Longbao Marsh Nature Reserve

Longbao Marsh Nature Reserve

Introduction: Longbao Marsh is located about 80 kilometers southwest of Jiegu Town, the capital of Yushu Prefecture in Qinghai Province. It lies between two high mountains that run parallel to each other, with a valley stretching 10 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide in between. The valley floor features remnants of dried-up lakes, gravelly terrain, and is essentially a marshland of alpine meadow type. It sits at an altitude of over 4,000 feet where the climate is cold—even in May and June, light rain often mixes with snow. Sometimes the sky is clear, but then hail, rain, or snow may suddenly arrive, making it hard for people to adapt.

However, this unique and extraordinary geographical environment is home to rare birds and animals of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, as well as valuable medicinal herbs. It has been hailed by world bird experts as the “Hometown of Black-necked Cranes,” drawing the attention and admiration of ornithologists and researchers worldwide. The reserve is home to the black-necked crane, a rare plateau bird that world-renowned avian research institutes have yet to successfully capture. Other species include the bar-headed goose, brown-headed gull, ruddy shelduck, common merganser, and snow partridge—over ten types of birds in total.

The reserve is a narrow mountain basin stretching approximately 25 kilometers from east to west, covering a total area of 100 square kilometers. It is surrounded by high mountains, most of which stand at elevations between 5,000 to 5,500 meters. The bottom of the basin is at 4,100 to 4,200 meters above sea level, with an average annual temperature of -4°C. In July, the temperature averages 9.3°C, and in January, it drops to -11.1°C. The area receives about 2,300 hours of sunshine annually, with rainfall totaling 730 millimeters, mostly concentrated between June and September. A tributary of the Tongtian River, the Yi Qu River, flows through the area, forming five lakes of varying sizes with water depths between 0.2 to 0.4 meters. There are also numerous springs that discharge stable, clean water.

Meandering streams and scattered lakes and marshes divide the grassy plains into countless “sandbars” and “islands” of various sizes, making it difficult for wild animals to enter. The area boasts lush water plants and abundant wild herbs such as ginseng and potentilla anserina. Fish, frogs, and other amphibians and reptiles thrive in the streams, lakes, and marshes, along with a rich diversity of aquatic plankton and vegetation. The favorable natural conditions and ecological environment make this an ideal breeding ground for birds, especially black-necked cranes, cherished by local Tibetan communities. From March to April each year, more than ten species of migratory birds—including black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese, brown-headed gulls, ruddy shelducks, and common mergansers—fly here from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to nest, lay eggs, and raise their young. Transportation: Starting from Jiegu Town, head northwest along the highway for about 60 kilometers to reach Jielong Township in Yushu County. From Zanie Town, traveling southwest will quickly bring you into the Longbao Marsh Nature Reserve. The reserve is about 70 kilometers from downtown Yushu. Hiring a Beijing 2020 Jeep for a round trip costs around 300 yuan.

Qinghai Yushu Prefecture

Streets of Jiegu Town: As the seat of both the prefecture and county governments, Jiegu Town is located in the eastern part of the county. It has a population of 23,000, predominantly Tibetan (79% of the total). Covering an area of 807.7 square kilometers, it administers three neighborhood committees—Town East, Town South, and Town North—as well as eleven pastoral committees: Tuanjie, Hongwei, Jiefang, Minzhu, Xianfeng, Yuejin, Shengli, Dongfeng, Qianjin, Ganduo, and Guoqing. Established as a district-level Jiegu City in 1951, it became the First Xiao’ge (District) in 1952, was designated as Jiegu Town in 1956, transformed into Hongqi Commune in 1958, reverted to Jiegu Township in 1963, restored as Jiegu Town in 1965, and underwent further changes in 1972... More detailed information on Jiegu Town streets++