Dahe Township, Gansu

In 2019, archeologists found a number of rock paintings, many depicting deer, which may date back to approximately 1500 BCE. == Geography ==

Dahe Township is located in the middle of the Hexi Corridor, bordered by to the east, to the west, Qilian County in Qinghai to the south, and Gaotai County and Linze County to the west. The average elevation in Dahe Township is approximately above sea level. Major mountains in the township include Yumu Mountain (), Heishan Peak (), Jiudungou Ridge (), Da Mountain (), Binggou Peak (), Shijuligou Head (), Hongshizuizhong Ridge (), and Xihong Geda (). Major rivers that flow through Dahe Township include Longchang River (), Da River (), Bailang River (), Shuiguan River (), Xi River (), Shihuiguan River (), and Maying River (). Flora and fauna Wild animals native to the township include Thorold's deer, water deer, wild ox, argali, sheep, bears, panthers, wolves, lynx, snowcocks, and the blue eared pheasant. Plants native to the township include Saussurea involucrata, rhubarb, Hansenia weberbaueriana (syn. Notopterygium incisum), yedangshen (), and . Many plants found native to the area are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dahe Township also has an abundance of mushrooms and fat choy. Climate The township has an average annual temperature of , annual precipitation ranging from to , an average of 2,680 annual hours of sunshine annually, and between 90 and 120 frost-free days per year. == Administrative divisions ==

Dahe Township has jurisdiction over the following 18 villages: • Guanghua () • Datan () • Hongwan () • Dongling () • Xiling () • Xichache () • Xihe () • Yingpan () • Tianqiaowan () • Songmutan () • Laohugou () • Dacha () • Baizhuangzi () • Lamawan () • Xiliugou () • Jiusiwan () • Hongbianzi () • Jinchanghe () == Demographics ==

Ethnic groups Dahe Township is a majority minority area, with the largest pluralities being the township's Han Chinese and Yugur populations, which both comprise about 46% of the township's population. == Economy ==

Animal husbandry is a major portion of the township's economy, producing 49.64 million renminbi (RMB) worth of income in 2017. Agriculture represents a much smaller, although still significant, portion of Dahe Township's economy, generating 5.21 million in income in 2017. Dahe Township also has a variety of mineral deposits, including coal, jade, serpentinite, copper, gold, gypsum, and limestone. However, Dahe is disputed mining site. == Education ==

Dahe has one primary school in the center of its administrative boundaries. == Culture ==

Yugur shamanism was practiced in the township until 1977, when the region's last shaman died. == References ==