Cypress Mountain

　　     Guide     Standing on the streets of Delingha City and looking north, you’ll see undulating mountain ranges rising and falling like a crescent moon, embracing this new city in the vast desert. The rugged peaks and steep cliffs are covered with ancient cypress trees, dressing the exposed ridges and valleys of the plateau in lush green hues, like a coiling green dragon lying across the land, displaying a grand, rugged, and majestic expanse of green. This bold and profound sea of emerald hills is one of Delingha’s scenic highlights — Cypress Mountain.  　    Introduction      Cypress Mountain lies to the west of the Bayin River and to the east of National Highway 315. It acts as a natural barrier for Delingha City, standing like a mighty sentinel guarding this pearl of the plateau. With its elegant environment and enchanting scenery, it is an ideal destination for travelers. From afar, the mountain is dotted with proud cypress trees, where “the grass looks green up close but seems absent from afar.” Once you climb up, you’ll find verdant meadows across ridges and valleys, with excellent natural pastures spread over the hills and slopes, presenting a magnificent view of “spring grass stretching for miles.”

　　    “With bark like frost, smooth from rain, forty spans around, / Its dark-green height soars two thousand feet to the sky” (Du Fu, Tang Dynasty, “Ode to Ancient Cypresses”). The tall, straight cypress trees, like massive umbrellas, are the most spectacular sight on Cypress Mountain. Also known as Qinghai rock cypress, these resilient trees thrive in harsh conditions, growing vigorously whether among gravel piles or on cliff faces. Therefore, even in the arid mountains and valleys of the Qaidam Basin, they remain lush and vibrant. Among the cypress groves, patches of red willows and clusters of alpine flowers create a scene where butterflies flutter playfully, making it a blessed place for the people of Delingha.

　　    The Cypress Mountain Waterfall is another breathtaking highlight, widely renowned. Sheer cliffs, as if carved by knives, channel crystal-clear spring water from high above, forming a large pool of shimmering blue water. The water ripples and swirls, reflecting the sky and surrounding mountains, creating a harmonious and picturesque scene. Behind the waterfall is a large hollow cave; sitting inside it, you can watch the silver curtain of water cascade down, creating the perfect natural “water curtain cave.”

　　    Among the dense cypress woods, you’ll also find Qinghai spruce, regarded as a “national treasure.” This ancient species from the Cretaceous period grows tall and lush, some as old as four to five hundred years, making it a precious “living fossil” plant alongside the dawn redwood and ginkgo. The highest peak of Cypress Mountain rises over 4,000 meters, with steep and majestic terrain. For those adventurous enough to reach the summit, the panoramic view of Delingha unfolds beneath, with all its splendor laid out before your eyes.

　　 Delingha, Qinghai