Visiting the Valley of the Cats is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Stunning scenery, a colourful and fascinating culture and wonderful wildlife make any visit to the “roof of the world” an unforgettable experience. These are some of the activities visitors can enjoy and any visit can be tailored according to how you want to spend your time.
Note that the Valley of the Cats is at high elevation (3,700-4,700m). The risk of altitude sickness is real and the effects can be life-threatening. Please ensure you take time to acclimatise to the high elevation and know the symptoms. See this link for more information about altitude sickness and how to minimise the risk.
行走于昂赛会是一生一次的体验。美丽的景色，多彩的文化以及随处可见的野生动物让这次世界屋顶的旅行十分难忘。以下是可以在昂赛进行的活动。
1. Wildlife Tour, including Snow Leopard Quest 寻找野生动物，比如说寻踪雪豹
Duration: one to three days 1-3天
Venture onto the mountain slopes, side valleys and snow-capped mountains in search of the local wildlife, including the elusive Snow Leopard. Follow the favourite prey of the apex predators, Blue Sheep and Yak, look for gatherings of vultures that often indicate a crime scene, or scan the hill sides and skyline for any silhouette… The Snow Leopard is extremely well-camouflaged and difficult to spot but with patience and persistence, you may be lucky. In Tibetan culture, spotting the Snow Leopard is a blessing. Whether or not your quest is successful in finding the mysterious feline, it will take you to areas offering stunning views of the magnificent scenery and offer chances of sighting the other exceptional wildlife in the area, including the Blue Sheep, White-lipped Deer, White Eared-pheasant, Himalayan Vulture and Golden Eagle.
踏上山坡、峡谷和冰雪覆盖的山峰，来搜寻行踪隐秘的雪豹。跟随它最喜爱的猎物，岩羊和牦牛；留意高山兀鹫聚集之处，那往往是杀戮后留下的犯罪现场；或远眺群山和天际线，搜索某个剪影……雪豹非常善于隐藏，很难被看到。但是凭借耐心和坚持，你也许会有好运。在藏区传统中，看到雪豹意味着福气。而且，不论你的目标是不是找寻这种神秘的大猫，这趟旅途会带你进入景色壮美、野生动植物丰富的地区。出没的动物包括岩羊、高山兀鹫和金雕。
And if you don’t see one, just remember the words of Peter Matthiessen in his book named after this magnificent cat. When asked if he saw a Snow Leopard during his epic trek through the Himalayas with George Schaller, he answered: “No. Isn’t that wonderful?”
如果你不幸没有见到雪豹，请回想彼得·麦特森的《雪豹》。当被问及他与乔治·夏勒穿越喜马拉雅的传奇之旅途中，他可曾见到雪豹，他回答：“没有。但不也很棒吗？”
The Tibetan Bunting and the Tibetan Babax are two rare species of bird endemic to the region. With the bunting favouring high elevation grassland with scattered shrubs and the babax preferring the forest cover, searching for these elusive birds will see you hike through gorges, over snow and shrub covered slopes and into riverside forests. While searching for the birds, be ready to encounter a large variety of other eye-catching animals and birds, such as Tibetan Snowcock, Tibetan Partridge, Snow Pigeon, Giant Laughingthrush and Mountain Weasel.
藏鵐和棕草鹛是两种特别罕见的鸟类，都是该地区所独有的。藏鵐喜爱生活在散布有灌木丛的高海拔草场，而棕草鹛喜爱森林地区。搜寻这两种鸟类的过程中，你将徒步越过河口，被冰雪和灌木丛覆盖的山坡，以及河畔的森林。搜寻途中，请准备好喜遇许多其他种类的动物，例如白马鸡、藏雪鸡、岩鸽、橙翅噪鹛、高原山鹑、香鼬。
2. Trekking 徒步
Trek 1 – To The Ancient Tower 线路一：古塔探秘
Duration：4-5hours；Elevation：3900-4150m；Level：Easy
时长：往返4-5小时；海拔落差：3900-4150；难度：较简单
The Jirigou Ancient Tower is a Cultural Relics Protection Unit of the Qinghai Province with a history of about 700 years. Among three original towers, two can still be found today, with one of them remains intact. On the way, you can enjoy a splendid view of the snow mountains, Danxia landscape covered with Tibetan junipers that are hundreds of years old, and the meandering Lancang river cutting through the Namsei valley.
吉日沟古塔是青海省重点文物保护单位，有约七百年历史。原有三座，现存两座遗迹，一座较为完好。在徒步过程中，远山近峰相互呼应，澜沧江如缎带般游移其间，昂赛丹霞古朴的砖红色与四季常青的大果园柏红绿交织，可谓昂赛独有之美。
Route：Stone momument —— Distant look to Buddha Mountain —— Temple —— Ancient Tower
石碑处出发——远观佛头山——巴艾贡色寺——古塔
Tip: Big rocks on the way are good for photographs!
途中有多处巨石，可休憩拍照。
Trek 2 – Buddha Mountain 线路二：佛头山
Duration: 3-4 hours. Elevation: 3900-4100m；Level：Medium
时长；往返3-4小时；海拔落差：3900-4100；难度：中等
Buddha mountain is the landmark of Namsei. With the change of sunlight, the mountain shows different faces of a Buddha.
During the trip, please avoid touching the stone, which may cause damage.
佛头山为昂赛地区有名的丹霞地貌，丛山与大河环绕的佛头愈发神圣。随着太阳光的角度变换，佛头山会显示出不同的样态。
徒步过程中请勿触摸、敲击佛头，以免损坏这一自然奇观。
Trek 3 – Egg Mountain 线路三：球球山
Duration；1 hour；Elevation：3900-3950m；Level：Easy
时长；往返1小时；海拔落差：3900-3950；难度：简单
Egg Mountain is close to the road with easy access. From Egg Mountain, you have a view of one of the most famous scared mountains of the area —— Naibon sacred mountain.
双蛋山坐落在路边不远处，十分容易抵达。受到风力侵蚀，岩石形成了球状。从双蛋山可以远观对面的坐佛山。
Reminders:
Please prepare hiking gear, warm clothes, sunblock, hat, food, and water for the hike. In case of altitude sickness or exhaustion, the affected person needs to be taken downhill immediately.
While visiting, please show respect to the natural and cultural environments. Visitors need to stay on the trail at all times. Please avoid littering, stepping on native vegetation, or feeding or scaring wildlife.
While visiting Buddhist sites, please take off your hats, do not touch or drag the prayer flags, and always ask your guide for permission before taking photos.
注意事项:
宜准备好登山和防寒装备，携带好个人必备干粮和饮用水。如有体力不支和高反状况者请立即返回山下休息。
在游览期间，请尊重当地的自然和文化。按照指定游览路线行走，不践踏植被；带走随身垃圾，不要惊扰或投喂野生动物。
尊重佛教传统，参观寺院、佛塔时请脱帽；请勿随意拉扯经幡；拍摄佛像等宗教艺术作品前，请先询问向导，在向导的指示下进行游览和拍照。
3. Buddhism Pilgrimage 玉树周边佛教朝圣
Duration: one day
时长：1天
As monasteries and religious activities form an important part of local residents’ daily lives, this tour will take you to several key sites to help you develop a deeper understanding of Tibetan culture. Hike on Buddha mountain (佛头山), a prominent sacred mountain in the area. When you return to Yushu, along with pious believers, visit the Temple of Princess Wencheng (文成公主庙), built 1,300 years ago to remember the Tang Princess who married the Tibetan leader of the Tubo kingdom, uniting the destiny of the Tang dynasty with that of the Tibetan kingdom. Then, take a drive to Yushu City, to the Gyêgu monastery (结古寺), one of the largest monasteries in the area. Finally, take a look at the fascinating ceremonial of endless pilgrims circumambulating at all hours around the Jiana Mani Stone Mound (嘉那玛尼石堆), the largest pile of the Mani stones in the world.
