National Parks of China
Overview
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage (natural, 2017) |
| Name | 青海可可西里 |
| Country | China |
| Nearby cities | Ürümqi, Lanzhou, Xining, Lhasa |
| Nearby sites | Tanggula Mountains and the Source of the Nu River 384km Search nearby |
| Mountains | Kunlun Mountains |
| Latitude, longitude | 35.38, 92.44 Google Maps |
| Themes | Highland, Wildlife, Grassland, Night sky & aurora |
About
Qinghai Hoh Xil (青海可可西里) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017 as a natural site.
Travel tips
Access: The reserve covers about 45,000 sq km at an average altitude of about 4,600 m. It has no tourist facilities, and the core area is not open to general visits. Ordinary visitors see its edge and the transport routes that run along it.
Getting there: The Qinghai-Tibet Highway (G109) and the Qinghai-Tibet Railway run along the eastern boundary of the reserve. From Xining or Golmud, by road or train along this corridor, there is a chance of seeing Tibetan antelope, kiang and other wildlife at a distance.
Along the road: Ranger stations and viewing points beside the highway explain the reserve and its anti-poaching work. Hoh Xil is best known for protecting the Tibetan antelope, and the Zhuonai Lake area is a gathering place for them.
Cities: Golmud is the main city for the area and Xining is the larger starting point; both have an airport and a railway station.
Time: Simply travelling the highway means long hours on the road. Entering the reserve's interior requires permission from the authorities and a specialist guide and is not an ordinary tourist route.
Season: Summer has the best road conditions and wildlife is more active. Winter is bitterly cold and windy, with snow and ice on high sections.
Altitude: The whole area is very high; the entrances of the Fenghuoshan Tunnel, for example, are at about 4,905 m. Acclimatise gradually; people with heart or lung conditions should not go.
Note: Do not chase or feed wildlife, and do not leave the road onto the grassland.
Why it was inscribed
The World Heritage Committee found that it meets criteria (vii), (x) of the ten selection criteria:
(vii) superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
(x) the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value.
Description (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
Qinghai Hoh Xil, located in the northeastern extremity of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, is the largest and highest plateau in the world. This extensive area of alpine mountains and steppe systems is situated more than 4,500 m above sea level, where sub-zero average temperatures prevail all year-round. The site’s geographical and climatic conditions have nurtured a unique biodiversity. More than one third of the plant species, and all the herbivorous mammals are endemic to the plateau. The property secures the complete migratory route of the Tibetan antelope, one of the endangered large mammals
Photo credits: Hoh Xil, Qinghai: 始见 (Archived) (CC BY 2.5 cn, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Mogao Caves 558km, Yumen Pass 567km, Xuanquanzhi 599km, Suoyang City 634km |
| National parks | Tanggula Mountains and the Source of the Nu River 384km, Namtso and the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains 548km, Mingsha Dunes and Crescent Spring 559km, Yarlung River 683km |
| AAAAA attractions | Basum Lake Scenic Area 613km, Jokhang Temple 648km, Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon Tourist Area 668km, Jiayuguan Pass 707km |
| AAAA attractions | Emerald Lake Scenic Area 200km |