Introduction Located about 4 kilometers inside Luman Gully in Tianpeng Township, Tianjun County, a total of three sites have been discovered. One is on the north side of the mountain root, where more than 50 animal figures in various forms are carved on a large rock of about 3 square meters; one is in the middle with fewer images, featuring a total of 7 animal figures; one is on the south side, which is rather unique, with a total of 19…
Introduction Located on over 30 granite porphyry rocks on the hills of Lushan in Jianghe Township, eastern Tianjun County, these carvings comprise more than 270 images of various kinds. The artworks depict animals such as cattle, deer, horses, eagles, leopards, and dogs, as well as scenes of hunting, fighting, and symbols representing fertility. · Delingha, Qinghai…
Introduction Located northeast of Tianjun County, about 18 kilometers from the county town. Built in 1957, it features Tibetan scriptures carved on stone slabs, including 108 volumes of the Kangyur (also known as Guan Jiao), 200 volumes of the Dzyan scriptures, and 324 Buddha statues. The scripture wall forms a square courtyard, standing 2 meters high, 1 meter wide, and stretching 320 meters in circumference. The entire carving is...
Introduction The Tianjun Stone Forest is located on Tianjun Mountain in the western part of Tianjun County. This majestic mountain stands tall and imposing, with lush pines and cypresses and green grass covering the ground. The scenery is breathtaking and ever-changing, both above and below the mountain. On either side of the peak lie Tianjun Gully and Blind Bear Gully, where towering rock formations create a surreal landscape that is both dreamlike and real—boasting the delicate elegance of Yunnan’s Stone Forest while also featuring a more rugged and grandiose presence.
The Buha River is an inland river in Qinghai Province, China. It originates from the Shule Nan Mountains and flows southeast into Qinghai Lake. With a total length of over 300 kilometers and a drainage area of more than 16,000 square kilometers, the Buha River is the largest and longest river among those that flow into Qinghai Lake. At its estuary, the river forms a delta stretching 13 kilometers within the lake basin...
Tianjun Mountain (also known as Tianqin Mountain or Tianqing Mountain) is located about 15 kilometers southwest of the county town, with an elevation of 4,125.4 meters. It is one of the 13 famous mountains around the lake. Towering and precipitous, the mountain presents a striking silhouette. Gazing upward, you’ll see wisps of light cloud and thin mist swirling around its mid-slopes, resembling an ink-wash painting. At times, the entire mountain disappears into the clouds, alternately obscured and revealed, adding to its poetic charm. There is only a narrow, winding path leading to the summit, resembling a sheep’s trail, flanked by steep cliffs on both sides. Once you reach the top, a vast expanse opens up—a flat grassland approximately 5 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide. In summer, the area is covered with lush grass and wildflowers. Herders drive their livestock up here to graze, not only for convenience but also for safety. The mountain's climate is unique: “Where there are clouds, there will be rain; where there is rain, it will turn to snow.” On thick foggy days, visibility is reduced to just a few steps, yet in crisp autumn weather, the sky is clear and blue, allowing you to gaze all the way to the azure waters of Qinghai Lake over a hundred kilometers away. To the southeast of Tianjun Mountain lies Tianjun Valley, and to the southwest lies Xiong Valley, both densely covered with willow shrubs, while the slopes are verdant with pine and cypress. This area is home to herds of blue sheep, bounding forest musk deer, as well as deer and bears. Within Tianjun Valley, there is a large rock shelter (known in Tibetan as Samkhang) and a seemingly bottomless “sky well.” The renowned Nyingma Red Sect leader, Gulang, once resided here. Nowadays, during summer and autumn, Tianjun Valley and Xiong Valley are lush and fragrant, alive with birdsong, making them popular spots for local residents to go on outings and have picnics.
The Xiariha Stone Scripture Courtyard is located in a place called Xiariha, about 20 kilometers northeast of the county town. It is a square-shaped stone scripture courtyard built with scripture stones, standing 2 meters high, 1 meter wide, and with a perimeter of 320 meters. The total volume of the stone scripture wall is approximately 1,736 cubic meters, with about 488 cubic meters of - stone, covering an area of 64.6 square meters. On these...
Ancient Ruins
Buha River Scenic Park The main tributary of Qinghai Lake, the Buha River, flows through Tianjun County and is located to the north of the county town. The Buha River nourishes vast alpine meadows where the grass stretches to the horizon, its deep green hue richer than wine. The banks of the Buha River are densely covered with sea buckthorn bushes, which dance gracefully in the spring breeze, filling the air with their fragrant berries. On clear, crisp days, naked carp play in the water and flocks of wild ducks gather. …
Tianjun Stone Scripture Courtyard The Tianjun Stone Scripture Courtyard is located northeast of Tianjun County in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Since the 1950s, it has been jointly carved and stacked by local monks and folk artisans into a square courtyard standing 2 meters high, 1 meter wide, and with a perimeter of 320 meters. The courtyard houses over 100,000 stone tablets of varying sizes inscribed...
