Live Your Best Lives
From childhood to adulthood, I have always heard about various places such as Yellowstone National Park, Iguazu National Park, Zion National Park, Swiss National Park, etc., and I feel that each one of them is awesome.
On the other hand, China has such beautiful mountains and rivers, stretching endlessly and with a variety of landscapes, but there is no national park in the true sense. It is really unacceptable!
This time, Qinghai Sanjiangyuan did us proud.
Recently, the state officially announced that the "Sanjiangyuan National Park" will be officially established before the end of this year and will become "China's first national park."
Sanjiangyuan has always been a treasure land with abundant water and grass and diverse species. However, due to the lack of proper protection and rational development in recent years, its ecological vitality has declined.
If it is to be protected and developed in the model of a national park in the future, it will be really exciting!
A national park is a natural area designated by the state as requiring special protection, management, and utilization to preserve the integrity of one or more representative ecosystems and provide a venue for ecotourism, scientific research, and environmental education. It differs from both strict nature reserves and general tourist attractions. The primary significance and role of a national park can be broadly summarized as follows: 1. Preservation and protection of scenic resources; 2. Exploration and research of resources and the environment; and 3. Sustainable development of the tourism industry.
The above is from Baidu Encyclopedia. Okay, let’s put it in plain words. To put it simply, a part of it will be opened for commercial development for tourism, for the public to visit and experience, and the rest will be sealed for ecological protection.
It can be said that this is a great sustainable development model, regulatory protection + commercial operation, a benign combination.
If commercialization is excessive, many original ecological things will be destroyed. If commercialization is barren, the motivation and vitality for protecting the original ecology will be lost.
At the same time, we also hope that there will be more and more such national parks in our motherland in the future. While protecting them, we can also increase their popularity, develop tourism resources and generate economic value.
Geography geeks, please skip this section. This section is just a simple explanation for geography novices who are confused about the different concepts of "Three Rivers". Although these three geographical concepts all have "Three Rivers", there are still differences, with some overlaps and some differences.
The Sanjiangyuan is called the "Water Tower of China". In fact, it is not just the Water Tower of China. The "Three Rivers" here refer to the Yellow River, Yangtze River and Lancang River.
Among them, the Lancang River is an international river. The Sanjiangyuan provides an important water source for China and its neighboring countries. Due to its important status and role, it is also one of the most important nature reserves in my country.
The Three Parallel Rivers is a very unique geological wonder on Earth. The three rivers are about 60 kilometers apart at their closest point. The "three rivers" here refer to the Jinsha River, Lancang River and Nu River.
The cause is the collision and compression of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which formed the fold mountain range of the Hengduan Mountains. Here, the water flows rapidly, the terrain is steep, and the animal and plant resources are rich.
The two above are both located in the western part of my country, while the Sanjiang Plain is located in the northeastern part of my country. These three rivers are also major rivers in my country, and some are international rivers. The "three rivers" here refer to the Heilongjiang River, the Wusuli River, and the Songhua River.
The water resources, arable land resources, swamp resources and forest resources here are very abundant, and it is also an important transit station for migratory birds.
Well, I believe that through the above geographical knowledge, everyone can easily distinguish between Sanjiangyuan, Three Parallel Rivers and Sanjiang Plain.
Next, let us return to the focus of this article and lead everyone into Sanjiangyuan!
Before I lead you to officially enter Sanjiangyuan, let me first introduce to you what Sanjiangyuan is.
Through the introduction above, we have understood from the literal meaning that "Sanjiangyuan" is the source of the Yellow River, Yangtze River and Lancang River. The source of these three rivers is far more than just a lake. The river network here is extremely dense and the territory is extremely vast.
From a broad perspective, Sanjiangyuan National Park includes the Qinghai Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, as well as Zhaling Lake, Eling Lake, Xingxinghai and other areas of the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve.
This time, we mainly visited the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve.
The Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve is located in the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in southern Qinghai Province. It is a relatively complete nature reserve network consisting of six areas within the Sanjiangyuan region. The total area of the reserve has expanded from 152,000 square kilometers to 395,000 square kilometers. The main protected objects are plateau wetland ecosystems, alpine meadows, and wild animals and plants. It accounts for 21% of the total area of Qinghai Province and 42% of the total area of the Sanjiangyuan region.
"Why is the water so clear? Because it comes from a source of fresh water."
In this land known for its ruggedness and coldness, water presents the most diverse forms.
In addition to the flowing water, most of it is sealed by the earth in the form of permafrost and glaciers. Some of it gathers in lakes, is conserved in wetlands, or seeps into the ground, together forming a huge plateau water world, so it is known as the "Chinese Water Tower".
