Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia Road Trip (24): The World's Highest Wetland - Ruo'ergai Flower Lake

Travel with Ctrip Season 16 - Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia Road Trip (24) The World's Highest Wetland - Ruo'ergai Flower Lake Gannan, Gansu - Aba, Sichuan Sep 18, 2023 Cloudy, 5-17°C, max altitude 3,550m. Yesterday, a friend suggested we take the Rock Road, which is quite famous. However, it was in the opposite direction to our itinerary and we heard that one section of the road was very dusty, so we decided to skip it. Instead, we chose to explore the "Little Duku Highway" in Gannan. After consulting with locals, we set off at 9 am. The "Little Duku Highway" is a section of the 550 County Road from Zhagana to Flower Lake, about 35 km long. You can only find this road by selecting the cycling or walking option on your navigation app. The road is paved with cement and is generally flat, but it is narrow and only wide enough for one car. However, there are many parking bays along the way to allow cars to pass each other. The first part of the "Little Duku Highway" runs through a canyon (Image 1) with dense forests and a stream running alongside. We encountered two sika deer in the nature reserve. One of them was very alert and quickly disappeared into the forest, while the other was bolder and even posed for a photo, looking smart and cute (Image 2). The second part of the road crosses a mountain pass and enters the Ruo'ergai Grassland, the second largest grassland in China. The average altitude is nearly 3,500m. It is an alpine meadow with endless grass and water, herds of cattle and sheep, and vast scenery. We arrived at Flower Lake at 1 pm. Flower Lake (4A) is part of the Ruo'ergai Grassland and the highest wetland in the world (Image 3). Strolling along the 5.5 km circular boardwalk in the scenic area, the breeze carries the fragrance of lake grass, which is refreshing. The blue sky and white clouds are reflected in the clear lake (Image 4), with clusters of aquatic plants on both sides (Image 5) and waterfowl swimming and playing freely (Image 6), creating a warm scene. From a high altitude, the aquatic plants are colorful and surprising (Image 7). They announce the arrival of autumn. After leaving Flower Lake, we headed to the First Bend of the Yellow River. Near Luohuawan in Tangke Town on National Highway 248, we first saw a large bend in the Yellow River. From a height of nearly 500m, we captured a beautiful "Omega" shape (Image 8). We then entered the First Bend of the Yellow River Scenic Area to admire the beautiful curve of the Yellow River as it turns (Image 9). In the distance, dark clouds loomed, threatening rain, while the setting sun appeared and disappeared nearby, attracting many photography enthusiasts. Tonight, we are staying at a hotel in the scenic area and will continue exploring Aba tomorrow.