Barkam

Barkam comes from the Tibetan "place of strong fire" and, by extension, "place of prosperity". == History ==

Historically, Barkam belonged to the Somang Tusi (), one of the Gyalrong Tusi. It belonged to during the Han dynasty. == Geography ==

Barkam is located within the southwest portion of Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, in northwest Sichuan. Quercus semecarpifolia, a species of oak tree, is present in Barkam. Fauna The forests in the mountains are home to various protected animals such as leopards, Thorold's deer, sika deer, takin, and various birds. Climate Due to its elevation, Barkam lies in the transition between a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) and humid continental climate (Köppen Dwb), with strong monsoonal influences; winters are frosty and summers warm with frequent rain. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from in December and January to in July, while the annual mean is . Nearly two-thirds of the annual precipitation of occurs from June to September. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 36% in June to 65% in December, the town receives 2,133 hours of bright sunshine annually. Diurnal temperature variation is large, averaging annually. ==Administrative divisions==

Barkam administers the following three towns and 10 townships: • ==Demographics==

As of the 2010 Chinese Census, Barkam has a population of 58,437. In 1996, Barkam had an estimated population of 54,000. The area is traditionally inhabited by a branch of Rgyalrong people who speak the Situ language. hosts a unique dialect of Situ. == Economy ==

As of 2021, Barkam has a gross domestic product (GDP) of about 4.6 billion renminbi (RMB). This represents an approximate 70% increase from 2016. GDP per capita as of 2021 was approximately 78,000 RMB, also a 70% increase from 2016. Barkam is home to over 1,300 ingredients used in traditional Chinese medicine, including many derived from local deer, bears, cattle, fungus, and lilies. ==Transport==

• China National Highway 317 • Sichuan Provincial Highway 210 == Tourism ==

Major historical sites in Barkam include: • • • Zonggag Zhibo Stone Blockhouse Group () • Red Army Slogan Stone Inscription () • Zhuomu Blockhouse Meeting Site () ==Notes==