Hóngyuán

The grasslands of Hongyuan stretch across the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, where marshes and winding streams interrupt broad pastures. The White River, known in Tibetan as the Gaqu, rises in the southern uplands and flows north through this country before joining the Yellow River. Its bends leave crescents of shallow water among the grass. Cold weather and wet ground make travel difficult, but the extensive pastures support herds across the high plateau.