Nianbaoyuze: The Gateway to the Demon Realm, the Garden of the Gods
Nianbaoyuze is located between Aba County in Sichuan and Jiuzhi and Banma Counties in Qinghai. Its Chinese name means "Dignified Jade Peak," and it is also known as the Stone Castle, Stone Mountain, Nianbaoyuze (within Qinghai), and Guoluo Mountain (Tibetan name: Yerjingzhala). Covering a total area of over 800 square kilometers, it is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a branch of the southern section of the Bayan Har Mountains.
Situated in the southeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Nianbaoyuze features a typical plateau continental climate, with the highest elevation reaching 5,141 meters. The average elevation of its peaks exceeds 4,000 meters, earning it the title "Eastern Fantasy World." The scenic area is dominated by peculiar peaks, glacial relics, and snow-capped mountain lakes, with main attractions including Cuolama, Luoyun Cuo, Zhangmu Cuo, Zhaga'er Cuo, Baixiang Lake, and Luoxia Lake.
It is said that 650,000 years of glacial melting and erosion have shaped the glacial landforms here, creating this fantastical natural scenery. Everywhere you look, there are peculiar peaks and strange rocks, with majestic mountain ranges stretching endlessly, as if you've stepped into a magical world.
Nianbaoyuze is a famous sacred mountain in Tibet, ranking eighth among the ten great sacred mountains of the region and first among the sacred mountains of the Amdo area. It is a revered pilgrimage site for local Tibetans. Legend has it that this was also the ancient battlefield of King Gesar, with its rugged and majestic peaks exuding a powerful masculine energy.
Roaming between these beautiful sacred mountains and lakes, the weather is as unpredictable as a child's mood. One moment, the sun is shining brightly, and the next, a light rain begins. The rain soon turns into hail, followed by snowflakes drifting down in June, gently landing on your face—a surprisingly pleasant sensation. In an instant, the sun breaks through the rain, snow, and mist, turning the sky clear and bright. Within a single day, you can experience the weather of all four seasons, as if walking through time in a magical instant.
Standing at the highest vantage point and gazing into the distance, you'll be awestruck by the breathtaking scenery. Towering rocky peaks shrouded in mist, majestic and rugged mountains wrapped in snow, and pristine lakes like the eyes of a beautiful maiden dot the landscape, forming a natural masterpiece.
At an elevation of 4,200 meters, Zhaga'er Cuo resembles a blue teardrop fallen from the sky, its waters serene and tranquil, surrounded by snow-covered cliffs. To its east stands a massive rocky peak, while to the west, two sharp, towering peaks pierce the sky like gatekeepers and sharp swords guarding the lake. Behind the lake, a sheer cliff wall, as if carved by a knife or axe, rises a thousand meters high, evoking a solemn and majestic atmosphere of "a solitary blade amidst towering mountains."
This place combines grandeur, peculiarity, danger, and beauty, with lakes and waterfalls interspersed among the strange peaks and rocks, creating a world like an artistic sanctuary. The lakes, peculiar mountains, myths, and the cultural legacy of King Gesar blend seamlessly, with serene and deep waters and stunning scenery resembling exquisite oil paintings.
Here, the sky is as blue as if freshly washed, the clouds pure white, and the landscape dotted with bizarre peaks and endless green waves of flowers, alongside dazzling plateau lakes. Nestled among the mountains, lakes of all sizes shimmer like emeralds, harmonizing perfectly with the surrounding beauty.
In the embrace of the sacred mountains, watch the clouds roll and drift, feel the cleansing breeze, and breathe in the freshest air nature has to offer! By the sacred lakes, at the foot of the mountains, the blue sky, white clouds, and green grass blend seamlessly. When the summer wind blows, colorful flowers burst into bloom, painting the landscape in vibrant hues. Strolling through this paradise, intoxicated by the fragrance of flowers and the stunning scenery, is pure bliss.