Tongtian River

　　    This area features rugged and breathtaking scenery. Since ancient times, it has been a vital route from Xining to Yushu and from Qinghai to Tibet, and also one of the most treacherous sections along the upper reaches of the Tongtian River. In the past, Han and Tibetan envoys who traveled frequently, monks spreading scriptures, pilgrims praying to gods and buddhas, as well as travelers going north and south, often traversed this ancient road and braved the dangers of the Tongtian Crossing. The famous chapter in *Journey to the West* where the scripture-seekers dry their scriptures after fording the river takes place here. Today, the Tongtian Crossing is spanned by a seven-arch reinforced concrete bridge. The drifting leather rafts that plied these waters for a thousand years have now become a sought-after subject for curious photographers.

　　 Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai