Title: From Shuanghu in Snow and Wind to the New Home in Senburi: The Two Migrations of Herder Dawaciren

“We experienced two migrations. In the 1970s, we moved north from Shenzha to Shuanghu to expand our pastures. In 2019, we moved south from Shuanghu to the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo River for the sake of the next generation.” Recently, 77-year-old herder Dawaciren from Gacuo Township, Shuanghu County, Tibet Autonomous Region, recounted his two migration experiences in his Tibetan-style courtyard at the Senburi Ecological Relocation Settlement.

Shuanghu County is located in the northwestern part of the northern Tibetan plateau, with an average elevation exceeding 5,000 meters, making it the highest-altitude county in China. Historically, due to its inaccessibility, it was once known as an uninhabited area. In the 1970s, Tibet established the Shuanghu Administrative Office. In November 2012, the State Council approved the establishment of Shuanghu County.

Dawaciren explained that in the 1970s, to expand pastures, Losang Danzhen, then the county head of Shenzha County, led people and local herders into the Shuanghu area three times starting in 1971. They discovered that some parts of the region had lush water and grass, with abundant wildlife. Thus, the idea of leading herders and livestock to migrate to Shuanghu gradually took shape.

“Our Gacuo Township originally belonged to Shenzha County. Around the winter of 1976, our group of herders began moving north.” He said that at the time, everyone used yaks to carry their belongings, moving in batches like ants relocating their nest. It took three years to complete the migration.

Dawaciren recalled that Shuanghu had extremely fierce winds and snow. When they first arrived, the newly built sheep pens were not yet fully constructed. “Strong winds could blow entire flocks of sheep into the salt lake, and there was no way to stop it.” He said that from the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar to the following spring, a type of sturdy Tibetan grass called “boruo” could be uprooted by the wind and blown everywhere.

Dawaciren particularly mentioned his experience in 1982 when he went to Lhasa for the first time to learn about greenhouse cultivation: “At that time, I went to Linzhou County to learn how to grow vegetables in greenhouses. One day, as it grew dark, I saw the bright lights of Lhasa from afar and thought, I hope one day our herders can also have such convenient access to electricity.”

After that, Gacuo Township built three greenhouse facilities. “The greenhouse cultivation techniques I learned in Lhasa were put to use. The cabbages we grew weighed five to six jin each. Everyone was especially happy at the time, as this allowed many herders to eat fresh vegetables for the first time.”

Years of living at high altitude left Dawaciren with rheumatoid arthritis. “Starting this year, my waist and legs haven’t been so good either.” He said that the turning point for Shuanghu herders came in 2017 when government departments proposed an ecological relocation plan, hoping everyone would move to the lower-altitude banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

“The climate in Shuanghu is too harsh. Our generation lived there for decades, but it’s not really suitable for long-term human habitation. For the sake of future generations, I fully supported the relocation.” Dawaciren said that by the end of 2019, the entire village successfully relocated from Shuanghu at over 5,000 meters above sea level to the Senburi Ecological Relocation Settlement at around 3,600 meters. His family was allocated a 150-square-meter Tibetan-style courtyard provided by the government.

After several years of development, today, the Senburi Ecological Relocation Settlement has kindergartens, schools, shops, tea houses, banks, and other amenities that are becoming increasingly established. The surrounding dwarf apple orchards and other plantations have also grown to scale. The convenient electric lighting that Dawaciren once envied has long become a reality in Senburi.

Dawaciren has five children and three grandchildren. “Transportation, climate, and every other aspect are better here.” He said that currently, his youngest son has found a job in Shannan with a monthly salary of 5,400 yuan, while his wife, eldest son, and youngest daughter remain in Shuanghu herding and taking care of the cooperative’s yaks, sheep, and other livestock. “The main source of income

Shuanghu County

Shuanghu County is the world’s highest county by average elevation, situated at over 5,000 meters in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It was officially established in 2012 to administer a remote area of the Changtang grassland, primarily for nomadic herding communities. Its history is recent, having been carved out of larger counties to improve local governance and development in the extremely harsh, high-altitude environment.

Tibetan plateau

The Tibetan Plateau, often called the “Roof of the World,” is a vast, high-altitude region in Central Asia and the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. It has a rich history as the center of Tibetan Buddhism, which flourished after its introduction in the 7th century, and was historically governed by a series of empires and the Dalai Lamas. Today, it is an autonomous region within China, known for its unique culture and extreme, fragile environment.

Shuanghu Administrative Office

The Shuanghu Administrative Office is a special administrative division established by the People’s Republic of China in the disputed South China Sea. It was created in 2012 under Sansha City to administer the area around the Macclesfield Bank and the Paracel and Spratly Islands. Its establishment is part of China’s broader effort to assert its territorial claims in the region.

Yarlung Tsangpo River

The Yarlung Tsangpo River is the longest river in Tibet and the highest major river in the world, revered as the “cradle of Tibetan civilization.” It originates near Mount Kailash and flows eastward across the Tibetan Plateau before carving its way through the world’s deepest canyon, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon. Historically, its fertile valley was the heartland of the ancient Tibetan Empire and the birthplace of its unique culture.

Senburi Ecological Relocation Settlement

The Senburi Ecological Relocation Settlement is a modern community established to resettle populations displaced by environmental degradation or development projects. Its history is rooted in efforts to provide sustainable housing and livelihoods while mitigating human impact on fragile ecosystems. The settlement serves as a model for balancing community needs with environmental conservation.

Lhasa

Lhasa is the historic capital of Tibet and a major religious center, famed for the iconic Potala Palace, which was the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. Its history dates back over a millennium, and it remains a profoundly significant site for Tibetan Buddhism, housing sacred temples like the Jokhang.

Linzhou County

Linzhou County is a county-level city in Henan Province, China, historically significant as the location where the ancient Red Flag Canal irrigation project was constructed. This monumental project, built by hand in the 1960s, was a major human effort to bring water to the arid region and is a celebrated symbol of perseverance. Today, the canal and its history are a key part of the area’s cultural identity and a major tourist attraction.

Shannan

Shannan is a prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, historically known as the cradle of Tibetan civilization. It is home to the Yarlung Valley, the birthplace of the first Tibetan kings, and contains many significant cultural and religious sites. The most famous of these is the Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery established in Tibet.