East Asia What is Mêdog? The isolated Chinese enclave in South Tibet, and How the illegal McMahon Line came into being

[Beijingwalker]

Mêdog, an enclave on the other side of the mighty Himalaya mountains

It's always a very rainy region, it always rains.

 

[Beijingwalker]

Aerial photo taken on Nov. 5, 2020 shows the Mainling section of the highway linking Pad Township in the city of Nyingchi and Medog County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Construction of a highway passing through the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, known as the world's deepest canyon with a maximum depth of 6,009 meters, was completed in 2021 in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Photo taken on Aug. 18, 2020 shows the Doxong Pass and tunnel exit on the highway linking Pad Township in the city of Nyingchi and Medog County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Construction of a highway passing through the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, known as the world's deepest canyon with a maximum depth of 6,009 meters, was completed in 2021 in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The project took almost seven years to complete. A 2,114-meter tunnel was dug through in May 2021, marking the completion of the major construction of the 67.22-km road connecting Pad Township in the city of Nyingchi and Medog County. (Photo by Dong Zhixiong/Xinhua)

 

[Beijingwalker]

In Mêdog, you can literally experience 4 seasons in hours in a day driving down the Himalaya slope from the polar frigid higher up north to the flat tropical rainforst south​

 

[Beijingwalker]

Mêdog, an enclave on the other side of the mighty Himalaya mountains

It's always a very rainy region, it always rains.

 

[Beijingwalker]

 

[Beijingwalker]

Roads to Mêdog
The altitude sharply drops from 7,756 meters to merely 155meters within just a couple of kilometers, could be one of the sharpest drop in the world

 

[Beijingwalker]

Mêdog town

 

[Beijingwalker]

Locations of the Bengal tigers images caputured in Mêdog forest, the local government suggests the travelers to avoid certain regions in Mêdog for the travelers own safety.

 

[Beijingwalker]

Some Bengal tigers roam close to several villages in Mêdog forest, the local government suggests the travelers to avoid certain regions in Mêdog for the travelers own safety.

 

[TheNewb77]

China really has it all. Bengal tigers who are mostly from Bangladesh/India. The K2 and Everest Mountains that are in Pakistan & Nepal are also on the Chinese side. China is a really big place.

 

[Beijingwalker]

China really has it all. Bengal tigers who are mostly from Bangladesh/India. The K2 and Everest Mountains that are in Pakistan & Nepal are also on the Chinese side. China is a really big place.

Very few people in this remote isolated Mêdog region, could be a haven for tigers

Bengal tiger filmed in Yarlung Tsangpo grand canyon in Mêdog Forest​

 

[Beijingwalker]

Not only Bengal tigers, but our infrared cameras in Murdock have now recorded a total of 151 species.
Medog is rich in hoofed animals, birds and carnivores, including 16 species of national-level protected animals and 40 species of national second-level protected animals.
Under the guidance of the Department of Nature Reserve Management of the NFGA and Tibet Forestry and Grassland Administration , Shan Shui has cooperated with PKU Center for Nature and Society, and the Medog Municipal Forestry and Grassland Administration, Tibet.
A biodiversity monitoring and community conservation demonstration project was carried out in the Yarlung Tsangpo National Nature Reserve with the support of the China Green Carbon Foundation and the CICC Foundation.
Community conservation capacity building and sustainable development were supported based on the survey. Between October 2020 and November 2022, we selected nine survey sample areas with different vegetation types at different elevations to conduct infrared camera surveys.
Cumulatively, 142 camera sites were surveyed, covering from 646 m to 4,360 m sea level, totaling 45,712 working days.What other animals will be found in the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon? How to protect the originality and integrity of the ecosystem here? Hopefully, continued observation and research will allow us to find out the answers.