On November 27, the first phase of the preliminary exploration and investigation of the Qaidam Large Cliff (tentative name), jointly organized by the Publicity Department of the Haixi Prefecture Committee of Qinghai Province and the Haixi Prefecture Tourism Bureau, and supported by Nubia and Toread, was successfully completed.
Famous mountaineer Luo Jing, along with over ten media representatives from China National Geography, Outdoor Exploration, and Green Mountain Network, as well as six volunteers selected from 2,000 applicants nationwide, participated in this event, jointly unveiling the mystery of China’s largest cliff.
The Qaidam Large Cliff is located 25 kilometers east of Shizibaiqier in the northern Xujii Canyon of Delingha City, with an elevation of 5,234 meters. The vertical drop of the cliff exceeds 500 meters (data from Google Maps), making it currently the largest known cliff in China with a vertical height above 5,000 meters.
After two days of challenging approach through snowy roads, the exploration team reached the base of the cliff and collected a wealth of photographic and video materials. Close-up photos reveal that this granite wall not only features stunning mountain shapes but also boasts stable rock quality, a well-developed crack system, and several ice-rock mixed gullies that pose significant challenges to climbers. Additionally, Google Maps shows that near the "Qaidam Large Cliff," there are six other cliffs with elevations between 4,500 and 5,100 meters, resembling seven lotus flowers. It is understood that the Qaidam Basin is arid with little rainfall, offering an extremely long climbing season, and the accessibility of the cliffs after snowmelt is also considerable. At high altitudes, this area will be an excellent destination for traditional big wall climbing and a high-altitude climbing training base.
Based on the data obtained from this exploration, the Haixi Prefecture People's Government will subsequently launch a national naming campaign for this large cliff and the other six peaks, and will initiate the first ascent next year.
The exploration team collected a wealth of valuable material about the cliff during this mission and also encountered several perilous situations, including wildlife encounters, vehicle breakdowns, and snowdrifts reaching waist-high. Under the leadership of team captain Luo Jing, everyone successfully completed the mission, capturing the dangers and beauty of Qaidam. Through participating in this activity, all media professionals and outdoor enthusiasts gained a direct understanding and appreciation of Qaidam’s immense outdoor sports resources. This vast and mysterious land is not only highly suitable for self-driving, hiking, and family science education but also ideal for climbing, mountain off-roading, and paragliding.
"Exploring Qaidam" is a long-term, serialized exploration initiative launched by the Haixi Prefecture Government. Based in the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, the activity focuses on the lesser-known natural resources, mountain outdoor sports resources, tourism development resources, and event resources around the Qaidam region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, conducting exploration, surveying, experience, and documentation activities. During the route exploration phase, team members use photos, videos, text, and other media to record in real time the geographic location, landform features, climate characteristics, cultural traits, and the status of flora and fauna along the routes, achieving comprehensive and scientific understanding of the paths. After exploration, the gathered data is compiled to establish a relatively complete natural resource database, providing authentic and comprehensive data and visual support for subsequent outdoor activities, tourism development, and scientifically sustainable operations.
Green Mountain Network: Vertical Limits moderator Lu Ying, moderators of Yunnan, Tibet, Qinghai, and Sichuan sections Xr Zeng Chen, all participated in this exploration activity.@Lu Ying @Xr Zeng Chen
The second phase of "Exploring Qaidam" — Journey to Dulan — is now open for registration and attention.
Dulan County is located in the southeastern corner of the Qaidam Basin, with its terrain divided into two main types: the Hanbuda mountainous area and the plains of the Qaidam Basin. Landforms such as Gobi, desert, valleys, rivers and lakes, hills, plateaus, and mountains are distributed in sequence. There are more than 40 rivers of varying sizes within the county, including the Shaliu River, Tuosuo River, and Chahanwusu River.