The sacred home of the snow leopard
Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

The leader of Bestecotours will meet you at the airport upon your arrival, or we can begin in Chengdu and travel together by plane to the Yushu Sanjiangyuan National Park in Qinghai. You will stay in authentic Tibetan-style accommodations that resemble a Tibetan museum filled with various artworks.

Under the guidance of the leader from Bestecotours, we headed to Xiang Gou Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery with a history of over 700 years. Inside the temple, you could listen to the evening prayers of the monks. The monks of this temple have a tradition of feeding Tibetan brown bears. Here, you would also have the opportunity to encounter wild Tibetan brown bears, which are the largest carnivores in the Tibetan Plateau. However, due to the local people’s reverence for these bears, which is even reflected in their religious beliefs, they are rarely hunted.

Yushu’s Xinzhai Jiana Mani Stone Scripture City has been recognized as a record-breaker, featuring 3.5 billion stones inscribed with scriptures, spells, and writings. Over a period of more than 300 years, these stones were piled up one by one, leaving people standing in awe of the power of faith.

In the Tibetan region, the Tibetans have a tradition of sky burial. This practice, which has strict and sacred procedures, dates back thousands of years. The sky burial site in Yushu and Batang began over a thousand years ago. We will visit this mysterious and awe-inspiring place.

As we travel to Nangqên County, we will pass through rare canyon-forest areas of the Tibetan Plateau, which are renowned for their rich biodiversity, including the Gar Temple.

We set off along the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road, also known as the “Silk Road,” which begins in the ancient capital of Chang’an during the Tang Dynasty of ancient China and extends all the way to Lhasa. We traversed a segment of this route. Along the way, we passed by the Temple of Princess Wencheng, built in honor of Princess Wencheng, a Chinese princess who made significant contributions to the fusion of Han and Tibetan cultures in ancient times. This temple, which dates back over 1,300 years, consists of grottoes and rock carvings. Here, we sought out some of the unique birds and animals found only in the plateau. At Bai-Zha Forest Farm, we aimed to find two bird species rarely seen elsewhere – the Tibetan thrush and the brown-eared bulbul. 

Gaher Temple, one of the largest temples of the White School of Tibetan Buddhism, is situated atop a cliff at an altitude of 4,200 meters. Here, life is equal, and monks coexist peacefully with animals. This place serves as a model of harmony between humans and nature, with Rhesus Macaque,Blue Sheep, and other animals freely moving in and out of the monastery. Occasionally, Maned Serow and White-lipped Deer can be seen in the forest. The three highland pheasants, namely White Eared Pheasant, Buff-throated Monal-Partridge, and Blood Pheasant, are the star species near Gaher Temple and form a unique scenic feature of the  Temple.

The swift Lancang River meanders through the Zadoengsa Township of Yushu, creating a beautiful arc and forming the magnificent Angsa Grand Canyon. This canyon is the most complete Cretaceous Danxia geological landscape in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and one of the areas with the highest density of Snow Leopards and the best state of conservation for their populations. It is known as the “Land of Snow Leopards.”Blue Sheep in the mountains, Himalayan Marmots play together on the grasslands, and Bearded vultures circle in the sky. Snow Leopards and Leopard cats survey their territories from the rocks at the top of the canyon. Ancient Tibetan herdsmen live in the Angsa Grand Canyon, tending to their yaks and sheep and leading a secluded life. In their settlements, prayer flags and Mani stones symbolize their reverence for nature and deities.

In the Angsa Grand Canyon, search for the tracks of wild animals such as the White-lipped Deer, Blue Sheep, and Alpine Musk-deer.

Continue searching for signs of the Snow Leopard.

Exploring wildlife at night using an infrared camera.

We conducted interviews with local herdsmen in Angsa to gain a deeper understanding of the local ecological environment and the relationship between local herdsmen and wildlife. We also examined the implementation of the snow leopard conservation project and the role played by local herdsmen in its implementation.

Under the guidance of our guide, we will search for the tracks of snow leopards and other wildlife.

In the vast interior of the Tibetan Plateau, Qumala is the birthplace of the main source of the Yellow River and the northern source of the Yangtze River. As a key area of the “Third Pole of the Earth,” much of the land is arid and extremely cold, making it extremely harsh for human survival. However, it is a paradise for numerous wildlife.

Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to observe the unique wildlife characteristic of the plateau. Kiang and Tibetan Gazelles roam freely across the highlands. Kiang are often found in small groups of five or six individuals, while larger groups can consist of dozens or even hundreds of individuals. Interestingly, Kiang sometimes enjoy racing against cars. The graceful movements of the Black-necked Cranes and the Bar-headed Goose are perfectly complemented by the vast landscape of the plateau.

The Tibetan Antelope is undoubtedly the star of this land. It is the world’s highest-living hoofed animal. Light and beautiful, with an elegant posture, it is one of the greatest species of life on the plateau.

Every May or June, thousands of Tibetan Antelopes gather in Qumale and set off. They travel in small groups of three or five, or in larger groups of dozens or even hundreds, to move into the heart of the Hoh Xil region in preparation for reproduction. They traverse vast, uninhabited areas solely to ensure the continuation of their species. This area has also become a migration route for Tibetan antelopes. You will witness a breathtaking display of life's wonders.

You will travel to the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve to observe once again the magnificent spectacle of the Tibetan antelope migration from a viewing platform. This is an exclusive arrangement of ours.

Head to the Songnda Protection Station, which is named after Songnda Jie, a person who sacrificed his life to protect Tibetan antelopes. Here, you will observe the daily operations of the protection station and have conversations with its staff to learn about the habits and migration routes of Tibetan antelopes, as well as the development and implementation of the Tibetan antelope protection project.

Enter the uninhabited area of the Wild Yak Valley. This is a paradise for desert animals, where hoofed creatures gather. We will search for wild yaks and other species.

Yin Niu Gorge, located just across a mountain range fromHoh Xil Nature Reserve, is an uninhabited area that is truly surprising. It features a diverse range of ecological environments, including high-altitude tundra, high-altitude shrubland, yucca grassland, and needle grass grassland. The snow-capped mountains, grasslands, rivers, and lakes blend seamlessly together.

There are seven species of even-toed ungulates that live here. Most of them are unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and are one of the few regions where wild yaks are found. The trip to the Wild Yak Valley was undoubtedly a highlight of our journey.

Endangered species such as the  Tibetan Antelope, Argali, White-lipped Deer, Kiang, Wild Yak,Blue Sheep, and   Tibetan Gazelle  freely roam here. There are also numerous carnivorous animals that inhabit this animal kingdom. Brown Bears, Wolves, Tibetan Foxes, Red Foxes, Eurasian Lynx and Snow Leopards.

Sky hunters such as Saker Falcons, Eurasian Eagle-Owls, and Upland Buzzard also roam these territories.

The trip to the Sanjiangyuan National Park is about to conclude, and the leader of Bestecotours will escort you to the airport or to another location for continued travel.