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  Qiangtang Grassland  
 

Qiangtang, which means "northern highland," refers to the north Tibetan plateau. Located among the Kunlun, Tanggula and Gangdese Mountains, its land area covers 2/3 of the whole of Tibet. Its total area is more than 600 thousand square kilometers, averaging about 4,500 meters above sea level. Cold, windy and snowy for eight or nine months a year, frozen land can be seen everywhere. An old folk song is sung like this: "The mysterious Qiangtang, it is so wild and desolate when you are here the first time; it becomes your lovely hometown when you get to know more."

The north of Qiangtang Plateau is even called No People Area, thus, the place is an ideal living area for rare animals, including north of the Gangdese Mountains, Nyainqen-tanggula Mountains and the wide area south of Kunlun Mountains.

The Qiangtang Grassland features thousands of wild animals in the area. Forty of them have government protection. Such rare animals as Wild yaks, Bharals, Tibetan wild donkeys, White-lipped deer, are being well preserved in the area. Research is also being carried out.

In the reserve, there are vast prairies and glaciers, numerous mountains and lakes, hot springs, and terrestrial heats. The golden season is the period from June to September, during which the temperature can reach 7-12 C and the north of Tibetan plateau takes on spectacular views with gentle winds, mild sunshine, and lush grazing for large numbers of cattle and sheep.

It is also the main base for animal husbandry, having a large range of pasturelands and grass of high quality. The famous "plateau boat" Yak and Tibetan antelope live in the area. The herdsmen's homes are mostly located at the foot of the mountains and la kesi des. When summer comes, they put their simple packing on horseback, herding nomadically on the boundless prairie, their melodious songs accompanying their wandering footsteps. The herdsmen shake away the long loneliness by hard work and singing in nature's harshness, creating a beautiful and colorful life.

Best time to go: August is the peak season for the Qiangtang Grassland. The Nagqu Qiangtang Horse-racing Festival is from August 10 to 16 every year.

 
 
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