Qiangtang Prairie, one of the five largest pastures in China, is located between the Kunlun Mountains, Tanggula Mountains, and the Gangdisi Mountains. With an average altitude of over 4,500 meters, Qiangtang Prairie is the largest natural grassland in Tibet. It is a paradise for wildlife. It covers an area of more than 600,000 square kilometers. The Qiangtang Grassland was officially promoted as a national nature reserve on April 4, 2000. With an area of 247,120 square kilometers, it is the second-largest nature reserve in the world.
Qiangtang means "the highland of the north" in Tibetan. In the past, Qiangtang was described as a spooky place. It was deserted except for a few wild animals. There are vast tracts of no man's land, inhabited only by a small number of herdsmen in the south. The grassland mainly refers to the part of the northern Tibetan plateau grassland in the Nagqu region. The Qiangtang Prairie has now developed into a famous tourist attraction. Nagqu, which means black river, is the most representative area of the Qiangtang grassland. There are countless sacred mountains, sacred lakes and big rivers flowing all around. There are vast grasslands, glaciers, hot springs and geothermal energy.
Best Time to Visit
Every year July and August, it is the most beautiful time for Qiangtang Grassland. At the end of August and the beginning of September, the grass begins to turn yellow. By September, the Qiangtang Grassland will officially enter the long winter. In winter, the sky is blue, the mountains are silver, and the grass is golden. Walking around the Qiangtang Prairie in winter, you will feel the beauty of emptiness.
How to Get to
From Lhasa, follow the Qinghai-Tibet Highway to the north for 99 kilometers and pass the Yangbajing Geothermal Power Station to the Nianqing Tanggula Mountains. The north of it is the vast Qiangtang Grassland.
Tips of Qiangtang Prairie
- Qiangtang is a sparsely populated place. You need a guide who knows the area well. Otherwise, it's easy to get lost.
- Qiangtang Grassland is more than 4,500 meters above sea level. Although it is rich in vegetation, it is a plateau after all. The environment is low in oxygen content. Travelers to the Qiangtang Grassland should also pay attention to altitude sickness.
- In order to make the Qiangtang Grassland more beautiful, please take your garbage with you.
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