China is one of the countries with the richest grassland resources in the world, with a total grassland area of nearly 400 million hectares, extending from Inner Mongolia in the northeast China to Ningxia, Xinjiang, Gannan, Sichuan, Qinghai and Tibet in the Southwest China.
But climate change, overgrazing and rural development have inflicted damage to some of the grasslands, Chinese government has sponsored a subsidy and reward program for the country’s herdsmen over the coming years in order to reverse and prevent the damage that has been caused to the grasslands.
Now I round up the top 10 most beautiful grasslands and sincerely hope that all of them will grow healthy for a better world.
1. Narat Grasslands Yili Xinjiang 那拉提草原伊犁草
Narat Grassland ( or Nalati Grassland ) is part of Yili Grassland (or Ili Grassland ) in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture Xinjiang China. Narat Grassland is about 180km long from east to west along the river bed sandwiched by the mountains of Tianshan in three sides. The famous Ili River zigzags through Ili Valley. Ili River is formed by its principal three tributaries – Kashi, Kunes, and Tekes. Kunes River is the upper reaches of Ili River, passing through the river bed of Narat Grassland.
Read my another article Narat Grassland in Xinjiang for more information.
Narat Grassland is a typical river bed grassland with the alpine meadows. Narat Grassland is located at the sea-level of 1800 meters. It is inhabitated by Kazakh minority.
2. Hulun Buir Grassland in Iner Mongolia 呼伦贝尔草原
The Hulunbuir Grassland is situated within the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region with a total area of over 93,000 square kilometres. It is named after the Hulun Lake and the Buir Lake. It is reputed as the most beautiful grassland in Inner Mongolia as well as one of three most beautiful grasslands in the world.
Check out my following articles for more information:
Top 10 Attractions in Hulunbuir
Sunrise Glow over Hulunbuir Grasslands
Top 10 Places for Photography in Hulunbuir
Road Trip from Ergun to Linjiang Village
How to visit Hulunbuir Grassland
Inner Mongolia Tour
Enclosed with over 3,000 rivers, 500 lakes, the Hulun Buir Grassland reasembles a huge natural green carpet. In summer, the Hulun Buir Grassland presents a peaceful and harmonious idyllic scene.
3. Xilin Gol Grassland in Inner Mongolia 锡林郭勒草原
The Xilin Gol Grassland is situated within Xilin Gol in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Xilin Gol National Nature Reserve was set in 1985 and took prt in the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network in 1987 to protect its environment and plateau grassland ecosystem.
Check out the following articles for more information:
Xilingol Travel Guide
Xi Wuzhumuqin Grassland
Inner Mongolia Tour
There are great number of rare wild animals here, including swans, the red-crowned crane and bustards. The grassland is home to the biggest nature reserve ecosystem of its type in china.
4. The high-cold Naqu Alpine Grassland in Tibet
那曲高寒草原
Naqu in Tibetan language means “black river”; Nagqu is located in the north of Tibet Autonomous Region, bordering Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province in the north, Qamdo region in the east, Lhasa, Nyingchi and Xigaze in the south, and Ngari region in the west.
Check out Nagqu Travel Guide for more information.
This Northern Tibet grassland is one of the few undeveloped virgin land in the world today. The land is flat, dotted with lakes and geothermal hot springs. In summer and autumn, the high-cold Naqu Alpine Grassland is dotted with green grass and flowers, white clouds floating in the blue sky, eagles flying freely, and the blue lake glistering, making the sky and water turned into one color.
The wild yaks, Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan wild donkeys, Tibetan snow leopards, black-necked cranes and many other rare birds and animals, which are unique to the plateau, flock together with their loud and noisy roar.
5. Qilian Mountain Grassland 祁连山草原
As its name suggests, Qilian Mountain Grassland located at the foot of Qilian Mountain. The Qilian Mountain sits at the junction of Gansu and Qinghai provinces with a sea-level of between 4,000 – 5,000.
Differen from most other mountains where lives are missing above the snow line, Qilian Mountain is home to snow lotus, which is a rare medicinal material growing on the snow line. The best time to travel is in in July and August.
6. Ruoergai Grassland in Sichuan 若尔盖大草原
Ruoergai Grassland is located in the north of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, and borders Maqu, Luqu of Gansu Province. It is on the east edge of Tibet-Qinghai Plateau with an altitude between 3000 and 3600 meters.
