Ruoergai Grassland: Tibetan family makes its living herding yaks

World
Europe

It's time now for our special series of reports from the Yellow River. Today our reporter Cui Hui'ao takes us to the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, where the Yellow River takes its first bend. China's second longest river has helped generations of Tibetan herdsmen in Ruoergai County, who spend their life pasturing along the river.

At Ruoergai, myriad shades of green will make you forget your worries.

52-year old GebengZhaxi has lived on this grassland all his life. His day begins when most people are still asleep, riding on horseback to move his 400 yaks to pasture and checking on their health - looking for signs of wolf attacks. He says yaks are everything to his family.

GEBENGZHAXI TIBETAN HERDSMAN "Summertime is crucial for pasturing because the grass has greened. We make money by selling yak butter, milk tea, and yaks. That earns us more than 100 thousand RMB a year, which is enough for my family."

His wife Zhou Me's job is to milk the yaks, from six in the morning to 11 at night.

The couple's son Gongbolangjia lives with them for now. He was born and raised on the grassland, but went to college in Chengdu, and is about to start graduate school.

GONGBOLANGJIA GEBENGZHAXI'S SON "I think the biggest influence rural life has had on me the most is teaching me to accept things. We do not have big dreams or ambitions. We are easily satisfied with our life and what we have."

The entire family lives in a tent in the summer, with little entertainment, and barely any cellphone signals.

And yet, life seems full of serenity and joy.

In the winter, they leave the tent in the mountain and move into their apartment in a nearby village. Herding continues, but in a different location.

CUI HUI'AO RUOERGAI COUNTY, SICHUAN PROVINCE "Behind me is where the Yellow River takes its first bend at the junction of three provinces. The S shape is formed as Yellow river meets with white river in Tangka village."

Abundant water and good light and heat conditions have made Ruoergai a suitable area for pasturing and nurtured generations of Tibetans.

GEBENGZHAXI TIBETAN HERDSMAN "My family has been herding by the Yellow River for decades. Every winter, our yaks drink its water and eat the grass. We Tibetans are thankful for this river."

It is this poetic and idyllic scenery that has created the most harmonious melody in the grassland. Cui Hui'ao CGTN, Ruoergai, Sichuan Province.