This is where the water starts and the sky begins.

The Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve hoststhe headstreams of the Yangtze, the Yellow and the Mekong Rivers, and a magnificent and mysterious land — the Kekexili Nature Reserve.

It’s located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in Qinghai province. Its Mongolian name means “beautiful maiden”. And it is beautiful — but also, ecologically fragile.

The soil and air are thin. But the water is clean and clear. It’s the habitat of many rare and protected species.