Check out my another article my first trip to Ruoergai Grassland for More information.
Ruoergai Grassland is said to be the fourth largest grasslands in Chinao. Ruoergai Grassland belongs to the kind of alpine meadow, also one of the China’s three largest wetlands, covering 10436.58 square kilometers. The best time to view the wildflowers of Ruoergai Grassland is between July and early September. Ruoergai Grassland is neither the greenest nor a fertile grassland, but what catches my eyes and makes my excited is its numerous wild flowers.
7. Bayanbulak Grassland Xinjiang 巴音布鲁克草原
Bayanbulak Grassland ( or Bayinbuluke Grassland) is located in the middle of Tianshan Mountains, all year round surrounded by snow caped mountains on its four sides, in central Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the sea level of 2500 meters with an area of 22,000 square km.
Check out Bayanbulak Grassland (Bayinbuluke) Travel Guide for more information.
Bayinbuluke literally means “rich with springs” in Monglian language. Bayanbulak Grassland is typical of Grass meadow steppe, one of the most important herding and grazing area. The abundant rainfall,coupled by snow melting water, form zigzaging streams and lakes, making it one of the fast grass meadow growing place in Xinjiang. It is actually a huge swamp made up of many small connectedlakes, also a place for Nature Reserve for the swan in China.
8. Wulan Butong Grassland in Inner Mogolia 乌兰布统草原
500 km north of Beijing, Wulanbutong is a typical hilly grassland perched on the high lands (Bashang) between the remaining hills of the Greater Xing’an Range and the Yinshan Mountains.
Check out my another article Wulan Butong Grassland Photography Tour for more information.
The Wulan Butong Grassland is one of the most ideal destinations for summer vacation. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the stretch of grasslands as well as riding horses freely on the grassland.
Wulan Batong Grassland has rich variety of plants, countless colorful wild flowers, and limpid lakes, an ideal place for landscape photography tour.
9. Ordos Grassland in Inner Mongolia 鄂尔多斯大草原
The Ordos Grassland is located 12 kilometers west of Hanggin Banner in Ordos, 430km west of Hohhot. The grassland, with and area of 600 square kilometers, consists of over 100 Mongolia yurts. The whole grassland is divided into song and dance area, entertainment area, accommodation area, fete area, Mongolian folk area and so on.
Check out Ordos Travel Guide for more information.
You also have the chance to take part in the traditional activities of Mongolia such as wrestling, horse riding, toxophily etc. The green grass wafts under the blue sky, and white sheep hides among the grass, appearing while wind blowing. The Ordos Grassland is like hovering lannerets always with warm greeting to the friends from all corners of the world.
10. Gannan Grassland in the southern Gansu 甘南草原
The Gannan Grassland is located within Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwestern Gansu Province. The grassland covers an area of over 2.5o million ha, primarily within Gansu’s Maqu, Xiehe and Luqu counties.
Check out my following articles for more information:
My Trip to Gahai Lake
My Trip to Luqu County
Luqu is a town on the fringe of Tibetan-Qinghai Plaetau with green alpine meadows in the west and the Tao River in the east. Two third of Luqu county is suitable for grazing livestock, like sheep and yak. Along the Tao River.
Tip: Hassle-free China Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for China guided tours:
Inner Mongolia Tour
Top China Private Tours
Top China Small Group Tours
Top China Train Tour
Top China Yangtze Cruise Tour
Top China Silk Road Tour
Further Readings
Top 10 Places to Visit in China
10 Fascinating Facts about China
How to Pack for your China Trip
Plugs and Sockets in China
China Tour Packages
Learning Useful Chinese Phrases for Travellers
How to Recognise Chinese Currency
Top 10 Travel Experiences in China
10 Most Scenic Drives in China
Top 10 Most Beautiful Mountains in China
Top 10 Most Beautiful Lakes in China
Top 10 Most Beautiful Grasslands in China
Top 10 Most Beautiful Rivers in China
Top 10 most beautiful waterfalls in China
Top 10 Places to See Autumn Leaves in China
Top 10 Most Beautiful Villages in China
Top 10 Old Towns in China
The 10 Most Beautiful Museums in China
Top 10 China Tourist Scams
Top 10 Souvenirs in China
Any questions, just drop a line.
