[2024 Madoi Attraction] Travel Guide for Three-River-Source National Park (Updated Sep)
National Parks
Address:
青海省南部
Recommended sightseeing time:
1 day
The only city in China with free admission to all attractions, harbors the country's first national park
In the vast expanse of Western China lies a mysterious land known as the 'Water Tower of China'—Sanjiangyuan. It is the birthplace of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang Rivers, where vast grasslands, meandering rivers, and towering snow-capped mountains weave together a magnificent ecological tapestry. Setting foot on this sacred land, every step is a profound appreciation of nature's beauty, and every breath is the purest conversation with the great outdoors.
Must-visit attraction: Sanjiangyuan National Park
• Address: Intersection area of Zaduo County, Zhiduo County, Qumalai County in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and Maduo County in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province
• Travel tips: Given the vastness and remoteness of the Sanjiangyuan area, it is recommended to depart from Xining, take a long-distance bus or drive to Yushu City, and then transfer to local vehicles or join a professional ecological tour group to enter the national park. Self-driving is the most flexible option, but high-altitude driving safety should be noted.
Food Recommendations
• Tibetan Tsampa: Roasted barley flour mixed with yak butter tea or water to form a dough, an indispensable part of experiencing Tibetan culture.
• Yak meat: Grazed on the plateau, yak meat is fresh and delicious, whether stewed or grilled, it's a great source of energy.
• Yogurt: Homemade Tibetan yogurt is moderately sour and sweet, rich and creamy, a delightful treat during the journey.
Recommended Nearby Attractions
1. Hoh Xil Nature Reserve: A paradise for wildlife, where you may catch a glimpse of rare animals like the Tibetan antelope.
2. Nianbaoyuze: Known as 'the garden of the gods,' where snow-capped mountains, lakes, and grasslands create an incredibly beautiful landscape.
3. Qinghai Lake: China's largest saltwater lake, where in summer, the lakeside rapeseed flowers and the azure waters present an enchantingly beautiful scene.
A trip to Sanjiangyuan is not only a feast for the eyes and taste buds but also a journey back to the soul. Here, you will deeply understand the true essence of harmonious coexistence between nature and humans. Every shutter click captures an unembellished ecological masterpiece. Are you ready? Let us set off together towards that distant and pristine land.
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Sanjiangyuan | You should always visit the national park that belongs to us at least once
I believe 90% of people like to look abroad 👀
The sea of the Maldives, the mountains of Switzerland, the forests of Germany, the savannahs of Africa...
Conversely, 99% of people can't deeply understand the description of China's 'vast territory and abundant resources, beautiful mountains and rivers' in elementary school textbooks as to what kind of scenery it is~
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This time I went to one of our own national parks—'Sanjiangyuan National Park'
Situated on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an average altitude of 4500 meters
Making it one of the world's highest, largest
And most complete alpine ecological systems of natural heritage
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Here we trekked all the way and witnessed
Danxia landforms, snow peaks, deserts, glaciers, lakes, wetlands, and a variety of wildlife up close
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✅Wildlife paradise
Sanjiangyuan area is one of the regions with the highest density of large carnivores in the world
No need to go to Africa or America
You can see a lot of wildlife right at your doorstep
What kind of divine experience is that❓❗️
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Large herds of blue sheep, countless Tibetan hares and pikas, the massive Thorold's deer, the elusive musk deer, the Tibetan antelope with its young, the elegant black-necked crane, the running Tibetan wild ass, the expressive Tibetan fox, the adorable Tibetan gazelle, the bearded vulture, the peregrine falcon, the bar-headed goose, the ruddy shelduck, wolf packs...
It's like stepping into 🏃 'Animal World'
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My favorite is the Tibetan antelope's great migration every summer, the scene is truly spectacular
Standing there at that moment, you can feel the wonder of nature very clearly❗️
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✅Donggecuona Lake
'The lake surrounded by a thousand mountains', next to Qinghai's sacred mountain Animaqing
A blue lake like a pool of seawater, with sunlight sprinkling on the surface✨
You can feed the black-headed gulls that nest by the lake (not afraid of people at all), and take photos 📸 that turn out great
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The nearby wetlands have different colors of grass
We also found traces of snow leopards in the Valley of Strange Rocks, and we followed the tracks and found a pile of snow leopard 💩
Felt a different kind of primitiveness and roughness from the traditional scenery~
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📋Strategy
🕘Best travel season: End of March - November
🎒Travel gear: Sun protection, warm clothing, windbreaker, hiking shoes/sneakers, backpack, trekking poles, water bladder, altitude sickness medication
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⚠️Tips
⭕️For observing wildlife, it is recommended to carry a long-focus camera/high-power binoculars.
⭕️At the end of the trip, you will receive a unique numbered visitor certificate, which can be used to collect stamps for a national park version 'passport', very meaningful~
⭕️Familiarize yourself with the direction of the clock, many animals will appear while driving, and the leader will prompt the direction of the car's clock.
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Due to the word limit, that's all for today's share!
More stunning views of the Sanjiangyuan National Park will be updated later