The main livestock raised on the Qinghai Plateau are cattle, sheep, and horses. Among them, horses, known for their endurance and sense of direction, are primarily used for riding. As a means of transportation, horses hold an extremely important position in animal husbandry and daily life, serving as close companions to herders during grazing and travel. The Horse Head Obo is built by herders using the totem of wild horses and piles of horse heads...
Also known as "Shatu Temple" or "Gadan Temple," it is called "Zhaxiqungkelin" in Tibetan, meaning "Auspicious 0 Continent." Its current location is on the western shore of Qinghai Lake at Heitugen, 46 kilometers southwest of the county seat, in Danlonggou by the Buha River within Quanji Township. The temple’s original site was in Nian’naisuoma, 6 kilometers southwest of Quanji Township, about 1…
By the Shaliu River in Gangcha, where mountain flowers bloom, birds fly, and fish leap, the scenery is enchanting. It is the only place in China to witness the remarkable migration of the naked carp. Here you’ll find the Xianghe Pagoda Ecological Area, Lovers’ Cliff, the Fish Viewing and Release Zone, Blessing and Gratitude Sculptures, and the spirit of Qinghai Lake—the Qinghai naked carp (commonly known as the Hu fish). Every year in June and July by the Shaliu…
The Yangtou Ebo scenic spot is located in Xinghai Village, Shaliuhe Town, Gangca County, about 12 kilometers south of the county town. Here, the area is overgrown with shrubs, covered in lush green grass, and boasts crystal-clear streams. The majestic Ebo stands prominently amidst the rising wisps of smoke, offering visitors a natural beauty that feels genuinely pristine. Especially during August and September, flocks of ruddy shelducks, black-necked cranes, and whooper swans…
The Niutou Obo scenic spot is located in Hargai Township, Gangcha County. It is just 10 kilometers from Hargai Railway Station, making it extremely accessible, and it is also close to the shores of Qinghai Lake. In summer, golden rapeseed flowers bloom brilliantly here, and especially from August to September, birds such as ruddy shelducks and whooper swans gather in the nearby marshes, creating a captivating landscape...
Legend has it that Lovers' Cliff was once a sacred site where couples pledged their love. Among the rocky cliffs lies a smooth slab resembling a blackboard. After falling in love, couples would carve their names on this stone, symbolizing eternal devotion and growing old together. What was once a mystical and romantic gesture took a tragic turn—over time, the cliff became known for lovers taking their own lives for love. They carved their names or beautiful declarations of love onto the cliff face, believing it would ensure everlasting togetherness. But cruel reality often clashed with their beautiful dreams, and many succumbed to life’s hardships, altering their fates. During the flood seasons of the Shaliu River, many young men and women jumped off the cliff, transforming what was once a picturesque Lovers' Cliff into a heartbreaking site of tragedy. Later, to bring peace to those souls lost for love and prevent such tragedies from recurring, prayer flags were erected and a blessing sculpture (the Buddha's Hand) was built on the cliff. The main feature of the sculpture is a Buddha's hand forming the abhaya mudra, holding a vajra pestle. It stands 17.2 meters tall with a base diameter of 3 meters. The main sculpture itself is 4.5 meters high, and the base adds another 3 meters, making the total height 7.5 meters.
The Shizang Lingka in Gangcha was initially built in 2011 and is an architectural complex embodying religious culture, tribal culture, sacred lake history, and lakeside culture. It is currently under construction. The most central structure of Shizang Lingka enshrines 60 Buddhas including Sakyamuni Buddha and Dorje Pemao Buddha, along with various Tibetan scriptures. …
La Ze: In Mongolian, it is called "Ebo," and in Tibetan, it is called "La Ze," which means praying for peace. The "Three-Livestock La Ze" is built from the naturally deceased heads of sacred horses, sacred cows, and sacred sheep, hence the name "Three-Livestock La Ze." It stands 37 meters tall. According to relevant historical documents, in 1652, the Fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso, on his way back to Tibet after being conferred titles in Beijing, passed through this area. He saw that the horses, cattle, and sheep here were strong and healthy, and the grassland was lush and fertile. Therefore, he established the La Ze here to bless the prosperity and flourishing of the people and livestock on the grassland. At that time, he was 37 years old, so the height of the La Ze was set at this auspicious number—37. "La Ze" is generally located on mountaintops and serves as a symbol and representation of the local mountain deity. It is a place of natural worship in the indigenous religion of the Tibetan region.
