Maduo County, Qinghai – Nestled in the core area of the Sanjiangyuan (Three-River-Source) region, Maduo County in the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province is home to the famed Maduo Tibetan sheep. Raised on natural alpine pastures at an elevation of over 4,200 meters, this indigenous breed has long been a hallmark of the plateau.

Today, these sheep—raised at the very source of the Yellow River—are moving from the grasslands to broader markets, emerging as a pillar industry that boosts the incomes of local herders and farmers.

For centuries, Maduo Tibetan sheep have thrived in this high-altitude environment. Now, they represent not only a traditional means of livelihood for pastoral communities but also a rapidly modernizing sector with growing economic promise.

Leveraging its unique plateau resources, Maduo County has been doubling down on its specialty livestock industry, continuously extending and strengthening the industrial chain. Through these efforts, Qinghai Province is demonstrating how rural revitalization can be powered by industrial growth.