Longbao Marsh Nature Reserve

　　Introduction      Longbao Marsh is located about 80 kilometers southwest of Jiegu Town, the capital of Yushu Prefecture in Qinghai Province. It lies between two towering, parallel mountain ranges, with a valley stretching 10 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide in between. The valley floor is dotted with remnants of ancient lakes, covered in gravel, and is essentially a marshland of the alpine meadow type. At an elevation of over 4,000 meters, the climate is harshly cold—even light rain in May or June often mixes with snow. Sometimes the sky may be clear, only for hail, rain, or snow to suddenly descend, making it hard for visitors to adapt.

　　However, this unique and rugged geographical environment is home to rare birds and animals of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, as well as precious medicinal herbs. It has been hailed by world ornithologists as the “Hometown of the Black-necked Crane,” attracting the attention and admiration of bird experts and researchers worldwide. The reserve hosts rare plateau birds that even world-renowned avian research institutes have failed to capture, such as the black-necked crane. Other species include the bar-headed goose, brown-headed gull, ruddy shelduck, common merganser, scaly-sided merganser, and snow partridge, totaling more than ten types of birds.

　　The reserve is a narrow mountain basin stretching approximately 25 kilometers from east to west, covering a total area of 100 square kilometers. It is surrounded by high mountains, most of which rise between 5,000 and 5,500 meters in elevation. The bottom of the basin sits at an altitude of 4,100 to 4,200 meters. The annual average temperature is -4°C, with July temperatures reaching 9.3°C and January temperatures dropping to -11.1°C. The area receives 2,300 hours of sunshine per year and about 730 millimeters of precipitation, mostly concentrated between June and September. A tributary of the Tongtian River, the Yi Qu, flows through the reserve, forming five lakes of varying sizes with water depths between 0.2 and 0.4 meters. Numerous springs also emerge across the area, providing a stable and clean water supply.

　　A network of winding streams and scattered lakes and marshes divides the grassy plains into countless small “islets” and “sandbars,” making it difficult for wild animals to enter. The area boasts lush water plants and is abundant in ginseng and potentilla anserina. Streams, lakes, and marshes teem with fish, frogs, and other amphibians and reptiles, as well as aquatic plankton, creating rich breeding grounds. The favorable natural conditions and ecological environment—especially valued by local Tibetan communities—make it an ideal habitat for birds such as the black-necked crane. From March to April each year, more than ten species of migratory birds, including black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese, brown-headed gulls, ruddy shelducks, and common mergansers, fly here from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to nest, lay eggs, and raise their young.    Transportation      From Jiegu Town, head northwest along the highway for about 60 kilometers to Jielong Township in Yushu County. From Zanai Town, a short journey southwest quickly brings you into the Longbao Marsh Nature Reserve. The reserve is approximately 70 kilometers from downtown Yushu. Hiring a Beijing 2020 jeep for a round trip costs around 300 yuan.

　　 Qinghai Yushu Prefecture