Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve is located to the west of Yushu, Qinghai. Covering an area of 45,000 square kilometers, it is the largest, highest nature reserve with the most abundant wild life resources in China. The main subject the reserve is to protect rare plants, endangered animals like Tibetan Antelope, Wild Yak, Kiang, and Tibetan Gazelle, and their habitats. In 2017, Hoh Xil was listed on the World Heritage List, becoming the 51th World Heritage Site in China.
Hoh Xil is the third largest no-man zone in the world. Due to its high altitude, the wind is strong, the temperature is low, and water and oxygen are scarce. Therefore, it is not an inhabitable area for human beings. As a result of human’s absence, Hoh Xil is able to preserve its original state. A lot of beautiful landscapes, including glaciers, valleys, and lakes, can be seen anywhere in the reserve. Among all lakes, Ulan Ul Lake, with an area of over 130,000 acres, is the largest here and also the fourth largest in Qinghai.
Due to high elevation, you may want to be careful with high altitude reaction. If you don’t feel so well before or during visiting Hoh Xil, be sure to have a rest and maybe leave it for the next few days.