The Sea Worship Platform is located 8 kilometers southwest of Quanji Township on the northern shore of Qinghai Lake. From afar, the platform surrounded by colorful prayer flags presents a mysterious scene against the backdrop of Qinghai Lake, attracting numerous Tibetan devotees each year to burn juniper and worship the lake for peace and good fortune. The sea worship ceremony in August during autumn is even more grandiose…
Mount Wanyan is located 45 kilometers from the county town and belongs to the Datong Mountain Range of the Qilian Mountain System. With an elevation of 4,517 meters, it is an isolated peak. Due to its resemblance to the Egyptian pyramids, locals proudly refer to it as the “Pyramid of Gangca.” The summit is perpetually snow-capped and often shrouded in clouds, while the foothills boast lush grasslands, earning it the nickname “Golden Grass Mountain.” …
The Tara’s Original Temple, also known as Zhuoma’s Original Temple, where “Original Temple” (本康) means “Temple of One Hundred Thousand Buddhas,” and “Tara” (度母) refers to a group of goddesses who liberate and rescue suffering beings. They are also a collective of female deities revered by various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, totaling twenty-one. The Twenty-One Taras are widely worshipped by devotees and common people in Tibetan regions. Zhuoma has 21...
Transportation: Located on the mountaintop of Shebuqi Gully in Shiputan, Nian’aisuoma Village, Quanji Township, Gangca County, 8 km east of Qinghai Lake, at an altitude of 3,600 meters. Accessible by taxi from Gangca County. The rock carvings feature a panel that is 2.8 meters high and 3.4 meters wide, with 23 individual figures remaining. The content includes animals, hunting scenes, etc. All images were created using...
The proposed Qinghai Gangcha Shaliu River National Wetland Park is located in Gangcha County, Qinghai Province, covering a total area of 2,980.76 hectares.
Shaliuhe Site Located on the east bank of the Shaliuhe River south of Gangcha County in Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, this site is divided into eastern and western sections by the Shaliuhe Bridge. The eastern section lies along the Shaliuhe River in the western part of Hongshan Village, Shaliuhe Township. It borders the Gangcha–Tianjun Highway to the south, a hydrological station to the northwest, a village to the north, and an oil depot in Gangcha County to the east...
Xiaqiong Temple is a provincial-level cultural heritage site, located in Chafu Township, Hualong County, Qinghai Province. It lies 95 kilometers from the provincial capital of Xining and 15 kilometers south of the Linping Highway. As one of the more renowned religious and cultural attractions within Hualong County’s scenic area, the temple was first built in 1394, making it one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist temples in Qinghai. The total area of Xiaqiong Temple spans 270,000…
The Bai Tu Village Site is located in Bai Tu Village, Dejia Township, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. The site covers an area of approximately 80×80 meters, with a cultural deposit thickness ranging from 30 to 150 centimeters. Part of the site lies beneath the village, and pottery shards are scattered across the ground, with ash pits exposed along the cliff edges. In the eastern part of the site, there is a “…”
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County, on the northern bank of the Yellow River. It was originally built in the third year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1323). Constructed by the ancestors of the Salar people who migrated here from the southern bank of the Yellow River, it was expanded during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty and still retains architectural styles from the Yuan and Ming periods. Covering an area of 2,000 square meters, the mosque consists of…
Babaoshan is located to the west of Hualong County and on the banks of the Yellow River. It can be directly accessed via the Linping Highway and is about 90 kilometers from the provincial capital, Xining. It is one of the more well-known mountainous scenic spots in Hualong County. The main peak of Babaoshan stands at an elevation of 4,404 meters, with sheer cliffs and jagged rocks rising majestically, offering a panoramic view of Hualong, Guide, Huangzhong, Ping'an, and Xining. A local folk song goes, “Babaoshan...
Dala Site is located about 200 meters south of Lagongma Village, Heicheng Township, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. Dala is a spur terrace on the foothills of a major mountain range. The site is bordered by the Dasagou Sandy Gully to the east and west, connected to mountainous terrain to the south, and backed by a hillside to the north. It covers an area of approximately 200×120 meters, with cultural deposits 30–130 cm thick. The surface is scattered with pottery fragments...
The Hualong Hui Ethnic Folk Culture Park is located in Xixia Village on Jianshe Road in the county town. Established in 1998, it is a leisure and entertainment park integrating dining, entertainment, and sightseeing. The park features a cultural landscape of trees, flowers, and unique rocks. During the blooming season, the garden is filled with a riot of colorful flowers, graceful and enchanting, like clouds or mist, creating a fairy-tale-like atmosphere. 1. Folk...