Qilian Mountains, Gansu Province, China

The snow-capped Qilian Mountains rise up mistily between the borders of Qinghai and Gansu, forming a stunning tableau behind the lush meadows and the small Silk Road settlements of these provinces.  They are pronounced "Chilian", and they rise like the Andes do in the back bone of South America.
These mountains form part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the northeast and part of the Hexi Corridor in the southwest.  Their size and impassibility contribute to the region's rich past, as the common pathway out of China to the west, known as the Silk Road.  Having stood for thousands of years, this mountain range has been witness to mankind’s history from the construction of the Great Wall in its northern reaches to the bustling trade that took place along the Hexi Corridor.
China is a mountainous country with more than 60% of it's land being at elevation.  This pciture is from early March, where the peaks are still snow and ice covered.   They are the most important water source for the Hexi Corridor in the north and the Qaidam Basin in the south, making it invaluable for the inhabitants of both Gansu and Qinghai.
The mountains themselves rise to an average height of about 4,000 metres (13,000 ft.), with the highest peaks towering at over 5,800 metres (19,000 ft.).  From the verdant valleys where nomads graze their sheep to the icy peaks untouched by mankind, the Qilian Mountains are a natural wonder that have provoked the curiosity of visitors for decades.