Gurkyang

Gurkyang lies in the Songpan region of northwestern Sichuan, where Tibetan and Qiang communities and Chinese frontier institutions met. Songpan, formerly Songzhou, developed as a fortified centre in the Tang period and was rebuilt under the Ming. Routes through the wider district linked the highlands with Sichuan and neighboring regions, carrying horses and tea as well as travelers.

The area's mountain passes brought trade and military interests together. Songpan's history provides a regional setting for Gurkyang.