For many travelers who advocate nature and love the original ecological life, Qinghai which is close to
Tibet has always been one of the destinations. Riding bicycle around the
Qinghai Lake is the preferred route for bicycle amateurs. Qinghai is located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with profound history and culture and beautiful nature scenery. Qinghai Lake is even more famous all over the world. Riding along the Qinghai Lake Road, you can appreciate numerous plateau sceneries all the way.
Many ethnic minorities live together in Qinghai Province, making Qinghai a province with diverse ethnic culture. Here we can find rich and practical northwest Chinese diet, experience Tibetan nomads’ life and profound Tibetan culture. Qinghai, like a giant on the plateau, stands on northwest China to welcome people who worship nature and what they love.
Nomads-Living on the back of Yaks
The nomads have been living in Qinghai grassland for thousands of years and they preserves their way of life, but along with the social change, urbanization, there are less and less nomad still keep their traditional life style. And yaks are also seldom been found. On our way from Xining to Bayan Har Mountan, we are so lucky to found a nomad family still living in their traditional nomad life.
The most closed friend of Tibetans on plateau is yak. It is one of the earliest animal that been domesticated by ancient Tibetan people. Its milk can be used to do as a way of drink, even dead flesh also can be made into dried meat to appease hunger. Fire cow dung is good material, skin can leather, bone can also be used as medicine... Thus the Tibetans hide yak feelings very deep. The traditional old herdsman in Tibetan robe commonly, also to maintain the Tibetan dress habits, tents are also set up their own, each walk to a place where water grass beauty was temporarily set down. Usually male labor is responsible for slaughtering animals and grazing, and female people staying in camps to take care of the whole family diet daily life, family life in walking migration old, in this kind of original nomadic state become a testimony of the beautiful Qinghai.
Tips
1, general nomadic family stocking a Tibetan mastiff, it is without tame, natural disposition is fierce and brutal. If I didn't have his owner's leading, never melee to tease, serious may endanger life
2, If encounter the nomadic family in Qinghai, when you taking picture with them, you can give each them some money to show your thanks. They will be more friendly, if you give Tibetan children some candy
3, Tibetans has the tough religion and ethnic customs, when talking with them, pay attention to you language and behavior. Show respect to their religious beliefs, avoid unnecessary trouble
4, If you want to close contact with Tibetans, self-driving is the best choice, because you can stop by when encounter with them.
5, 6-9 month is the best time to travel in Qinghai, if lucky, you will see nomadic people.