The rapeseed flowers of Menyuan are located in Menyuan County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. As a major oil-producing region in Qinghai and the northwest, the rapeseed flowers here have become a stunning and magnificent man-made landscape. Additionally, the planting area of these flowers spans from Qingshizui by the Haomen River in the west to Yulongtan by the Datong River in the east…
Misty Mountain Tigers and Leopards Misty Mountain is located opposite the mouth of Zhugou Valley and on the southern bank of the Haomen River. This mountain features a spectacular landscape, adorned with greenery in all seasons, with mist hovering around jagged rocks that appear hazy from afar. Lush trees cover the slopes in graceful arrangement, while bizarre rocks loom majestically. It is one of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Menyuan. A poem celebrates this beautiful view: “Mist darkens the eastern azure sky, crimson cliffs veiled in haze, a long roar sends a gust through the valley. Even a mere glimpse reveals not the whole—hidden within lies more. All forces blaze fiercely, each resembling the other. Wen’s brush captures the ever-changing misty hues; wait to see the mountain emerge in plain sight, and do not vie for supremacy.” Legend has it that in ancient times, tigers and leopards roamed here in groups, playing amidst Misty Mountain without harming people or livestock, and were thus revered as guardian deities of the mountain. Although tigers and leopards are no longer seen today, the rugged cliffs of Misty Mountain resemble tigers and leopards in form, and the mountain winds that rush out of the valley sound like the roars of beasts, creating an illusion. For this reason, it is regarded as a sacred mountain by local residents and honored as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Menyuan — Misty Mountain Tigers and Leopards.
Colorful Lake of Mandarin Ducks The Colorful Lake of Mandarin Ducks, also known as Luanhuzi, is referred to as “Flower Sea” by literati and poets, while local herders call it “Luanhuzi.” If you can immerse yourself in this place and quietly read this page of landscape, you will understand what each name refers to. “Flower Sea” describes how the lake is embraced by petal-like mountain mounds resembling lotus petals, encircling a lake basin that looks like the pistil of a flower—altogether…
Gangshika Snow Mountain
Xianmi National Forest Park is located in the Xianmi Forest Farm, which boasts the largest forested area in Qinghai Province. In 1996, it was designated as a provincial-level forest park by the Qinghai Provincial Forestry Bureau. In 2003, it was approved as Xianmi National Forest Park by the State Forestry Administration. It is situated in the northeastern part of Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, …
Mount Lenglong is located northeast of Menyuan County. Its summit features glaciers and snow that never melt all year round. When the sun sets and the evening glow drifts softly across the sky, the glistening white snow on the mountaintop sparkles brilliantly, sometimes taking on hues of crimson, pale purple, light blue-gray, and deep blue. It resembles a jade dragon wandering through a field of blooming flowers, constantly shifting in appearance — hence the name “Sunset Glow on Mount Lenglong.” The mountain is grand, massive, and heavily ridged...
Huangcheng Grassland. Huangcheng Grassland, known as the "vast land of brocade" in the Book of the Later Han and hailed by contemporary tourism authorities as one of China’s six most beautiful grasslands, is the Jinyang Ranch in the Qilian Mountains. Just as the sky leaves no trace, yet birds have flown overhead. The vast grassland turns fresh green year after year, and the Qilian Mountain Grassland remains indelible in people’s memories. In this land where once…
Yong’an Ancient City is located southwest of Menyuan County, about 50 kilometers from Haomen Town. Built in 1725, the third year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty, the city was constructed under the direction of the famed Qing general Nian Gengyao. The city spans 438 meters from north to south and 353 meters from east to west, with walls that are 7.3 meters high and 6.7 meters thick. It features...
Xianmi Gorge is located about 40 kilometers east of Menyuan County, connected to Zhugou Gorge, stretching approximately 40 kilometers in length. The Datong River winds swiftly through the gorge, with the sound of rushing water echoing incessantly. Towering cliffs rise on both sides, while dense forests of pine, cypress, and birch block out the sunlight. Birds sing in the woods, and deer and roe deer move unseen among the trees. In summer, the landscape is lush and vibrant—mountain streams babble, wildflowers bloom in brilliant competition, and their fragrance fills the air...
The Haiyuan Mountain Viewing Platform, located one kilometer north of Qingshizui Town in Menyuan County, Qinghai Province, is the best spot to admire the Hundred-Mile Flower Sea of Menyuan. In summer, the Menyuan Basin feels like spring. In golden July, during the rapeseed flowering season, beekeepers from all over the country flock here to follow the blooms and make honey. Beehives line the fields and roadsides, while bees buzz busily among the flowers...
