Shaliuhe Scenic Area

　　Shaliuhe Scenic Area is located in the southern part of Gangcha County, Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and is named after the Shaliuhe River. The Shaliuhe River originates from the southern foot of Sansiza Mountain, the highest peak in Gangcha County, with a total length of 95 kilometers. After flowing through the county town, it empties into Qinghai Lake, covering a drainage area of 1,320 square kilometers.

　　 The Shaliuhe Scenic Area in Gangcha County is one of the best spots in China to witness the miraculous sight of the naked carp migration. Every summer from June to July, the huang fish (naked carp) of Qinghai Lake swim upstream against the current. They gather in dense schools and migrate up the Shaliuhe, Buha, and Quanji rivers within Gangcha to spawn. As they pass over shallow areas, their dorsal fins emerge above the water, resembling thousands of sails racing forward. Eventually, they form the unique spectacle of “half river clear water, half river fish” along dozens of kilometers of suitable spawning grounds. The local Tibetan people even say, “You can ride a horse through the water and step on fish,” truly a miracle of life’s grand performance.