A sudden snow in the spring season is not uncommon in China's alpine region. Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve is located in the northwest of Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province. On April 24, heavy snow has turned Baima Snow Mountain into a land of black and white, like a traditional Chinese painting.

People living in the Baima Snow Mountain region have a traditional alpine pasture culture. Each year from April to October, herdsmen drive their cattle to the high altitude pasture for breeding and fresh milk. During this time, they make butter and cheese at the alpine mountain. So, horses are their most important form of transportation.

A multi-layered trust exists between human and animal. Horses in this area do not need special human care. Herdsmen can leave the horses to forage freely on the mountain without worrying about their loss. Despite predators like bears or wolves roaming on Baima Snow Mountain, the horses have not lost their natural instincts and know how to protect themselves.

(Cover image taken by Zhang Pengwan at Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, April 20, 2020.)

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