Located at the bank of Tongtianhe River in the eastern part of the Qinghai — Tibet Plateau——"The World's Roof "and inside the Jielong Country in the northeastern part of Yushu County, Shaanxi Province. the Longbao Nature Reserve, covering an area of 5.000 hectares, was set up in 1986.

As one of the highest nature reserves in the world. the Longbao Lake is located on the elevations of 4.050 to 4.200m above sea level with a beach of 30km long and 1. 5 to 4 km wide.

It is discovered that the Reserve is an important breeding place for a precious bird—— The black — necked crane which lives only on highlands and perches mainly in China. In the Reserve, 32 species of birds (black necked crane, bar—headed goose, common merganser, fishpot. cinereous vulture, etc), 12 species of beasts (snow leopard, otter, chiru, wolf. fox, weasel, etc. ). 20 species of insects have been found. Besides, the Reserve has abundant flora resources. For in stance, there are 34 species of higher plants such as water buttercup, buttercup, Siberian knotweed, Asiatic plantain, nodding chrysanthemum, pile liver mosses. etc.