Why is Hoh Xil known as the ‘Forbidden Zone for Humans’?
Located on the Tibetan plateau, Hoh Xil lies at an average altitude of more than 4,500 meters, with many peaks above 6,000 meters. The climate here is extremely harsh, with an average annual temperature of about -5°C, frequent snowfall and strong winds.
“Human forbidden zone”
First and foremost, Qinghai Province, China, is known as the “Jewel of the Plateau” and one of the places with breathtakingly beautiful scenery. In this province, Hoh Xil Nature Reserve is considered the largest natural wildlife reserve in China and is known as the “No-Man Zone”.
The Hoh Xil lies at an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters, featuring towering snow-capped peaks, sparkling glaciers and pristine blue lakes. This area is home to many rare species, including Tibetan antelopes, yaks, wild yaks, and snow leopards. The Hoh Xil ecosystem plays an important role in regulating the regional climate, providing water to major rivers and serving as an invaluable natural heritage.
Hoh Xil’s harsh terrain and ecosystem
In terms of altitude, Hoh Xil is consistently above 4,000 meters, with some areas reaching heights of 4,600 meters. In addition, there are more than 7,000 glaciers that accumulate into towering snow mountains.
The area is also rich in biodiversity. It is home to more than 2,000 species of plants and about 230 species of wild animals, living in the vast grasslands and wetlands at high altitudes, unique lakes, rivers and forests on the plateau.
Due to its abundant wildlife resources, Hoh Xil was designated as an important wildlife habitat in China and established as an inviolable area. Despite its magnificent beauty, Hoh Xil is characterized by extremely harsh weather conditions. The climate here is cold all year round, the average temperature ranges from -5°C to 5°C. Winter is long, there is heavy snowfall and there are often severe blizzards. Summers are short and cool, with low rainfall. Hoh Xil’s terrain is also very rugged, with steep mountain slopes, steep cliffs, and deep canyons. The network of rivers and streams is dense and the fast-flowing water is potentially dangerous. One of the biggest challenges facing humans in Hoh Xil is lack of oxygen. The higher you go, the lower the oxygen density in the air, leading to dizziness, unconsciousness and even death.
What makes “Humanity-Forbidden Zone” so scary?
As an area known as the “No-Human Zone”, Hoh Xil naturally has its own unique features. First, the climate in Hoh Xil changes rapidly, often experiencing “four seasons in one day.”
This is because Hoh Xil’s altitude, with most areas above 4,600 meters, results in very low temperatures and unstable weather conditions.
In the summer, the sun shines longer, up to 7 or 8 hours, so the temperature can still be relatively high, but snowfall in the summer is also a frequent phenomenon.
And in summer, when the wind picks up, the temperature drops sharply, creating many seasons in one day. This makes it difficult for people to adapt and easily leads to altitude sickness. If you want to live in Hoh Xil, the most important thing is to adjust your thinking and not be bothered by the climate. This way, life will become easier.
Due to harsh conditions and lurking dangers, the Chinese government has banned tourists and locals from freely traveling in the Hoh Xil area. Travel is allowed only with special permission and the assistance of an experienced guide. However, Hoh Xil still faces potential threats from human activity. Demand for mineral exploitation, illegal hunting, and livestock grazing are gradually encroaching on this area, threatening the ecosystem and habitat of rare species.
Another significant challenge is the severe lack of oxygen in Hoh Xil. When you reach this area, you may experience dizziness. Furthermore, the remote local environment lacks basic living conditions.
Additionally, many wildlife species in this area pose a significant threat to humans. First, there are wild wolves. Wild wolves roam Hoh Xil, they are fierce and persistent. Once they set their sights on their prey, they never give up easily.
Another threat is the brown bear, a very aggressive animal. They are very large and no animal can withstand their attack in this area. If a brown bear spots you, your chances of survival are slim.
