Golog Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 果洛藏族自治州 (guǒ luò zàng zú zì zhì zhōu)
Population: 211,588
Area: 76,442 square kilometers (29,514 square miles)
Location: in the southeast of Qinghai Province, northwest China
Administrative Division: 6 counties: Maqin (Maqen), Banma (Baima), Gande (Gade), Dari (Darlag), Jiuzhi (Jigzhi), Maduo (Madoi)
Area Code: 0975
Zip Code: 814000
GDP (2019): CNY 4.618 billion (USD 0.669 billion)
Nationalities: Tibetan, Han, Hui, Salar, Manchu, Mongolian, Tu

Located in the southeast region of Qinghai Province, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture neighbors Gansu to the east and Sichuan to the south. Its neighbors within the province include Yushu to the west and Haixi, Hainan and Huangnan to the north. Golog is a magic, beautiful and desirable land with steep snow mountains, primitive forests, winding streams, mirror-like Haizi lakes, boundless grasslands and tens of thousands of cattle, sheep and horses. Zhaling Lake, Eling Lake, Donggeicuona Lake and Xingxiuhai Lake are like pearls shining in the Yellow River source regions. Every August, Golog holds Gesar Cultural Tourism Festival at which many troupes will play Tibetan performances especially the Tibetan Opera that tells the stories of hero Gesar. Traditional grassland sports competition like wrestling, horse racing will also be held. It is a good chance to experience local Tibetan customs and culture.

This is the hinterlands of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The Bayan Har (Bayankala) Mountains, Kekexili Mountains, Anyemaqen Mountains and Tangula Mountains zigzag through southern Qinghai, giving birth to three of the world's great rivers: the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang Rivers. 

The main peak of the Anyemaqen Mountains is Mt. Anyemaqen, being one of China's ten peaks open to foreign climbers. Gyaring (Zhaling) Lake and Ngoring (Eling) Lake are sister lakes, comprising the largest bodies of fresh water in the Yellow River basin. Around these two pools of liquid sapphire, are the hunting areas of the Huangheyuan International Hunting Ground. 

It is a green town with moderate climate and elegant natural scenery. Canyons, virgin forests and blockhouse style houses (Diaolou Building) and Buddhist temple buildings make this beautiful county a hot tourist destination. 

 Other Scenic Spots: Golok Mountain

The place enjoys a continental plateau climate, characterized by high altitude, cold weather, thin air, strong ultraviolet radiation and great temperature variation between day and night. It only has obvious cold and warm seasons. The cold season of Guoluo weather begins from October with an average temperature during the coldest month of -12.1℃ (10.2℉). Starting in June, the warm season lasts only three or four months, during which the weather is moderate with the warmest average monthly temperature being about 9℃ (48.2℉). The warm season (June to October) is the most favorable period to visit Guoluo, weather-wise. Tourists who love mountain climbing should go to holy Mt. Anyemaqen during late April to June or September to October.

 History: It was inhabited by Dangxiang (an ancient tribe in northwest China), a branch of the Qiang minority, one of the oldest tribes in China. Until 1946 Guoluo was led by the heads of more than two hundred tribes. Guoluo District was established directly under Qinghai Province in 1950. In 1954 the Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture was established.

 Physical Features: The prefecture has a vast expanse of territory, occupying more than one tenth of Qinghai's total land area. There are rivers and mountain ranges crisscrossing the region and alpine lakes inlaid among them. The terrain basically declines from the northwest to the southeast. The terrain of the somewhat higher northwestern region slopes gently, while the slightly lower southeastern region boasts many high mountains and deep valleys.

 Special Local Products: Tibetan herbs, such as Chinese caterpillar fungus; Ginseng Fruit (Potentilla anserina), Chang, Yak jerky, crab apples, black lamb skins

 Local Highlights: Tibetans make up nearly ninety-one percent of the total population of Guoluo Prefecture, a pastoral area with strong Tibetan flavor.