对于藏族人来说，宗教活动有着极其重要而特别的意义。在玉树市，就有很多大的寺庙。前往这些寺庙朝拜，或许能加深对藏区文化的了解。
在昂赛地区，我们可以前往前文项目2中提到的佛头山、寻觅古塔或者远观乃邦神山。
回到玉树后，我们可以参观禅古寺和文成公主庙。文成公主庙建于1300年前，为纪念唐朝公主和亲青藏吐蕃王朝的首领而建。这一事件标志着唐朝与吐蕃结为了姻亲之好。
此外，玉树市的结古寺、当卡寺也有着浓郁的宗教氛围。不容错过的是世界上最大的玛尼石堆——嘉那玛尼石堆。时时有宗教与朝圣仪式围绕着石堆展开。
4. A Day as a Yak Herder 牧区生活体验
Duration: one day
时长：1天
On this excursion, you will live the life of a yak herder. You will experience herding through several means of transportation. In the morning, after milking the yaks, take the traditional way, riding on horseback to take these animals to the grazing areas. Of course, after herding a while, you will need a break with yak milk tea and yoghurt. This will enable you to continue on horseback to explore the township of Angsai. Later in the afternoon, try the modern way.. most families ride motorbikes now!
这次旅程中，你将有机会体验牦牛牧民的生活，可以采用几种不同的交通方式来放牧。在清晨，按照传统的方式，骑在马上或走路将牦牛带到草场。当然，在放牧一会之后，你会需要休息一会，痛饮牦牛奶和酸奶。休息过后，就有力气继续探索昂赛乡。下午，再尝试新型的放牧方式——现在多数家庭都骑摩托车放牧了！
You will be taken aback by the natural beauty yaks are able to enjoy every day in the region, either in summer when the grasslands are covered with red blue and yellow wildflowers – mile after mile of a kind of rainbow carpet – or in winter, when the snow-hooded mountains are encased in a necklace of white.
你将饱览该地区的奇景。不论是夏天被红、蓝、黄野花覆盖的草场，如同一条连绵不绝的七彩地毯；抑或是冬日，银装素裹的群山，都是牦牛们每日抬头所见的美景。
5. A look into Shanshui, Angsai (Namsei) Station
参观昂赛工作站
Duration: half a day
时长：半天
Shanshui is a major non-governmental organization operating in Sanjiangyuan. Since 2009, it has been carrying out a large set of conservation activities on the ground with the involvement of the local community. Their activities include installing cameras traps on the mountains to better monitor the wildlife, setting up anti-poaching patrols, or creating nature watch activities in the region. Angsai workstation was inaugurated in 2017 and is the first dedicated scientific research station in Sanjiangyuan. It serves as a major outpost for Shanshui conservationists whose actions are deeply rooted in the local community.
Get a deeper understanding of the work of these pioneers by meeting them, learning about their research, their daily challenges, and their unique insights as bridges between the Tibetan herders, the local government and the scientific community. It is also a chance for you to contribute to the ongoing conservation efforts yourself, you can contact sanjiangyuan@shanshui.org for details!
6. Discovering the night sky
Duration: an evening
While you will be stunned by the natural beauty of Sanjiangyuan during the daytime, you will be enchanted by night. Due to the low-levels of light pollution, Sanjiangyuan is a wonderful stargazing location. On clear summer nights, when the skies are the darkest and clearest, embark on a journey to explore the mysteries of the universe and enjoy the starry show of the Milky Way, star clusters, nebulae and meteors. The best two meteor showers are without doubt: the Perseid (mid-August) and the Geminid (mid-December), during which up to 120–160 meteors per hour can be observed. According to a Tibetan saying, if one sees a meteor, they will receive God’s intelligence.
白天，你将沉醉于三江源的自然奇景，而到了夜晚，
To be best prepared, please download a stargazing APP before you arrive or purchase a guidebook!
不妨准备好你的观星app或者书籍吧！
