Nagqu

Nagqu occupies the vast northern grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and, having been upgraded to a prefecture-level city in 2018, is often cited as the highest city in the world at roughly 4,500 metres. Its economy is dominated by pastoral animal husbandry, above all yak and sheep herding, together with the lucrative trade in caterpillar fungus (cordyceps) and some mineral extraction. The sacred lake Namtso, one of the highest saltwater lakes on the planet, lies within its territory, and the annual Nagqu horse-racing festival draws herders from across the region. The Qinghai–Tibet Railway crosses the city, giving it a vital rail connection between Golmud and Lhasa. For an international student, Nagqu offers a rare window onto authentic nomadic Tibetan life, boundless high-altitude grasslands and a landscape of yak herds and prayer flags found almost nowhere else.