 1933, a student of Dongguan Temple. Dongguan Temple is a famous building in the ancient city of Xining. It is magnificent in scale and has a strong Western style.
Xining in 1933, street scene outside the north gate, with pedestrians in twos and threes on the road. Xining City was truly built on a large scale in the 19th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1386). At that time, Xining City had four gates in the east, south, west and north, and four gate towers were built. The four gate towers are towering and painted, with plaques hanging under the eaves, making it a spectacular sight. Among them, the original site of the North Gate was at the northernmost end of today's North Street. Because the North Gate faced the Huangshui River at that time, and there was the Beimen Spring under the slope of the North Gate, it was also commonly known as "Water Gate", so the plaque on the tower was inscribed with "Gongchen".
In 11933, the White Horse Temple near Xining was located on the north bank of Huangshui River in Hongyazigou, Huzhu County, Qinghai Province. It was called Jingangya Temple in ancient times and Mazang Temple in Tibetan. It was built in the 11th century. There is a stone Buddha statue at the foot of the cliff, which is called "Maitreya Looking at the River" in Tibetan. The statue is simple and vigorous, with its left hand begging for alms and the right hand making a push-like gesture. The Buddha statue expresses the ancient people's desire to eliminate floods.
