Qiangtang National Natural Reserve

Qiangtang Natural Reserve was officially approved as Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in April 2000. It is the second largest natural reserve in China. It is mainly established for the protection of the complete and unique high-cold ecological system and numerous giant ungulate animals.

Natural Environment of Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in Tibet

Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in Tibet covers the endless mountains and valleys. There are only several dozens of frost-free days in the natural reserve. Tourists making a Tibet tour here would be impressed by the picturesque natural landscape composed of blue sky, white clouds, snow-capped mountains and green grasslands.

Traditionally, Qiangtang refers to the plateau land surrounded by the numerous mountains of Nyainqentanglha Mountains, Tanggula Mountains and Kunlun Mountains. Qiangtang Area covers more than 0.7 million square kilometers. It is the core and main part of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and also the highest plateau with awful climate above the sea level. But Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in Tibet is the paradise for a series of endemic species on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is not only the cradle land of the ancient Shangshung Culture but also the source of several main rivers in Asia, including the Yangtze River, Mekong River, Salween River and Yellow River.

Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in Tibet covers a total area of 0.3 million square kilometers. There are 20,000 herdsmen and more than one million of livestock living in this national natural reserve. Most of the pastures are located in the test area and relief area in the south of Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in Tibet. The core area and the relief area in the north of the natural reserve are the paradise of the wild animals. Qiangtang National Natural Reserve is the core area of the large Qiangtang Area on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and also the most concentrated area of wild animals. It is a large land natural reserve in the world which rank only second to the Greenland National Park. Its average altitude ranks first among all the natural reserves in the world.

Water Resource of Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in Tibet

Lakes in varies sizes are have been the one of the most impressive landscapes of Qiangtang Plateau. It is estimated that the total lake area of Qiangtang Plateau surpasses 25,000 square kilometers, which takes about 25 percent of the total lake area in China. These lakes provide abundant water resources for the wild animals living in Qiangtang National Natural Reserve. In addition, numerous modern glaciers in this natural reserve not only create an amazing natural landscape for tourists making a Tibet tour but also provide supply for the surface runoffs and the underground waters.

Animal and Plant Resources in Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in Tibet

With special natural environment and climate, there is a series of rare and specious animals and plants in Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in Tibet. The rhodiola rosea is one of the most noted valuable medicinal plants in this natural reserve. It is pretty effective in the precaution of the high altitude sickness. A large amount of Tibetan mastiffs, Tibetan antelopes and Tibetan wild yaks live in Qiangtang National Natural Reserve in Tibet. These wild animals are of strong resistance in cold.