Blooming Prickly Blue Poppies at Hoh Xil, the No Man's Land

Located in the northeastern extremity of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai Hoh Xil is listed as the largest and highest plateau in the world among the World Heritage Sites. This extensive area is situated more than 4,500 m above sea level and is characterized by alpine mountains and steppe systems with sub-zero average temperatures prevail all year-round. Its unique geographical and climatic conditions make Hoh Xil a forbidden zone for human beings but a paradise of life. More than one third of the plant species there are endemic to the plateau. Showing in the photo are blooming prickly blue poppies, an endangered species growing in high altitudes, spotted at Qinghai Hoh Xil.