Riyue Mountain

Located 40 kilometers southwest of Huangyuan County, Xining, Riyue Mountain Pass sits at 3,520 meters above sea level, serving as four key natural dividing lines between the Loess Plateau and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, farming and nomadic civilizations, monsoon and non-monsoon zones, as well as inland and outflow river basins. It is a vital section of the ancient Tang-Tibet Road, named for the legend that Princess Wencheng broke her sun-moon mirror here when missing her hometown Chang’an. The scenic area features iconic Sun Pavilion, Moon Pavilion, Princess Wencheng statue and rows of colorful prayer flags, offering stark contrasting scenery of farmland on the east and vast grasslands toward Qinghai Lake on the west.