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Mo’erqie River Valley Rock Art

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Mo’erqie River Valley Rock Art　　Located on the rocks of the mountains and hills on both the eastern and western banks of the Mo’erqie River at the northern foot of the Altun Mountains, about 180 kilometers southeast of Qiemo County, at an altitude of 2,570–2,600 meters. The rock art is mainly concentrated on the mountainside of the eastern bank at the river mouth, with some also found on the rocks of both riverbanks about 1 kilometer downstream. The size and line thickness of the rock art vary greatly, with thousands of petroglyphs carved into the black rocks at heights ranging from 20 to 80 meters above the riverbed cliffs. Despite thousands of years of sun exposure, rain erosion, and wind-sand abrasion, most of the images remain clearly visible. Judging from what remains, the themes of these rock carvings are remarkably diverse, featuring a relatively concentrated array of wild animals and domesticated livestock, as well as various hunting scenes, herding scenes, celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, stars, and clouds, the earliest grasses to appear on the grasslands, the most ancient mountain pastures, intense tribal warfare, joyful and lively primitive dances, early primitive markings indicating the nascent numeracy of nomadic peoples, signs of gathering activities, and various mysterious symbols. The sheer quantity, rich content, and exquisite artistry of these works, when compared with those in the Altay and eastern Tianshan regions, each possess their own distinctive characteristics.

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Located on the rocks of the mountains and hills on both the eastern and western banks of the Mo’erqie River at the northern foot of the Altun Mountains, about 180 kilometers southeast of Qiemo County, at an altitude of 2,570–2,600 meters. The rock art is mainly concentrated on the mountainside of the eastern bank at the river mouth, with some also found on the rocks of both riverbanks about 1 kilometer downstream. The size and line thickness of the rock art vary greatly, with thousands of petroglyphs carved into the black rocks at heights ranging from 20 to 80 meters above the riverbed cliffs. Despite thousands of years of sun exposure, rain erosion, and wind-sand abrasion, most of the images remain clearly visible. Judging from what remains, the themes of these rock carvings are remarkably diverse, featuring a relatively concentrated array of wild animals and domesticated livestock, as well as various hunting scenes, herding scenes, celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, stars, and clouds, the earliest grasses to appear on the grasslands, the most ancient mountain pastures, intense tribal warfare, joyful and lively primitive dances, early primitive markings indicating the nascent numeracy of nomadic peoples, signs of gathering activities, and various mysterious symbols. The sheer quantity, rich content, and exquisite artistry of these works, when compared with those in the Altay and eastern Tianshan regions, each possess their own distinctive characteristics.