World Heritage Identification Number: 1540
World Heritage since: 2017
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Natural Landscapes & Geographic Features
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇨🇳 China
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Qinghai Hoh Xil: The Largest and Highest Plateau in the World
The Qinghai Hoh Xil, located in the northeastern extremity of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, stands as a testament to the wonders of nature and biodiversity. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, this expansive region of alpine mountains and steppe systems is situated more than 4,500 meters above sea level, making it the highest plateau globally.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Qinghai Hoh Xil, located in the northeastern extremity of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, is the largest and highest plateau in the world. This extensive area of alpine mountains and steppe systems is situated more than 4,500 m above sea level, where sub-zero average temperatures prevail all year-round. The site’s geographical and climatic conditions have nurtured a unique biodiversity. More than one third of the plant species, and all the herbivorous mammals are endemic to the plateau. The property secures the complete migratory route of the Tibetan antelope, one of the endangered large mammals that are endemic to the plateau.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (vii): Qinghai Hoh Xil is situated on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the world's largest, highest, and youngest plateau. The property is a place of extraordinary beauty at a scale that dwarfs the human dimension, and which embraces all the senses. The contrast of scale is a recurring theme in Hoh Xil as high plateau systems function unimpeded on a grand scale, wildlife is vividly juxtaposed against vast treeless backdrops and tiny cushion plants contrast against towering snow covered mountains. In the summer, the tiny cushion plants form a sea of vegetation, which when blooming creates waves of different colours. Around the hot springs at the foot of towering snow covered mountains, the smells of dust, ash and sulphur combine with the sharp cold wind from the glacier. Glacial melt waters create numerous braided rivers which are woven into huge wetland systems forming tens of thousands of lakes of all colours and shapes. The lake basins comprise flat, open terrain incorporating the best preserved planation surface on the QinghaiTibet Plateau as well as an unparalleled concentration of lakes. The lakes display a full spectrum of succession stages, forming an important catchment at the source of the Yangtze River and a spectacular landscape. The lake basins also provide the major calving grounds of the Tibetan antelope. In early summer each year, tens of thousands of female Tibetan antelopes migrate for hundreds of kilometres from wintering areas in Changtang in the west, the Altun Mountains in the north and Sanjiangyuan in the east to Hoh Xil’s lake basins to calve. The property secures the complete antelope migratory route between Sanjiangyuan and Hoh Xil, supporting the unimpeded migration of Tibetan antelope, one of the endangered large mammal species endemic to the Plateau.
Criterion (x): High levels of endemism within the flora of the property are associated with high altitudes and cold climate and contribute to similarly high levels of endemism within the fauna. Alpine grasslands make up 45% of the total vegetation in the property dominated by the grass Stipa purpurea. Other vegetation types include alpine meadows and alpine talus. Over one third of the higher plants found in the property are endemic to the Plateau and all of the herbivorous mammals that feed on these plants are also Plateau endemics. There are 74 species of vertebrates in Hoh Xil, including 19 mammals, 48 birds, six fish, and one reptile (Phrynocephalus vliangalii). The property is home to Tibetan antelope, wild yak, Tibetan wild ass, Tibetan gazelle, wolf and brown bear, all of which are frequently seen. Large numbers of wild ungulates depend on the property including almost 40% of the world's Tibetan antelope and up to 50% of the world's wild yak. Hoh Xil conserves the habitats and natural processes of a complete life cycle of the Tibetan antelope, including the phenomenon of congregating females giving birth after a long migration. The calving grounds in Hoh Xil support up to 30,000 animals each year and include almost 80% of the identified birth congregation areas in the entire antelope range. During the winter, some 40,000 Tibetan antelopes remain in the property, accounting for 20-40% of the global population.
Encyclopedia Record: Hoh Xil
Hoh Xil or Kekexili, is an isolated region in the northeastern part of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. On July 7, 2017, the Hoh Xil in Qinghai was listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as "the largest and highest plateau in the world".Additional Site Details
Area: 3,735,632 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: 35.3802777778 , 92.4391666667
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Qinghai Hoh Xil reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Qinghai Hoh Xil from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Characterizing surface soil heavy metal contamination and source attribution in the Qinghai Lake Basin
A recent study reveals that surface soil heavy metal contamination in the Qinghai Lake Basin, including the UNESCO-listed Qinghai Hoh Xil region, is currently low and comparable to global crustal averages. However, localized pollution of barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and zirconium (Zr) suggests potential point-source impacts, particularly when contrasted with the nearby Hoh Xil Nature Reserve. Researchers analyzed 227 soil samples for twelve heavy metals using enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), Nemero Index (PN), and APCS-MLR modeling, which identified natural factors and transportation as primary pollution sources while ruling out widespread contamination. The study underscores the need for long-term monitoring to mitigate emerging threats, such as co-pollution with microplastics in alpine ecosystems.
Chen, L., Wang, J., Ling, Z., Yu, D., & Zhao, C. (2026). Characterizing surface soil heavy metal contamination and source attribution in the Qinghai Lake Basin. Scientific Reports, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-37489-9
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Quantifying the changes and driving factors of thermokarst hazards in the Hoh Xil region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
A marked increase in thermokarst hazards, including thermokarst lakes (TLs) and retrogressive thaw slumps (RTS), has been quantified in the fragile alpine ecosystem of Qinghai Hoh Xil. These changes are driven by complex interactions between precipitation, mean annual ground temperature (MAGT), ice content, clay content, soil moisture, thaw index change rate, and precipitation change rate. GeoDetector models revealed that no single factor dominates the spatial pattern of these hazards at the regional scale, highlighting intricate feedbacks between climate warming and permafrost degradation. This study offers critical insights into predicting future impacts on carbon cycling and infrastructure in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.
Shi, Y., Niu, F., Zhang, X., Hu, X., Pang, D., & Gao, L. (2026). Quantifying the changes and driving factors of thermokarst hazards in the Hoh Xil region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2026.2731734
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Evaluation Index System for Thermokarst Lake Susceptibility: An Effective Tool for Disaster Warning on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China
Approximately 19.02% of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau's permafrost region is highly susceptible to thermokarst lake formation, a phenomenon accelerated by climate change and posing significant risks to infrastructure and ecosystems. This finding stems from an innovative evaluation index system developed using Landsat imagery and human-computer interaction, which improved the accuracy of thermokarst lake classification in remote, data-scarce areas. Key factors identified include lake density, soil moisture, slope, vegetation, snow cover, ground temperature, precipitation, and permafrost stability. The study highlights the most vulnerable regions—southwestern Qinghai, northeastern Tibet, and Hoh Xil—as critical zones for disaster warning and mitigation efforts.
Li, L., Zhao, Y., Li, X., Ni, W., & Niu, F. (2025). Evaluation Index System for Thermokarst Lake Susceptibility: An Effective Tool for Disaster Warning on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China. Sustainability, 17(4), 1464. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041464
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The distribution patterns and enrichment mechanisms of lithium, rubidium, and cesium in the hot springs of the Bukatage Mountains, Hoh Xil
Researchers have uncovered distinct distribution patterns and enrichment mechanisms for lithium, rubidium, and cesium in the hot springs of the Bukatage Mountains, Qinghai Hoh Xil. The study reveals that these elements exhibit high and low concentration characteristics, with high values being 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than low ones, increasing from the mountain slope to the foot. High concentrations are attributed to deep geothermal water, while low concentrations in steam vents stem from shallow groundwater heated by geothermal steam. Stable isotope analysis (δD and δ18O) indicates that hot spring waters originate from magmatic water, atmospheric precipitation, and shallow groundwater, undergoing mixing during ascent. The enrichment process is governed by multiple factors including deep magmatic water-rock reactions, high-temperature shallow groundwater weathering, and surface evaporation. These findings advance the theoretical understanding of rare metal enrichment mechanisms in geothermal systems.
ZhenYuan, Z., FanCui, K., JianPing, W., JinChao, Z., ZhanChang, L., YingKui, Y., HuiYang, S., ShaoJun, L.,. (2025). The distribution patterns and enrichment mechanisms of lithium, rubidium, and cesium in the hot springs of the Bukatage Mountains, Hoh Xil. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 41(3), 983–994. https://doi.org/10.18654/1000-0569/2025.03.14
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Moisture Evolution over the Last 200 years Recorded from Sun Lake in Hoh Xil area of Northern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau
A 200-year record of moisture evolution from Sun Lake in the Qinghai Hoh Xil region reveals distinct climate patterns on the northern Tibetan Plateau. The study, using radiometric dating (137Cs/210Pb) and high-resolution X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), shows that the lake experienced wet conditions during the late Little Ice Age and dry conditions during the modern warm period. These findings align with regional trends across the northern Tibetan Plateau. Comparison with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index indicates that moisture variability in this region is strongly influenced by NAO phase changes, suggesting short-term climate control by large-scale atmospheric patterns.
SHI, Y., WANG, J., & LIU, X. (2025). Moisture Evolution over the Last 200 years Recorded from Sun Lake in Hoh Xil area of Northern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Journal of Salt Lake Research, 33(1), 57–63. https://doi.org/10.3724/j.yhyj.2024056
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Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Susceptibility Assessment of Thaw Slumps Associated with Climate Change in the Hoh Xil Region, in the Hinterland of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
A threefold increase in the number and twofold expansion in the total area of thaw slumps have been observed in the Hoh Xil region, part of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, between 1968 and 2019. This rapid degradation of permafrost, driven by climate change, highlights significant environmental risks, including potential large-scale landslides and debris flows. Researchers assessed thaw slump susceptibility using data from three periods (1968–1970, 2006–2009, and 2018–2019) combined with field surveys. Findings indicate that approximately 26% of the region is very highly susceptible to thaw slumping, while 36% is highly susceptible. The study also projects future thaw slump occurrences, ranging from 41 to 405 annually, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive risk assessments across the plateau.
Fan, X., Lin, Z., Yao, M., Wang, Y., Gu, Q., Luo, J., Wu, X., & Gao, Z. (2025). Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Susceptibility Assessment of Thaw Slumps Associated with Climate Change in the Hoh Xil Region, in the Hinterland of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Remote Sensing, 17(9), 1614. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17091614
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Mantle Upwelling Beneath the Hoh‐Xil Basin in the Northern Tibetan Plateau: Evidence From Seismic Anisotropy
New seismic anisotropy measurements reveal significant mantle upwelling beneath the Hoh‐Xil Basin, part of the northern Tibetan Plateau. The study identifies E-W-oriented shear wave splittings aligned with the plateau's absolute plate motion, with a peak delay time of ∼1.8 seconds in the northern Qiangtang and Songpan–Ganzi Terranes. This pattern, combined with post-collisional magmatism migration, suggests lithospheric delamination-driven mantle upwelling. In contrast, the southern portion shows ENE-WSW splitting directions, linked to Indian Plate subduction and poloidal flow, separated by a deep-seated relic terrane. These findings provide evidence for differential mantle flow beneath the Tibetan Plateau, offering insights into how continental subduction shapes orogenic deformation.
Li, W., He, R., Yuan, X., & Chen, Y. (2025). Mantle Upwelling Beneath the Hoh‐Xil Basin in the Northern Tibetan Plateau: Evidence From Seismic Anisotropy. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 130(12). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025jb032003
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