The two lakes and one monument refer to the three major scenic spots of Eling Lake, Zhaling Lake and Niutou Monument at the source of the Yellow River.
Zhaling Lake and Eling Lake are the two largest plateau freshwater lakes at the source of the Yellow River. The Ox Head Monument is built on the top of Cuori Gaze Mountain, 4,610 meters above sea level. It symbolizes the long history of the Chinese nation and its hardworking and simple character. However, it is now temporarily closed due to environmental protection issues. We look forward to the day when it will reopen.
Another large lake about 100km away from the Two Lakes and One Monument, referred to as "Donghu".
Snow-capped mountains, wetlands, grasslands, emerald lakes, and wildlife all combine beautifully here. The most striking sight is the red grasslands in August and September, when vast expanses of wetland and grassland near the lake turn red, adding to the beauty of the winter lake.
Many large and small lakes gather together, and because the sunlight shines through the white clouds in the clean blue sky, the lake surface sparkles with beautiful colors like gems, like stars in the sky, hence the name.
There is a lake called Xingxiu Sea, which is also the residence of the Xingxiu Immortal described by Mr. Jin.
Also known as the "Quma River", it is the northern source of the Yangtze River, originating in Hohhot and flowing to the Tongtian River. "Chumar" is Tibetan, meaning "Red Water River".
Deep in the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, there are naturally mountains and glaciers. The mountain-building movement 65 million years ago also gave the Sanjiangyuan area many magnificent mountains and landforms.
The Bayankala Mountains, the Amnye Machen Mountains, and the Tanggula Mountains of the Kunlun Mountains stretch across it, with glaciers crisscrossing each other.
These mountains are generally 5,000-6,000 meters above sea level. As the altitude rises, the top of the mountain enters the cryosphere, where snow accumulates all year round. After being compacted year after year, it moves under its own gravity and pressure to form glaciers.
In the hearts of local Tibetans, Amnye Machen is the dojo of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and is known as one of the four sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism, along with Mount Kailash in Tibet, Mount Meili in Yunnan, and Mount Gaduo Jowo in Yushu, Qinghai.
It consists of 13 connected mountains with an altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 meters. The main peak, Machengangri, is 6,282 meters above sea level. The Zagda Glacier and the Harong Glacier on the mountain do not melt all year round.
As one of the "Four Sacred Mountains in Tibet", it is also the least popular and least visited of the four sacred mountains.
Gaduo Juewo is the king of many sacred mountains in the Yangtze River Basin. The people of Yushu regard it as an ancient famous mountain that serves as their patron saint. A series of peaks with various shapes and forms make up its mountain body, and the main peak is majestic and steep.
It is famous for the Bayankala Pass at an altitude of 4,824 meters. It is the only way from Yushu to Maduo and is part of the southern branch of the vast Kunlun Mountains. Many hikers passing through will stop at this pass to check in.
Sanjiangyuan is not only a world of mountains and rivers, but also a paradise for living creatures. There are more than 100 species of animals, and it is known as the "wildlife kingdom on the plateau."
Next, You Xiaoxia will take everyone to recognize these little cuties who have lived in Sanjiangyuan all year round.
Known as the auspicious plateau elf, among the mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Fuwa Yingying was modeled after the Tibetan antelope, in praise of the Tibetan antelope's tenacious vitality that allows it to survive in harsh environments.
These cute "big cats" are known as the kings of the snow mountains. Their tails can be used as brooms to sweep away footprints when walking on the trails. Local herdsmen regard snow leopards as pets of sacred mountains because they can walk on the bare rocks of the mountains as if they were flat ground.
It symbolizes bravery, has strong limbs, is covered with long hair, and is ferocious and good at fighting. An adult male wild yak can weigh up to 1,200 kilograms, making it a first-class giant beast in the mountainous area.
The only crane in the world that grows and breeds on the plateau, it is called "fairy crane", "divine bird" and "auspicious bird" by Tibetan people. It often forages in the shallow waters of lakes in the Sanjiangyuan area.
It is extremely common, likes group activities, is tall and muscular, and has white lower body and limbs, making it very easy to identify.
Distributed in plateau areas, it is short and cute, and usually lives in marmot caves.
The relationship between man and nature has never been one of "conqueror and conquered." Over 100 years ago, Engels warned all of humanity: "We should not be overly intoxicated with our human victory over nature. For every such victory, nature will take revenge on us."
We once didn't know how to live in harmony with nature. We exploited resources and destroyed vegetation recklessly, leading to desertification and species extinction.
Now, we have found the right way to stop the losses in time and make remedial measures, and all this is just the beginning...
