Qilian Mountains

The Qilian Mountains are a great mountain range in China. They sit between the Qinghai and Gansu provinces, forming an important natural border between them. Sometimes, people also refer to a nearby range called the Altyn-Tagh as the Nan Shan because it lies to the south of a dry area known as the Hexi Corridor. The Qilian Mountains are part of a larger system that includes the Kunlun Mountains, stretching across the country. These mountains are important for the environment and the people who live nearby.

Geography

The Qilian Mountains stretch about 800 km from the south of Dunhuang. They form the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau and the southwestern border of the Hexi Corridor.

The highest peak in the main range is the Qilian Shan peak, which stands at 5,547 meters. It is located about 60 km south of Jiuquan. The mountains also include other important peaks like Gangshiqia Peak in the east. To the west, the range continues as the Nan-Shan, including Yema Shan and Altun Shan (Altyn Tagh). To the east, the mountains pass north of Qinghai Lake and end near Lanzhou.

These mountains are the source of many small rivers and streams that flow northeast, helping farms in the Hexi Corridor grow crops. The most well-known of these streams is the Ejin (Heihe) River. The area has many glaciers, including the large Touming Mengke. There is also a large brackish lake called Lake Hala within the mountains.

The Qilian Mountains have a special characteristic ecosystem, described by the World Wildlife Fund as the Qilian Mountains conifer forests. A high pass called Biandukou connects parts of Gansu and Qinghai.

History

The Shiji mentions the "Qilian mountains" near Dunhuang, linked to the ancient Yuezhi. Some think these mountains might be the Tian Shan. The name Qilian may mean "sky."

The Tuyuhun people lived near these mountains long ago. In Europe, they were once called the Richthofen Range after explorer Ferdinand von Richthofen. Today, a county in Qinghai is named after these mountains: Qilian County.