Nestled in a high valley south of Xinduqiao in Sichuan's Kangding County, Nati (纳梯村) is a Tibetan village at a substantial elevation of 3598m. A small stream flows through the valley, alongside which the community has established itself. The village is part of a local cluster of settlements, situated near the hamlet of À Mài Zhòng.
Despite the challenging altitude, the local economy demonstrates a resilient adaptation to the environment. Agriculture is practised in small, sheltered fields, complementing a pastoral life centred on the rearing of livestock, including yaks. This combination of farming and herding has sustained the village, which likely evolved over centuries as a settlement for Tibetan clans along historic trade routes.
The architecture is a definitive example of Kham Tibetan style. The houses are constructed from local beige stone, forming thick, insulating walls. Their most striking feature is the vibrant, multicoloured window frames, set within broad white surrounds and crowned by a distinctive protective red strip, known as a banda, beneath the roof.
Directly opposite the village, a small café situated on a meadow offers a vantage point for visitors to absorb the serene landscape. The surrounding scenery is defined by its high-altitude terrain, with rolling hills that display vibrant colours in the autumn. Nati provides a tangible insight into enduring rural life in the region, distinct from the more frequented tourist trails.
How to get to Nati
The only way to reach the Nati village is by car or with a tour.
Accommodation
There is no accomodation in Nati, but there are hotels in Xinduqiao.
01 Naticun valley 02 Naticun valley 03 Dry fields 04 Dry fields
05 Valley around Nati village 06 Naticun valley 07 Prayer wheels 08 Stream
09 Stream 10 Prayer wheels 11 Tibetan style house 12 Yak 13 Yak
14 Stream 15 Wooden face 16 Tibetan style house 17 House facade with decorative windows 18 Tibetan style house
19 Nati village 20 Tibetan style house 21 House facade with decorative windows 22 House facade with decorative windows
23 Tibetan style house 24 Tibetan style house 25 House facade with decorative windows 26 Tibetan style house
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©Copyright Alfred Molon