Tolaiheti Grassland

Tolaiheti Grassland

Tolaiheti Grassland is located in Alahake Township, Altay City, 138 kilometers from the city center and 30 kilometers away from Hemu Scenic Area and Kanas Scenic Area. Visitors can take an intercity bus to Alahake Township and then transfer to a special tourist shuttle bus for direct access. It is a high-altitude grassland-type natural scenic area. The forest road leading to Tolaiheti passes through Talang, Qiao’ati, and Hamaxiong Gully, crosses the deep green Sumudayileike River, follows the Tasbulake River valley, climbs over numerous high mountain ridges and deep valleys, and finally reaches a vast plateau platform that seems to be held aloft on a giant mountain. The platform features gently sloping hills, wide and flat valleys, clear streams everywhere, and abundant wildflowers, making it an ideal summer grazing ground. “Tolaiheti” means “the place where cranes live” in Mongolian. Under this name lie three broad basins separated by low mountains, collectively referred to as Tolaiheti. The area lies within the highest precipitation zone at elevations of 1,400–2,000 meters, resulting in particularly moist and cool air. Thanks to its stunning scenery, it has long been a popular filming location for movies and TV dramas. The dense forests are home to many rare birds and animals, including brown bears, red deer, lynxes, marmots, squirrels, forest frogs, steppe polecats, hazel grouse, and snowcocks, which are often spotted here. After rain, the grasslands yield an abundance of fragrant mushrooms, and in autumn, the slopes are dotted with strawberry patches that glisten like agates with dewdrops. The Tolaiheti Grassland hosts an annual regional Aken Singing Festival every September.