Qilian Mountain Grassland [Jiayuguan]

"One of Top Six Most Beautiful Grasslands in China"
Ranked by China National Geoegraphy Magazin

Qilian Mountain Grassland in Qinghai Province and Gansu Province: The beauty of blending

About 570 million years ago, tremendous changes took place in northwest China. When the sea subsided, the Qilian Mountain Grassland arose. ‘Qilian' is a term ancient nomadic Hun living in north China used to refer to the 'heavenly mountain.' Today, the Uygur people, the descendents of the Hun, still call Qialian the 'heavenly mountain.'

The grassland at the foot of the mountain has plenty of water and pasture. In ancient times, it was a grazing ground for the Hun chieftains and Mongolian nobles. Its distinct climate and good weather gained it the name of 'golden lotus prairie' in the Tibetan epic KING GESAR, and the Uygur and the Mongols call it 'golden pasture.'

To the east of this golden pasture is the Damaying Grassland at the foot of Mount Nianzhi. The slopes of the mountain are covered with dense forests and white caragana. Further to the stretch the Xizhang and Dongzhang grasslands in the Sunnan Uygur Autonomous County. When the yellow caragana flourishes in summer, the entire land puts on the color of sunshine, and the Uygur herdsmen rove about in this 'golden sea' with their white and black yurts and their flocks of cattle.

Best time to go
Summer especially June, July and August
In summer, an average annual temperature is 68.5F.

Ticket
No ticket

Around Landscape
Great-wall Relics in Shandan County, Mati Temple Grottoes, etc.

Local Snacks and Specialties
Qilian Fungus. Red Orpin, Ginseng Fruit, Lotus Flower, Snow Lingzhi, Saffron, Muskiness, Ghee Flower etc.

Travel Tips
Be sure to respect local customs and traditions.
Qinghai Province is still poverty so please buy enough necessity in big cities before traveling.
It is the best way that you rent 4 Wheel off-road Vehicles in Xining City.

Distance
Beijing (2092 km) Xining City (500 km) Qilian Mountain Grassland