This photo taken on June 25, 2025 shows Wangdrak on the way of migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. In midsummer, herders in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, migrate their livestock hundreds of miles from winter pastures to summer pastures located over 3,700 meters above sea level, to spend the summer pasture life lasting for over 40 days.
Wangdrak, a 61-year-old herder from Mole Town of Qilian, exemplifies this practice. Accompanied by his nephew, he recently completed the two-day migration with over 60 cattle and 300 sheep.
After half a century of herding, Wangdrak has witnessed the improvement of the infrastructure in the pastoral areas, which has brought continuous benefits to their daily lives. Nowadays, with vehicles becoming increasingly common, and communication deep in the pastures getting convenient, the traditional migrations relying solely on animal power have largely disappeared.
In the following days, thousands of herders like Wangdrak will graze their livestock in these remote summer pastures. Around mid-August, as temperatures drop, they will migrate back to their winter pastures. For the Qilian Mountains, this seasonal migration cycle is crucial for grassland recovery and ecological restoration. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
This photo taken on June 25, 2025 shows Wangdrak on the way of migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
This photo taken on June 25, 2025 shows herders migrating to the summer pastures of the grassland in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Jampa Gyatso fetches water at the summer pasture of the grassland in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 26, 2025 shows the summer pastures of the grassland in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)
Jampa Gyatso rests in a tent during their migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Jampa Gyatso hangs a light in a tent during their migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Tashi Gyatso (L), son-in-law of Wangdrak, helps transfer an exhausted sheep with a vehicle during their migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Jampa Gyatso herds their flock on a motorcycle at the summer pasture of the grassland in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Wangdrak rests in a temporary cabin at the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)
Wangdrak (R) and his nephew Jampa Gyatso stand in front of a temporary cabin at the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Jampa Gyatso prepares to put up a tent during their migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)
This photo taken on June 25, 2025 shows Wangdrak on the way of migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Wangdrak (R) and Jampa Gyatso secure the yaks at a temporary rest point to prevent them from mixing with the herds of other herders in the nighttime during their migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Wangdrak (R) and Jampa Gyatso prepare dinner in a tent during their migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)
An aerial photo taken on June 25, 2025 shows Wangdrak and Jampa Gyatso on their way of migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Wangdrak (L) and Jampa Gyatso rest during the migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)
Wangdrak organizes the reins during his migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Jampa Gyatso (R) and Tashi Gyatso put up a tent during their migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Wangdrak (L) and Jampa Gyatso secure the yaks at a temporary rest point to prevent them from mixing with the herds of other herders in the nighttime during their migration to the summer pasture in Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)
