The Totem of the Mother River: The Yellow River Source Monument and the Twin Lakes of Madoi

The Watchtower of the Source

1.Standing on the summit of Cuorilaoze: Mountain (措日老则山) in Madoi County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, lies a spiritual and geographical landmark of immense significance: the Yellow River Source Monument, widely known as the Ox Head Monument (Niu Tou Bei). Situated at an altitude of 4,610 meters, this monument does not merely mark a geographical coordinate; it serves as a totem for the Chinese nation, symbolizing the origin of the "Mother River" that has nurtured Chinese civilization for millennia,. Erected in 1988, the monument is located within the core area of the Three Rivers Source National Nature Reserve (Sanjiangyuan), a region often referred to as the "Water Tower of China". Standing here, amidst the vast silence of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, travelers can feel a profound connection to the veins of the earth and the flow of history.

The Bronze Totem

The monument itself is a striking piece of art, cast in copper and designed to resemble a rugged, powerful ox head. It stands 3 meters high and 2.8 meters wide, its horns piercing the high-altitude sky, symbolizing the tenacity and strength of the Tibetan yak—the "Ship of the Plateau"—and the unyielding spirit of the people who live here,. On the front of the monument, the words "Yellow River Source" are engraved in both Han Chinese and Tibetan. The Chinese characters were inscribed by Hu Yaobang, a former leader of China, while the Tibetan inscription was written by the 10th Panchen Lama, highlighting the unity and shared reverence for this sacred river among different ethnic groups,. The rough texture of the bronze against the backdrop of the eternal blue sky creates a visual impact that is both solemn and stirring.

Guarding the Twin Lakes

2.The location of the Ox Head: Monument is geographically spectacular. It sits on the divide between the two largest freshwater lakes in the Yellow River source region: Gyaring Lake (Zhaling Hu) to the west and Ngoring Lake (Eling Hu) to the east. From the viewing platform at the monument, visitors are treated to a breathtaking panoramic view often described as "Two Lakes at One Glance." To the west, Gyaring Lake shines like a vast piece of white jade or a silver belt, earning it the name "White Long Lake" in Tibetan; to the east, Ngoring Lake sparkles like a sapphire mirror or a blue belt, known as the "Blue Long Lake",. These two lakes are connected by the infant Yellow River, which flows through them, filtering its waters to a crystal-clear purity before beginning its 5,464-kilometer journey to the sea,. The contrast between the rugged mountain top, the lush alpine meadows (in summer), and the shimmering expanse of the lakes creates a landscape of "Highland Aesthetics" that is unmatched.

A Pilgrimage of Spirit

3.For the local: Tibetan people, this area is sacred. The mountains are believed to be the abode of gods, and the lakes are the spirits of the land. Surrounding the monument, visitors will often find fluttering prayer flags (Mani flags) and piles of Mani stones, left by pilgrims and travelers as offerings to the mountain gods and the river spirit,. The act of visiting the monument is akin to a pilgrimage, a journey to trace the roots of life. In the quietude of the plateau, broken only by the wind and the call of waterbirds, one can reflect on the ancient Chinese poem: " The Yellow River's waters move out of heaven". It is a place where geography transforms into emotion, and where the raw power of nature commands absolute silence and respect.