Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Author: Huang Daoming et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-11-01
Features: West of Chengdu, cross the Erlang Mountain, gaze at the "King of Shu Mountains" - Gongga Shan, and you enter the world's highest plateau -- the Sichuan-Tibet Plateau (also known as the Kang-Tibet Plateau). On the Sichuan-Tibet Plateau, you can no longer see vast plains stretching for hundreds of miles; only countless rolling and towering mountain ranges. Zheduo Mountain, Gongga Mountain, Que'er Mountain, Gaosi Mountain, Dama Mountain, Dongdala Mountain, Mila Mountain, and Gangdise Mountain stand one after another, eventually connecting to the "Roof of the World" -- the Himalayas. On this vast land, the towering mountain ranges are steep, rugged, and imposing, with peaks piercing the sky, icy winds flowing, clouds and mist swirling. Rich forests, lakes of various sizes, and exotic flowers and grasses together form a supernatural world wonder. Most of the snow-capped mountains are above 6,000 to 7,000 meters in altitude. On the Sichuan-Tibet Plateau, even the horizon is several kilometers above sea level. Some famous mountains on the plateau are often regarded as sacred mountains by people, imbued with a certain spirituality. Gongga Shan, standing at 7,556 meters, is the world's 11th highest peak. In Tibetan, "Gong" means "supreme," and "Ga" means "pure and flawless," so Gongga Shan is the "Supreme and Pure Sacred Mountain," earning it the title of the "King of Shu Mountains." The Naluo Mountain in Ganzi is a renowned sacred mountain in the Doko region, with its full name being "Dongguo Dounai." In Tibetan, "Naluo" and "Nari" both mean "a place where deities reside," referring to sacred lands and mountains. Gangdise Mountain, in Tibetan, means "Source of All Waters." People often hold reverence for sacred mountains. On these mountains, there are special bonfires for burning juniper branches, cairns of prayer stones, and colorful prayer flags hanging, which sway in the wind at the summit, producing a rapid crackling sound that evokes a sense of solemnity and awe. The mountains of the Sichuan-Tibet Plateau are not as refined and contained as those in inland China. This art book, themed on the mountains of the Sichuan-Tibet Plateau, clearly shows that most of these mountains are snow-capped, with jagged rocks and a silent demeanor, yet they are sharp-edged and straightforward, each with its own unique vitality. Like the simple, kind, brave, and resilient character of the Tibetan people, they represent the spirit of the Tibetan people who have lived on this land for generations—the bold spirit of eagles, the fearless courage to defy harsh natural environments. Since the reform and opening-up, these mountains have been welcoming visitors from all over the world with open arms. On the plateau, with the sky as blue as the ocean, white clouds drifting, rivers rushing, vibrant flowers and lush green grass on the grasslands, majestic yaks and gentle sheep, as well as frozen glaciers and snow peaks, this is the world's last pure land, home to the purest life and the noblest qualities of snow-capped mountains. It holds all that can be imagined, and even more beyond imagination.