Deer paradise amid green mountains

Qilian Mountain Deer Culture Industry Park (Shenlu Park) is the largest red deer breeding base in Gansu. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

Sunan Yugur autonomous county, located in the central Hexi Corridor at the northern foot of Qilian Mountains, is China's only Yugur autonomous county. It serves as a crucial ecological barrier and genetic repository for western China, making it one of Gansu's natural treasures.

The red deer in Sunan grasslands thrive in the pristine, high-altitude environment of Qilian Mountains. This unique ecosystem and grassland breeding method contribute to the superior quality of Sunan red deer.

Qilian Mountain Deer Cultural Industrial Park (Shenlu Park) began domesticating wild red deer in 1958. After nearly 80 years of development, it has become Gansu's largest red deer breeding base. As China's only deer farm at 2,700-3,000 meters altitude, it primarily uses free-range methods supplemented by pen feeding, currently nurturing over 1,000 Qilian Mountain red deer.

The park actively promotes deer-centric ecological culture, raising public awareness about environmental protection and fostering sustainable local ecotourism. Visitors can experience Yugur culture, admire Qilian Mountain's beauty, interact with deer, and tour the breeding facilities.

In recent years, Sunan county has prioritized high-quality, eco-friendly, and low-carbon development. By implementing national grassland animal husbandry transformation projects and leisure agriculture initiatives, the county has successfully integrated primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. This approach has accelerated the conversion of ecological resources into economic benefits, demonstrating that "green mountains are golden mountains" and creating a new model for realizing the value of ecological products through industrial integration.