The Yangtianhu Grassland, located in Beihu District, Chenzhou City, is the southernmost alpine grassland in China, with an altitude of 1,314 meters. Its average summer temperature is 20℃, resembling a "huge natural air conditioner". In the midsummer season, the grassland becomes a popular destination for tourists to escape the scorching heat.

Sheep roam on the grassland. (Photo/Liu Shan, People's Daily)

The cool weather allows tourists to enjoy the summer breeze. (Photo/Liu Shan, People's Daily)

A glimpse of the Yangtian Lake. (Photo/Liu Shan, People's Daily)

According to local residents, the Yangtianhu Grassland remains green for up to nine months. From March to November, the entire mountains are entirely covered in green, offering visitors a breathtaking natural landscape of grasslands, mountains, lakes, and wetlands.

The blue sky, white clouds, and green plants constitute a pleasant scene. (Photo/Liu Shan, People's Daily)

Since 2020, the Beihu District, Chenzhou City has implemented a protection mechanism of highlighting both hillsides closing and sightseeing bans to facilitate reforestation and ecological restoration, achieving coordinated development and protection. Since the beginning of this year, the ecological restoration area of the Yangtianhu Grassland has reached 40,000 square meters. The comprehensive vegetation coverage of the grassland has increased from 64% in 2019 to more than 95% now.

Tourists have fun with a herd of sheep. (Photo/Liu Shan, People's Daily)

From horse riding, archery, boating, camping, to river tracing, the Yangtianhu Grassland has successfully driven the development of local rural cultural tourism, thanks to the upgrading and transformation of infrastructure, scenic area construction, and road widening. The surrounding horse-breeding cooperatives, grassland homestays, and farmhouse restaurants have emerged in large numbers. Villagers have become rich, with per capita income increased by nearly 50,000 CNY per year.

A visitor takes pictures at the Yangtianhu lakeside. (Photo/Liu Shan, People's Daily)