Yushu Travel Guide

Yushu Facts

Chinese Name: 玉树藏族自治州 (yù shù zàng zú zì zhì zhōu)
Population: 416,600
Area: 267,000 square kilometers (10,309 square miles)
Location: in the southwest of Qinghai Province, northwest China
Administrative Division: 5 counties: (Zaduo, Chengduo, Zhiduo, Nangqian, Qumalai); 1 county-level city (Yushu)
Area Code: 0976
Zip Code: 815000
GDP (2018): CNY 5.361 billion (USD 0.810 billion)
Nationalities: Han, Tibetan

Famous for Permanent Tibetan Culture & Hoh Xil Nature Reserve

It is situated in the southwest region of Qinghai Province, neighboring Sichuan to the southeast, Xinjiang to the northwest corner and Tibet to the south and southeast. Within Qinghai, it is bounded on the north by Haixi and neighbors the Golog to the east. Yushu treats visitors beautiful scenery. Three Rivers Source (Sanjiangyuan) National Natural Reserve and Hoh Xil Nature Reserve are the best venues to embrace nature as both of them show various landscapes from swamps to rivers, meadows and snow mountains. Groups of Tibetan antelopes and wild donkeys are often seen in Hoh Xil Nature Reserve. You can also learn about Tibetan Buddhism culture in the ancient temples. At the same time, many visitors are attracted by various tent cultures, Yushu songs, religious dances, charming and unique Gesar rap, elegant and luxurious clothing culture. The grand and famous Yushu Horse Race Festival is held on July 25 every year.

Yushu Attractions - Things to Do

Three Rivers Source (Sanjiangyuan) National Natural Reserve

The Southern Qinghai Plateau is the fountainhead of three great rivers in China: the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Lanchang River. A stone column inscribed with the name of the nature reserve and dedicated by the former president, Jiang Zemin, stands beside the Tongtian River Bridge on the highway from Zhiduo County to Qumalai County.

Hoh Xil Nature Reserve (Kekexili)

In the severe and harsh environment, Hoh Xil is a paradise of wildlife and one of the world's best-preserved nature reserves. There are more than 200 species of rare wild animal living in the cold, high land. This sacred and magical land is perfect for scientific research, travel and exploration.

Temple of Princess Wencheng

It is a historical and cultural relic left by the Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) on her way to Tibet in the year of 641. In the hall, there is the earliest large scale relief Buddha groups on cliff in Qinghai.

Gyanak (Jiana) Mani Stone Field

As a commonly known as Gyanak Mani is a large praying stone pile with more than two billion praying stone engraved with Buddha sculptures and pictures. It can be regarded as the largest in Tibetan areas.

How to Get to Yushu

Yushu Batang Airport is located in Batang Town and is about 18 kilometers (11 miles) to central Yushu. Now, it has opened direct flights to/from Beijing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Lhasa and Xining.

Having Jiegu Town as a center, a transportation network has gradually been created, with national highways as the main framework, supported by developing country roads. From these roads, visitors can get directly to Xining, Lanzhou or places in Sichuan Province. The bus station in Jiegu Town is situated in Shengli Lu and regular buses to Jiegu Town can be found in Xining's long-distance bus station in Jianguo Lu.

Yushu Prefecture is vast. Renting a vehicle to travel around may be a better choice if visitors travel by themselves. Private jeeps and minibuses are available in the central square of Jiegu Town.

Weather

The prefecture enjoys a continental plateau climate with high altitude and cold climate as its most outstanding features. Yushu weather has distinct warm and cold seasons, respectively lasting four to five and seven to eight months. The annual average temperature of this region is below zero (32℉). June to October is much warmer and more favorable to visit this prefecture.

Yushu Travel Tips

History: Yushu was inhabited by the Qiang, an ancient tribe in northwest China. In its history, it was governed successively by several Tibetan regimes. Yushu Special District was established in 1949 and changed to Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Region two years later, then changed to an autonomous prefecture in 1955.

Physical Features: The prefecture is situated on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with most of the region 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) above the sea level. It is the fountainhead of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Lancang River. Ravines and valleys have been cut by the rivers in its southeastern part.

Special Local Products: Tibetan medical herbs and ornaments

Religion: Tibetans make up ninety-seven percent of the prefecture's total population. It is an area with its entire population believing in Tibetan Buddhism. There are 192 Tibetan Buddhist temples here, nearly thirty percent of the total in Qinghai.

Festivals: Horse racing festivals are the most popular sport game in the grasslands. The grandest one is held annually on 25th, July, lasting one week. The site is in Zhaxigou, which is only three kilometers from Jiegu Town. Apart from the delightful horse racing, colorful tents, beautiful traditional costumes and ornaments of the Kangba Tibetan people as well as the folk songs and dance are some of the wonderful sights during the horse racing festival.

Traditional ethnic costumes: The climax of the horse racing festival happens on the last day. Men's robes usually have bands made of tiger or panther skins, while the women's are striped with otter skin. The women's costumes, especially, are made more luxurious by wearing ornaments. They wear ornaments made of turquoise, pearl, coral, carnelian and silver or golden amulets. So, a set of ornamented garments is very expensive.

- Last updated on Jul. 25, 2024 -