With a total area of four hundred million square meters and covering 41% of the territory of China, grasslands are crucial to many Chinese people, especially to those who live on and around them. The magazine, "Chinese national geography", recently chose the "Top Six Most Beautiful Grasslands in China".
1.Hulun Buir Grassland
The Hulun Buir Grassland is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and covers a total area of about 93,000 square kilometres.
Named after Hulun and Buir Lake, it is the most beautiful area in Inner Mongolia and one of three best grasslands in the world.
With more than 3,000 rivers, 500 lakes and endless grasslands, it is like a huge natural green carpet. In summer, green grass waves in the wind, river larks sing and smoke rises from Mongolian yurts, forming a peaceful and harmonious idyllic picture. [Photo: China.com.cn]
2.Yili Grassland
Located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Yili Grasslands are like an elegant fairy land with beautiful scenery.
The famous Nalati Grassland is a part of the Yili Grasslands. "Nalati" means "the first place to see the Sun" in the Uygur language.
Rich water resources have brought vitality and vigour to Nalati, making it a main pasture in summer. From June to September, wild flowers dot the hills with different colours, turning it into a beautiful scenic spot. [Photo: China.com.cn]
3.Xilin Gol Grassland
The Xilin Gol Grasslands are located in Xilin Gol City in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The Xilin Gol National Nature Reserve was established in 1985 and joined the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network in 1987 to protect its unique environment and typical plateau grassland ecosystem.
There are many kinds of rare wild animals here, including the red-crowned crane, swans, and bustards. The grassland contains the biggest nature reserve ecosystem of its type in china.
It is a place of great value for researching and protecting China's grassland bio-diversity. [Photo: China.com.cn]
4.Highland Grassland in Western Sichuan
These grasslands are a place where diversified cultures meet as they are where minority groups in Sichuan and Tibet have gathered and done business since ancient times.
With the vast grasslands, snow capped mountains and pastoral songs echoing in the air, the place is said to be where the legendary 'Shangri-la' is located.
Bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region, most of residents living on the grasslands are Tibetans. The people of this area call themselves "Kangba", which is another name of the area.
"Kangba" people are good at singing and dancing. There is saying that "Kangba people can sing as soon as they can speak and dance as soon as they can walk."
The climate is inconstant because of its particular geographic location, resulting in the phenomena of "Four seasons in a mountain, different weather within ten miles". [Photo: China.com.cn]
5.Naqu Grassland in Tibet
The Naqu Grassland in Tibet is circled by mountains, with a total area of over 40 million square kilometres and an average altitude above 4,500 meters. The eastern part of the grassland is the only cultivable land in Northern Tibet.
Every year in August there will be many festive activities on the grasslands and August is the best season to travel here.
The Naqu Grasslands are sparsely populated thus the natural environment is well preserved. The grasslands are home to large numbers of rare wild animals including yaks, Tibetan antelopes and wild donkeys. [Photo: China.com.cn]
6.Qilian Mountain Grassland
The Qilian Mountain is located at the junction of Gansu and Qinghai provinces with an altitude of between 4,000-5,000 meters.
Unlike other mountains where lives disappear above the snow line, Qilian Mountain is the home of the snow lotus, which is a rare medicinal material growing on the snow line.
In July and August, when Qilian Mountain is still in winter, the grasslands at its foot are already turning green with horses, cattle and sheep roaming on it. [Photo: China.com.cn]
