Altun Shan

The Altun Mountains form a long barrier along the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Their eastern ridges meet the Qilian Mountains near the western end of the Hexi Corridor. To the south lies the dry Qaidam Basin; to the north, routes of the Silk Road skirt the mountains towards the Tarim Basin. The Turkic name Altyn Tagh means “gold mountain”.