The Lancang River originates from Zaduo County of the Yushu Prefecture, and the headwater of the river lies between the originating places of the Huanghe and Yangtze rivers. Deep gorges and wide valleys alternate with each other. On top of the hills are usually barren white interlocking rocks like wolf's fangs. In Chinese landscape painters' words, the place is endowed with both "bones and flesh."

The road condition here is usually very rough, and the landform is very complex. A local guide is necessary to go to the area.

  Pastures - the golden line of landscapes and customs

There are six major pasture areas in Qinghai Province. The best season to go the region is from late June to the beginning of August. After October, the pasturing areas become a gold color, giving another flavor different from that in summer. They are listed as follows in the spatial order from north to south.

Qilian Mountain Valley 

The valley pasture is mainly along the upper reaches of the Hei and Datong rivers, stretching westward from the rape land in Menyuan County, crossing the Jingyang Range, and to the east of the foot of Niuxin Mountain in Qilian County. With the snow-capped Qilian Mountain as a screen, the landform of the place is rather level, with an average altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 meters. Very few people have altitude reaction here, and most of the herdsmen in the area are Tibetan.

Tianjun Pastoral Area

The area is centered around the drainage area of the Buha River, on the south of Qilian County and to the northwest of Qinghai Lake. The heart of the Tianjun Pastoral Area is Kuai'erma Village, about 15 kilometers from Tianjun County. Tianjun Mountain forms a protective screen for the pasture, while the part of the Buha River that flows to the Qinghai River penetrates through it. The blooming forage grass, the luxuriant wild flowers, and the lush woods along the river all make the place a fine summer pasture. The altitude here is from 3,500 to 4,000 meters. Besides, the bordering side of Tianjun Mountain also boasts a grotesque granite forest, adding glamour to the pasture.

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