Ami Dongtuo Scenic Area

Ami Dongtuo Scenic Area

Ami Dongtuo Scenic Area is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.

Ami Dongtuo (Ox Heart Mountain), one of China’s Top 100 Summer Resorts, is the main peak of the Tuolai Mountain range, a branch of the Qilian Mountains. “Ami Dongtuo” is a transliteration from Tibetan, meaning “Thousand Soldiers’ Watchpost.” In the Yugur language, it is called “Naiman Erdene,” meaning “Mountain of Eight Treasures.” According to Tibetan geomancy, it is named for the surrounding landforms resembling the eight auspicious Buddhist symbols.

Located two kilometers southeast of the county seat and standing at an elevation of 4,667 meters, Ami Dongtuo has a relative height difference of 1,880 meters compared to the county’s Bao’bao Town. Towering and majestic, the mountain allows visitors to enjoy four seasons in one view, making it a symbol of Qilian County.

The Qilian Stone Forest is located northwest of Ami Dongtuo, about ten kilometers from the county seat. It is referred to by the local A’Ri Tibetan people as “Langgebatusenji,” meaning “Thirty Generals of the Ling Kingdom.” Locals also call it Buddha Cliff or “Gravel Rock Forest.” This unique landscape was formed when the conglomerate mountain massif slid under external forces such as rainwater, and the sticky material within the conglomerate bound the rocks together. The parent material mainly consists of granite and granite porphyry. Bizarre peaks and strange rocks, along with green pines and sea of clouds, make one feel as if in a fairyland. Clusters of rock formations, set off by sunlight, display a myriad of postures, vivid and lifelike.

At the Qilian Stone Forest, one can deeply appreciate the wonders of nature. Local Tibetans say that the stone forest represents 108 Buddhas. Devout Buddhists may even see 108 Buddha images here, which corresponds to the number of beads on a Buddhist rosary. Herders passing by the stone forest often dismount, bow, kneel, and offer hada scarves and other tributes to pray for divine blessings.

What artists praise most is the Qilian Forest Sea. The primitive forests here are mainly composed of Qinghai spruce, juniper, poplar, and sea buckthorn, covering 10.43% of the total land area, with a forest coverage rate of 9.84%. Though lower than the national average, it is higher than the provincial average. These forests are state-owned water conservation woodlands. The entire primitive forest landscape of Qilian has been included in the “Natural Forest Protection Project,” and the widespread shrubbery forests are also under planning for construction as “Public Welfare Ecological Conservation Forests.” With the changing seasons, the scenery varies magnificently—vast and imposing, nurturing precious water sources as well as people’s longing for greenery.

Ami Dongtuo, in Tibetan, means “Thousand Soldiers’ Watchpost.” Its common Chinese name is Ox Heart Mountain, while in Mongolian it is called “Naiman Erdene,” meaning “Mountain of Eight Treasures.” According to Tibetan geomancy, the terrain around Ami Dongtuo resembles the eight auspicious Buddhist symbols. Tibetan, Mongolian, and Yugur people in the Qilian region who follow Tibetan Buddhism revere Ami Dongtuo as the King of the Qilian Sacred Mountains.

Due to its high altitude, there is a significant temperature difference between the mountain’s base and summit, leading to the saying that “one mountain shows four seasons’ views” at Ami Dongtuo.

At an elevation of 4,667 meters and with a relative height difference of nearly 2,000 meters from Bao’bao Town, the county seat, Ami Dongtuo presents a scene of wheat waves and blooming rapeseed flowers at its base during midsummer, resembling a highland valley farming landscape full of spring vitality. Higher up, lush green grass forms excellent pastures, long praised as “the best pastures under the Qilian Mountains,” exuding summer warmth. The mid-to-upper expansive areas are covered with dense shrubs, resembling a forest sea and evoking an autumnal feel. Further upward, sparse vegetation gradually gives way to rocky mountains, with perennial snow capping the summit, bringing a touch of winter solemnity. “One mountain showcases four seasons’ beauty” is the best description of Ami Dongtuo’s scenery. Ami Dongtuo, in Tibetan, means “Thousand Soldiers’ Watchpost.” Its common Chinese name is Ox Heart Mountain, while in Mongolian it is called “Naiman Erdene,” meaning “Mountain of Eight Treasures.” According to Tibetan geomancy, the terrain around Ami Dongtuo resembles the eight auspicious Buddhist symbols. Tibetan, Mongolian, and Yugur people in the Qilian region who follow Tibetan Buddhism revere Ami Dongtuo as the King of the Qilian Sacred Mountains.

Due to its high altitude, there is a significant temperature difference between the mountain’s base and summit, leading to the saying that “one mountain shows four seasons’ views” at Ami Dongtuo.

At an elevation of 4,667 meters and with a relative height difference of nearly 2,000 meters from Bao’bao Town, the county seat, Ami Dongtuo presents a scene of wheat waves and blooming rapeseed flowers at its base during midsummer, resembling a highland valley farming landscape full of spring vitality. Higher up, lush green grass forms excellent pastures, long praised as “the best pastures under the Qilian Mountains,” exuding summer warmth. The mid-to-upper expansive areas are covered with dense shrubs, resembling a forest sea and evoking an autumnal feel. Further upward, sparse vegetation gradually gives way to rocky mountains, with perennial snow capping the summit, bringing a touch of winter solemnity. “One mountain showcases four seasons’ beauty” is the best description of Ami Dongtuo’s scenery.