Given historical and geological factors, various forms of regional cultural circles exist in the Tibetan-inhabited area in Sichuan.

(1) Kham Cultural Circle centered on Dege: It covers Dege, Baiyu, Shiqu and Jangda west of Jinshajiang River, as well as the bulk of Garze Printing House, one of the three major sutra printing houses in the Tibetan-inhabited areas n China, is the treasure house of the Kang Cultural Circle. The Gari painting school unique to Babang Monastery is representative of painting schools in the Kham area.

(2) Jiarong Cultural Circle centered on the Jinchuan River Valley: It covers Jinchuan, Xiaojin, Danba, Markang, Lixian, Haishui, and the bulk of Kangding and Wenchuan. People in Jiarong most build pillboxes as residences, worship white stone, and the Bon religion.

(3) Moya Cultural Circle centered on Gonggar Mountain in Moya: It covers Kangding, Daofu, Xinlong and Yajiang around Gonggar Mountain. Culturally speaking, this cultural circle is similar to the Jiarong Cultural Circle.

(4)Busuness Cultural Circle centered on Kangding and Songpan: It covers aeastern Garze Prefecture and southern Aba Prefecture.

(5) Livestock Breeding Tour Cultural Circle centered on highland grasslands: It covers Shiqu, Seda, Aba, Norgay, and Hongyuan Counties, as well as parts of Garze. Luoho and Daofu Counties. Local people follow the tribal system and worship the Bon religion and the Bon religion and the Nyingma Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

(6) Western Minorities Cultural Circle centered on the Daduhe River Valley: It covers Luding, Kangding, Xinlong and other areas along Daduhe River, and nearby river valleys. Local people are very scattered, and each village has developed its culture unique to itself only.

(7) Primitive Cultural Circle centered on Sanyan: Sanyan covers Xionsong District of Gongjor County of Tibet and Gaiyu District of Baiyu County of Sichuan. Screened by mountains on three sides, the area preserves a primitive culture, follows the clan society system (see China's Tibet, issue NO. 6,1999), worships reproductive organs and stands for burial in trees.

(8) Chiang Cultural Circle centerd on the middle and lower reaches of Mingjiang River: It covers Wenchuan, Maoxian, Songan and Lixian Counties, inhabited mostly by people of the Chiang ethnic group who worship primitive religion.

(9) Yi Cultural Circle centered on the middle and lower reaches of Daduhe River: It covers the area inhabited by people of the Yi ethnic group in Luding, Jiulong and Shimian. It follows the patriarchal system and worships Bimbiasara.