Travel to Ruoergai Grassland in Tibet

Ruoergai Grassland is a peculiar area at the edge of Tibetan Plateau. The altitude is between 3300 meters and 3600 meters. Comparing with the middle and eastern part of China, it is a plateau. But comparing with other parts of Tibetan Plateau, it is a basin, surrounded by Mount Min, Mount Guoluo, Mount Animaqing and Mount Xiqing. Ruoergai Grassland is the second largest grassland in China, following the Hulunbeir Grassland. In Tibetan language, the grassland means “the place where gods live”. Numerous lakes spread inside the grassland including the famous Flower Lake.

The major rivers run on Ruoergai Grassland are Gequ, Moyu and Requ. The abundant water resource and mountains make the grassland an attractive scenery. It is cold on the grassland. The yearly average temperature is between 0 and 2 degree Celsius. The annual average rainfall is about 600 to 700 millimeters. Summer is the best timing to Ruoergai. It is cool and the visibility is good. The grasses are all bluish green, seemingly extending to the line between earth and sky. In June, Ruoergai Grassland will become the world of flowers. Those flowers are not well-known species. They are small colorful wild flowers. Their quantity is so astonishing that it is like that they have been saving their energy and burst it all out for the moment.
The Zoige wolf on Ruoergai Grassland is another remarkable feature. Here in the Ruoergai Grassland inhabited many rare animals like black-necked crane, white swan, Tibetan duck, white stork, sika deer, and small panda. The Zoige wolf no doubt is the king in this realm. It is quite often to see them on the grassland. You can observe them from a long distance. Don’t disrupt their life by getting too close.

The food here is mainly of Tibetan cuisine such as yak meat, yogurt, pickled vegetable, highland barley wine and buck wheat noodle. Yak meat is the most common food in Tibet region. Normally Tibetan people cut yak meat into slices and eat them with salty sauce, chili and barley wine. Yak meat is a good souvenir. There are processed yak meats sold in vacuum bags so it can be conveniently brought back home. When you are staying in Tibetan’s house, you are often offered with pickled vegetable. It can help your digestion and enhance your appetite. It will also make you sweat which is a good thing because it can prevent you from getting a cold. Before you visit Ruoergai Grassland, it is necessary to take some anti-altitude disease medicine. You should bring raincoat, wind coat, and warm clothes. More Tibet tours and China tours information here.