Geographical & Ecological Marvel
Hoh Xil, the "Third Pole" of Earth, is a 4.5-million-hectare wilderness straddling Qinghai, Tibet, and Xinjiang. Its UNESCO-listed landscape includes:
- Glacial Systems: 2,000 km² of glaciers like Bukadaban Ice Cap feeding 107+ lakes, including Ulan Ul Lake (544.5 km²).
- Extreme Climate: Sub-zero temperatures year-round, with 91°C hot springs bubbling amid permafrost.
- Biodiversity: 230+ animal species thrive here, including:
- Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni): 60,000+ roam freely, completing Earth's last great terrestrial mammal migration.
- Snow leopards, wild yaks, and black-necked cranes—84 plant species are endemic.
Conservation Legacy
- 1997: Established as China's first national reserve for Tibetan antelopes after poaching reduced populations to 20,000.
- 2017: UNESCO recognition for protecting the complete antelope migratory route.
- Current efforts: Anti-poaching "Mountain Patrols" (featured in the film Kekexili) and cross-border coalitions with Tibet/Xinjiang.
Must-See Wonders
- Zonag Lake
- The primary antelope calving ground, where thousands gather each summer.
- Kunlun Mountains Pass
- Gateway at 4,772m with snow leopard sightings and Silk Road beacon towers.
- "Five-Color Landscape"
- Photography hotspots where blue lakes, white glaciers, yellow grasslands, red cliffs, and grey peaks converge.
Visitor Guidelines
- Access:
- From Golmud: 4hr drive via Qinghai-Tibet Highway (permit required).
- No independent travel—only guided tours (e.g., China Highlights).
- Best Time: July-August (10°C daytime; winter roads close).
- Ethical Tips:
- Maintain 300m distance from wildlife.
- Pack oxygen tanks—altitude sickness risks at 4,600m+.
Pro Tip: Watch sunrise at Chumar River—golden light ignites the antelopes' amber coats.