Home of the Hu Fish

　　    By the Shaliu River in Gangca, where mountain flowers bloom, birds soar, and fish leap, the scenery is enchanting. It is the only place in China where you can witness the spectacular migration of the naked carp. Here, you’ll find the Harmony Tower Ecological Area, Lovers’ Cliff, the Fish Release and Viewing Area, the Blessing and Gratitude Sculptures, and the spirits of Qinghai Lake — the Qinghai naked carp (commonly known as the Hu fish). Every year in June and July, under the slanting rays of the setting sun, the Hu fish home by the Shaliu River becomes even more captivating. Flocks of Hu fish migrate to the Shaliu River to continue their life cycle, resembling thousands of boats racing upstream, creating the unique spectacle of “half river clear water, half river fish” and a scene of “thriving fish population” that is truly breathtaking.

　　　　          The best time to observe the Hu fish is from mid-June to mid-August (from the Dragon Boat Festival to the Beginning of Autumn in the lunar calendar). At the turn of spring and summer, the Hu fish in the lake harbor a special energy. During this season, they leave Qinghai Lake to begin their most important journey. They set off, with spawning parent fish gathering at the estuaries of the major rivers around the lake, then moving upstream in groups toward their ancestral spawning grounds. At first, only small schools of fish can be seen moving intermittently up the river, but soon large numbers pour in, with countless dark, hammer-shaped bodies and pale yellow fins instantly filling the river channel. The water suddenly darkens, and it seems as if the river is no longer flowing with water, but with Hu fish. Every year, Gangca County welcomes many visitors who come to watch the fish. With the wish to “treat the spirits of Qinghai Lake with kindness and quietly observe the Hu fish migration,” these visitors leave countless footprints on this land. The Hu fish home by the Shaliu River also silently prays and sends blessings to the people and creatures of this region...

　　　　          In July, the highland coastal Tibetan town of Gangca — the Hu fish home by the Shaliu River — is your ideal sacred destination for fish release, prayer, and vacation.