Chinese to go where no man has gone before

BEIJING: Chinese scientists will carry out a research expedition to China's largest un-inhabited region in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau next month to know its influence on climate in the country and the world.

"Our task is to research the geological formation of the watershed and its influence on climate in China and the world," leader of the expedition team and researcher at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ding Lin said.

The central area of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is about 2,500 km long and 100 km wide with altitude differences of over 1,000 metres. Rivers to the north of the plateau watershed run to the Pacific and rivers to south to the Indian Ocean.

The watershed is the spine of "the roof of the world", a major climate division on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and runs through the centre of Hoh Xil, Ding was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency.

Hoh Xil, more than 4,000 metres above sea level, is the natural habitat of Tibetan antelopes and wild horses.

Ding said that scientists will survey the location of bronze, lead, zinc and gold deposits, collect floral species to compile a genetic database, learn about rare plateau animals in order to provide scientific input for animal protection following the commissioning of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, and also study ecological and environmental changes in Hoh Xil.

Chinese scientists had completed a successful survey in Hoh Xil last year, collecting more than 200 lava, sediment and rock specimens.