Sanjiangyuan National Park covers 363,000 square kilometres of the southern Qinghai plateau — an enormous area of high grassland, wetland, and mountain terrain that forms the watershed for Asia's three greatest rivers. Yushu is the main gateway for visitors. The park is home to snow leopards, Tibetan antelopes (chiru), Tibetan wild asses (kiang), black-necked cranes, and Tibetan gazelles; wildlife sightings are common on the open plains.
Most travellers explore Sanjiangyuan by hiring a vehicle in Yushu for multi-day trips into the park. The infrastructure is minimal and conditions are remote — fuel, warm clothing, and supplies should be organised before leaving town. The most accessible section of the park from Yushu is the area around the Yangtze headwaters to the west. Permits may be required for certain zones; check current requirements with the guesthouse where you stay in Yushu.