Current view: Text account
Site description (2009 baseline):
Site location and context
Qinghai Hu is the largest saline lake in China. The five islands in the lake provided breeding habitats for waterbirds. More than 50 freshwater streams and marshes around the lake are used as feeding and resting areas by birds.
Non-bird biodiversity: Procapra przewalskii is distributed near to the lake. The fish Gymnocypris przewalskii is an important fishery product from the lake.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Established as a nature reserve in 1975, and upgraded to Qinghai Hu National Nature Reserve in 1997. Part of this IBA was designated in 1992 (under the name ‘Niaodao [Bird Island]’) as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ (or Ramsar site) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The islands in the lake are used by breeding birds, and are designated as restricted areas.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Qinghai Hu (Koko Nor) (China (mainland)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/qinghai-hu-(koko-nor)-iba-china-(mainland) on 22/11/2024.
