The “Valley of the Cats” is the name given to a spectacular valley close to the town of Namsei (Angsai) in Zadoi (Zaduo) County, Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Situated on the Tibetan Plateau, the Valley of the Cats is a special place. The 22 resident families, each with their own herd of yak, hold strict Buddhist beliefs about the sanctity of all life.
昂赛“大猫谷”是青藏高原上一片未受破坏的野生动物栖息地，它位于青海省玉树藏族自治州杂多县昂赛乡。这里的22户牧民接待家庭信仰着藏传佛教。敬畏众生的理念使人、野生动物与自然在这里和谐共存.
Although the Valley of the Cats is situated in the core area of Sanjiangyuan (the source of the three great rivers – the Yellow, the Yangtze and the Mekong), China’s first pilot National Park, and access is strictly controlled (permits are required and independent travel is not permitted), the local government has agreed to low-volume community-based tourism for up to three groups involving a maximum of 12 people at a time. This is a community-based conservation initiative where 100% of the revenue from this project stays in the community.
昂赛位于三江源的核心区域，是三江源国家公园的组成部分。昂赛的进入受到严格的管控，外来人员需要申请许可证，获政府批准后才能进入。从2018年起，三江源国家公园澜沧江源园区昂赛管护站、当地政府同意接受少量的自然体验游。同一时间段内最多三支团队，总计不超过十二人可以进入昂赛。
Wildlife watching tourism, as a community conservation initiative, has been designed to contribute to the local community and snow leopard conservation. 100% of the revenue from tourism stays with the local community. 45% of the income will go to the host family, 45% to a community fund (for public welfare issues such as health insurance) and 10% to snow leopard conservation.
自然体验将助力于当地社区发展和雪豹保护。45%的自然体验收入属于接待家庭，另外的45%将投入社区基金 （用于社会福利事业，如医保），剩下的10%将用于雪豹保护.
The Valley is 3-4 hrs drive from Yushu which, in turn, is a 1-hour flight from Xining in Qinghai Province.
昂赛“大猫谷”距离玉树市大约三至四小时车程。从青海省西宁市乘坐一小时飞机即可到达玉树市。
***Please note that professional photographers or film makers, or any filming for commercial purposes, requires an additional special permit from the National Parks Authority. Anyone wishing to film in the Valley for commercial purposes will be required to prove they are in possession of such a permit before an application to visit will be accepted.***
Acknowledgements
The community-based tourism project in the Valley of the Cats is a community initiative. The community would like to thank 三江源国家公园管理局 (The Sanjiangyuan [Three-River-Source] National Park Administration)、玉树州人民政府 (Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefectural People’s Government)、玉树州林草局 (Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefectural Forestry and Grassland Administration)、杂多县人民政府 (Zaduo County People’s Government) and the 国家公园澜沧江源园区管委会 (Three-River-Source National Park Administration Commission of Langcang-River-Source Zone) for their guidance and support.
The community-based conservation in the Valley of the Cats is implemented by ShanShui Conservation Center 山水自然保护中心and supported by 阿拉善SEE（The SEE FOUNDATION)，Panthera，Snow Leopard Trust, 膳魔师 (THERMOS)，安迪维特（Advanturer) and 广州博冠（BOSMA).