Kunlun

Kunlun refers to one of the major mountain systems of Asia, spanning western China from Qinghai and Xinjiang toward the Tibetan Plateau. It is commonly divided into the North Kunlun and South Kunlun ranges and runs roughly east-west across the high plateau region, forming a broad climatic and topographic barrier. The range extends about 3,000 kilometers and includes glaciers and rugged peaks. The highest point is Kongur Tagh, at about 7,649 meters, on the Xinjiang-Tibet border.

Geology and hydrology: The Kunlun Mountains lie along the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau and are associated with complex tectonics at the Eurasian plate boundary. They influence regional climate and river systems, with glaciers feeding major streams that drain toward the Tarim Basin and other basins on the plateau. The Kunlun Fault is a major tectonic fault that produced a large earthquake in 2001.

Cultural and historical significance: In Chinese mythology and literature, Kunlun is a legendary sacred mountain often portrayed as the home of the Queen Mother of the West and the source of immortality, the Peach of Immortality. In classical texts it is used to denote distant lands and the origin of myths and cosmology.

Modern science and conservation: The Kunlun region is a focus for scientific research in glaciology, geology, and climate science, and contains protected areas and reserves that preserve unique high-altitude ecosystems and paleoclimatic records.