Dubbed as the "forbidden zone for life" by experts both from China and abroad, this depopulated area in northwest Tibet occupies 600,000 square kilometers, averaging 5,000 meters above the sea level. Except for the mountain peaks, lakes, vast grasslands and wild animals, there seems to be no other form of life. A lot of adventurers once marched into the area, but most of them never came back due to the lack of food or disorientation. An impression of a desolate, mysterious and horrible land has been formed, but the reality is not quite the same.

Both the Tibetan and Han geological workers have conducted many scientific investigations and researches on the area in recent years, which filled the long-felt blankness of the geological research in the area. Meanwhile, some amateur adventurers have also explored the area. As a result, the depopulated zone's mystery is gradually being unveiled.

  Brief Introduction

Opening a detailed map of Tibet, one finds the vast area between 33-36 degrees north latitude and 83-93 degrees east longitude is almost blank except for some scarcely distributed temples and residential areas. This "blank area" is the depopulated zone on the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in West China. Encircled by a series of high mountains, this area is generally a secluded island, and also China's largest plot of uncultivated land.

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 Mysterious Cliff Painting

Though scarcely populated nowadays, there are some mysterious cliff paintings in Nima, Dangxiong, Shenzha and Bange counties of the "forbidden zone of life". These paintings mainly feature religious and hunting contents, demonstrating the close relationship between paintings and the local religion and history, while also boasting paramount significance for the research of Tibetan history and religion.

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  Unique Animals

There are generally three big animal families in this area, namely, Tibetan antelopes, Asiatic wild ass and wild yaks.

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Author: Jeff

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