Haomen Ancient City
The sacred East Sea of Five-Color Lake consists of two interconnected lakes, one above the other, nestled quietly in the embrace of Mount Baigeta at an altitude of 4,100 meters. It is one of the largest alpine lakes in Menyuan. The serene and beautiful Five-Color Lake, which combines snow-capped mountains, lakes, pristine forests, rare birds and animals, and exquisitely formed caves, is situated atop Mount Geta. Here,…
Turning northward from Maliantan, you will arrive at the most famous “Little Three Gorges” within Zhugou Gorge. These Little Three Gorges are known in Tibetan historical records as the three passes guarded by the “Fierce Tiger, Azure Dragon, Rakshasa, and Vajra,” leading to the sacred realm of the East Sea. The three gorges are layered like concentric barriers, with the river from the East Sea bursting forth through the knife-cut cliffs…
Era: Song Dynasty The city wall of the Ancient City of Menyuan is rectangular in shape, approximately 360 meters long from east to west and 300 meters wide from north to south. The remaining height is 11.7 meters, with a base width of 30 meters and a top width of 5–8 meters. The rammed earth layers are 10–12 centimeters thick. The wall features battlements that are 12 meters wide, and a semicircular barbican with the city gate facing south. Near the city wall, there used to be a moat...
A spectacular iceberg landscape, where massive chunks of ice pile up on the frozen surface of Qinghai Lake. These ice formations are piled by the wind, reaching heights of up to about 3 meters. The ice blocks vary in size and are as crystal-clear as giant crystals, emitting a captivating glow under the sunlight. Although winter at Qinghai Lake may not offer the murmuring streams and chirping birds of summer...
Fairy Bay is located on the northern shore of Qinghai Lake. It boasts a rich diversity of flora and fauna, along with uniquely distinctive wetland landscapes, making it a favored migratory habitat for dozens of bird species. Historical documents and poetry record this area, as seen in the poem "Jade Pool": "The Queen Mother opens her painted window by the Jade Pool, / The sorrowful 'Yellow Bamboo' song moves the earth. / The Eight Steeds travel thirty thousand li a day, / So why does King Mu never return again..."
The Shaxi River Xianghe Pagoda in Gangca County, Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai Province, is located to the west of Gangca County’s county town. It stands 21 meters tall and 17 meters wide, with 108 prayer wheels surrounding its base — matching the 108 beads of a Buddhist mala. Above the base are 32 smaller stupas, 31 of which represent the 31 towns and villages of Gangca County, while the other represents...
The Shaliu River Scenic Area is located in the southern part of Gangcha County, Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and is named after the Shaliu River. The Shaliu River originates from the southern foothills of Sansa Mountain, the highest peak within Gangcha County, stretches 95 kilometers in length, flows through the county town, and then empties into Qinghai Lake, covering a drainage area of 1,320 square kilometers. The Shaliu River Scenic Area in Gangcha County is China’s...
Tsangyang Gyatso (1683–1706), the Sixth Dalai Lama, was born in Lavu Yüsong, Monyul, Tibet. His dharma name was Lobsang Rigzin Tsangyang Gyatso. His life was filled with legend. His exceptional talent earned him a revered place in the pantheon of Tibetan poetry, and he composed some of the world’s most heartfelt verses, expressing the purest and most beautiful emotions. With his young life, he illuminated the beauty of poetry and the truth of Buddhist teachings. This master poet and saint of Tibetan Buddhism paused on the grasslands around the lake and quietly passed away at the Fairy Bay of Qinghai Lake. He and his poetry have achieved immortality at Qinghai Lake. The kind and simple people of Gangca, adapting to their environment with ingenuity, built the unique Tsangyang Gyatso Cultural Square, allowing visitors to wander through Tsangyang Gyatso’s sacred cultural sanctuary, appreciate the world’s most beautiful poetry, and experience the most charismatic aspects of the master’s spirit. It stands as a testament to the deepest remembrance and reverence of the people of Gangca—forever cherishing this saint who walked among mortals.
It carries profound symbolism, rich cultural heritage, and is imbued with the deep and extensive colors of Tibetan Buddhist culture and the ancient, weighty traditional architectural style. The majestic and resplendent Gratitude Pagoda consists of four parts: the base, the pedestal, the spire, and the crown. The 13 steps on each of the four sides of the pagoda represent the path to enlightenment. The four pagoda pillars respectively…