Qinghai Tianjun Buha River National Wetland Park is located in Tianjun County, Qinghai Province, covering a total area of 7,133.97 hectares. The Buha River is the “mother river” of Qinghai Lake. The Buha River National Wetland Park, with a construction period of seven years, is distributed along the Buha River valley within Tianjun County. The wetland park extends from the county boundary between Tianjun and Gangca counties in the east (downstream direction)...
The mountain scenery and ice peaks of Shule After passing through "Mantang" (meaning "source of herbs"), known as a wildlife paradise and a land rich in traditional Chinese medicinal plants, you will see a range of uniquely shaped and vibrantly colored peaks, rugged and layered. Some pierce the clouds, while others stretch out in long, winding ridges. Gangger Xueheli is snow-white, Gaba Maerdangri is crimson red, Sulfur Mountain is pale yellow, Mantang Rigen is indigo blue, Gangcewuji Mountain is emerald green... Each displays its own distinct hue, creating a kaleidoscope of colors. Due to the effects of wind, rain, and sunlight, some peaks resemble a Tibetan girl’s dress adorned with red, yellow, green, and purple sashes, appearing especially graceful, while others look like mountain roads paved with gravel of the same color, mysterious and unfathomable. Centered around the polar region of the southern Shule Mountains, there are 438 Quaternary glaciers, covering a total area of 496.42 square kilometers with an estimated ice volume of nearly 30 cubic kilometers. These glaciers form a massive solid reservoir. They spread from the northwest to the southeast, covering various peaks and valleys, with jagged horn peaks and knife-edge ridges.
Zhaxi Junnai
Introduction The word "Keluke" comes from Mongolian, meaning "lush grassy marshland or a place abundant with water plants." It is located in the eastern part of the Qaidam Basin and is a slightly brackish freshwater lake. With crystal-clear waters and a calm surface, the scenery here is enchantingly beautiful. Every early spring, when the ice on Lake Keluke begins to melt, flocks of rare birds such as black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese,…
Introduction White Public Mountain is located in Huaitoutala Township, about 40 kilometers southwest of Delingha City, the capital of Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. It is the most prominent peak in the northeastern area of Tosu Lake. The mountain is highly distinctive—when viewed from afar, it resembles a pyramid, giving off an air of mystery; from the side, it looks like a gorilla sitting and gazing at the blue lake; and from the front, it takes the form of a cuesta, with steep cliffs...
The Haixi Bayin River Water Conservancy Scenic Area is located within the territory of Delingha City. Built along the Bayin River, it is a natural river and lake-type water conservancy scenic area. Covering an area of 397 square kilometers, the scenic zone includes 240 square kilometers of water surface. Delingha City in Haixi Prefecture is situated in the Qaidam Basin and is a shining pearl of the Gobi Desert. The Bayin River...
Introduction Located on the west bank of Rehotgou in Rehot Township, Dulan County, about 10 kilometers from downtown Dulan. It is a large-scale early Tang Dynasty Tubo tomb complex and also the first such discovery in China. The tombs are distributed across four natural villages — Rehot, Zhamari, Shar’tang, and Xiewai — along a stretch of approximately 7 kilometers. From 1982 to 1986, the Qinghai Provincial Cultural…
Guide Standing on the street in Delingha City and looking north, you’ll see undulating mountains and overlapping ridges, like a crescent moon embracing this new city in the vast desert. The rugged mountain terrain is lined with steep cliffs, and ancient cypresses densely cover the hills, adorning the exposed ridges and valleys of the plateau with emerald ridges and dark peaks, resembling a coiled green dragon lying across the land, displaying a vast, rugged, and...
Introduction: Nuomuhong is a newly discovered ancient cultural relic and also the westernmost excavation site in Qinghai’s archaeological history. Its cultural content features unique characteristics, giving its discovery significant standing in archaeology. The Nuomuhong ruins are located in the southern part of Qinghai’s Qaidam Basin, covering an area of approximately fifty thousand square...
Introduction: In the lower reaches of the Makhe River, there is a valley called “Hongjun Valley.” Not far into the valley, you will see a huge rectangular bluish stone standing abruptly at the foot of the mountain ahead. The front of the stone is smooth and flat, inscribed with fifteen bold black characters: “March north to support the nationwide anti-Japanese and anti-Chiang struggle!” It was proclaimed by Anqing. The calligraphy may not be elegant or flowing...