Maoxian in Sichuan Province is a key town of Canling

The tourist spot of Canling key town in Maoxian County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is an essential path of the ancient Tea Horse Road, known as the 'Market above the Clouds'. Canling key town is famous for two main attractions: the ancient town itself and the 'Haizi' (highland lakes). The ancient war fortress-style gate stands at the entrance of the town. Walking through the gate, one can see the stone walls on both sides carved with the history of the 1933 earthquake 'The Earth Sinks', 'The Ancient Tea Horse Road', 'The Eight Sights of Diexi', 'The Ancestral Mountain of Humanity', and other cultural elements of the ancient town, vividly describing the trials and tribulations of the thousand-year-old town through historical changes. Entering the ancient town, the streets are neatly paved with bluestone tiles underfoot, and concrete roads lead to each farmhouse courtyard. The quaint carved wooden doors and sheep-head style window lattices are uniquely arranged on both sides of the street. The roofs are covered with small green tiles characteristic of the Qiang people, resembling the headdress of Qiang girls, displayed for all the world to see.