Yushu Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 玉树藏族自治州 (yù shù zàng zú zì zhì zhōu)
Population: 416,600
Area: 267,000 square kilometers (10,309 square miles)
Location: in the southwest of Qinghai Province, northwest China
Administrative Division: 5 counties: (Zaduo, Chengduo, Zhiduo, Nangqian, Qumalai); 1 county-level city (Yushu)
 Area Code: 0976
Zip Code: 815000
GDP (2018): CNY 5.361 billion (USD 0.810 billion)
Nationalities: Han, Tibetan

It is situated in the southwest region of Qinghai Province, neighboring Sichuan to the southeast, Xinjiang to the northwest corner and Tibet to the south and southeast. Within Qinghai, it is bounded on the north by Haixi and neighbors the Golog to the east. Yushu treats visitors beautiful scenery. Three Rivers Source (Sanjiangyuan) National Natural Reserve and Hoh Xil Nature Reserve are the best venues to embrace nature as both of them show various landscapes from swamps to rivers, meadows and snow mountains. Groups of Tibetan antelopes and wild donkeys are often seen in Hoh Xil Nature Reserve. You can also learn about Tibetan Buddhism culture in the ancient temples. At the same time, many visitors are attracted by various tent cultures, Yushu songs, religious dances, charming and unique Gesar rap, elegant and luxurious clothing culture. The grand and famous Yushu Horse Race Festival is held on July 25 every year.

The prefecture enjoys a continental plateau climate with high altitude and cold climate as its most outstanding features. Yushu weather has distinct warm and cold seasons, respectively lasting four to five and seven to eight months. The annual average temperature of this region is below zero (32℉). June to October is much warmer and more favorable to visit this prefecture.

 History: Yushu was inhabited by the Qiang, an ancient tribe in northwest China. In its history, it was governed successively by several Tibetan regimes. Yushu Special District was established in 1949 and changed to Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Region two years later, then changed to an autonomous prefecture in 1955.  

 Religion: Tibetans make up ninety-seven percent of the prefecture's total population. It is an area with its entire population believing in Tibetan Buddhism. There are 192 Tibetan Buddhist temples here, nearly thirty percent of the total in Qinghai. 

 Festivals: Horse racing festivals are the most popular sport game in the grasslands. The grandest one is held annually on 25th, July, lasting one week. The site is in Zhaxigou, which is only three kilometers from Jiegu Town. Apart from the delightful horse racing, colorful tents, beautiful traditional costumes and ornaments of the Kangba Tibetan people as well as the folk songs and dance are some of the wonderful sights during the horse racing festival.
 
 Traditional ethnic costumes: The climax of the horse racing festival happens on the last day. Men's robes usually have bands made of tiger or panther skins, while the women's are striped with otter skin. The women's costumes, especially, are made more luxurious by wearing ornaments. They wear ornaments made of turquoise, pearl, coral, carnelian and silver or golden amulets. So, a set of ornamented garments is very expensive.