Protecting the Ecological Environment at Qilian Mountains

Red deer in Qilian Mountains. [Photo by Wu Xuefeng/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Protection of the Qilian Mountains, which straddle the border between Gansu and Qinghai provinces, is being strengthened as they are vital shield for ecological security in the western part of China.

As a priority area for biodiversity conservation in China, the Qilian Mountains are an extremely important area for glacier and water conservation and maintaining the ecological balance of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Beautiful scenery in the Qilian Mountains. [Photo by Wu Xuefeng/for chinadaily.com.cn]

As the first national ecological forest park in China, Qilian Mountain National Park will be completed in 2020, covering a total area of 50,200 square kilometers.

The park aims to protect the water conservation area of Qilian Mountains, the central Heihe River Basin and Hexi Corridor, and the desert area in the north.

A horse breeding farm in the middle of the Hexi Corridor at the north foot of Lenglongling in the Qilian Mountains. [Photo by Wu Xuefeng/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Tourism projects have also been classified and renovated, and all farmers and herdsmen in the core areas of the protected areas have been relocated.

Qilian Mountain National Park has great potential for the ecotourism industry. Some researchers believe the rich natural resources and human landscape in this area can achieve greater value if they are utilized reasonably.

[Photo by Wu Xuefeng/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The beautiful landscape of the Qilian Mountains. [Photo by Wu Xuefeng/for chinadaily.com.cn]

A horse breeding farm in the middle of Hexi Corridor at the north foot of Lenglongling in the Qilian Mountains. [Photo by Wu Xuefeng/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Yaks playing in Qilian Moutains. [Photo by Wu Xuefeng/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Magnificent grasslands around the Qilian Moutains. [Photo by Wu Xuefeng/for chinadaily.com.cn]