Sights

Gahai Lake (Gannan)

Updated: 2013-11-02
( chinadaily.com.cn )

Gahai lake and its wetland, only 50 km away from Luqu county, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in the province, occupying an area of 120 square kilometers, serves as a rest stop and hatching destination for tens of thousands of migratory birds from spring through fall.

Named as a pearl on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the lake is home to 95 species of 28,000 birds, including the black-necked crane, white swan, grey crowned crane and pintail. Due to ecological protection, the area of the wetland has expanded from 480 hectares in the early 90s to 2,200 hectares.

Luqu county belongs to the Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in the province. Residents of Gahai township, located in the southwestern part of the county, with an average altitude of 3,500 meters, are mostly Tibetans living off animal husbandry.

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Gahai lake, the biggest freshwater lake in Northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 13, 2012. Named as a pearl on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the lake is home to 95 species of 28,000 birds, including the black-necked crane, white swan, grey crowned crane and pintail. Due to ecological protection, the area of the wetland has expanded from 480 hectares in the early 90s to 2,200 hectares. [Photo/Xinhua]

Tourists visit the Gahai Lake, the biggest freshwater lake and with an altitude of 3,480 meters in Northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 13, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Animals rest along Gahai Lake, known as a pearl on the plateau in Gansu province, Sept 13, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Gannan Grassland is in southwest of Gansu province, located in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. As one of the most intact natural wetlands in the world, it is the “reservoir of the Yellow River”. A variety of colorful historical cultures are blooming here. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]