Unpopulated Altyn Mountains nature reserve: paradise for plants and wild animals

A recent activity in Xinjiang, termed the "Loulan Walk," attracted more than 70 media outlets and over 100 journalists and authenticated Weibo users from around the country. The group had the honor of passing through the Altyn Mountains nature reserve on Aug. 15.

The reserve was founded in 1983. It was first included on the list of China's national nature reserves in 1985, and it is the first plateau ecological reserve in China. Praised for its fresh, potable water and naturally cool climate, this treasure trove of wild plants and animals also holds a high value when it comes to research. With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the 46,800-square-kilometer reserve is classified as an arctic-alpine depopulated zone.

In the past 30 years, the population of three important species have benefited from the protected environemnt of the Altyn Mountains. The populations of Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks and Asiatic donkeys have already grown to between 60,000 and 90,000. The different species of advanced vertebrate animals in the area have increased from 146 to 204, and even plant varieties have increased from 241 to 386. The reserve is considered a kind of paradise for wildlife.