Shaliu River Scenic Area

Shaliu River Scenic Area

The Shaliu River Scenic Area is located in the southern part of Gangcha County, Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and is named after the Shaliu River. The Shaliu River originates from the southern foothills of Sansa Mountain, the highest peak within Gangcha County, stretches 95 kilometers in length, flows through the county town, and then empties into Qinghai Lake, covering a drainage area of 1,320 square kilometers.

The Shaliu River Scenic Area in Gangcha County is one of the best spots in China to witness the remarkable spectacle of the naked carp migration. Every summer from June to July, the Hu fish of Qinghai Lake swim upstream against the current, gathering in dense schools as they migrate up the Shaliu River, Buha River, and Quanji River within Gangcha to spawn. As they pass through shallow areas, their dorsal fins breach the water’s surface, resembling thousands of boats racing forward. Eventually, they form the extraordinary sight of “half river clear water, half river fish” along stretches of the spawning grounds. A local Tibetan saying goes, “You can ride a horse through the water and step on fish,” truly a miracle of life unfolding before your eyes.