Starting from Aug 29, internet connection and cell phone signal will be available in Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve in Northwest China’s Qinghai province.

Hoh Xil is famous for beautiful scenery, precious animals and plant resources, and atrocious natural conditions. It encompasses the largest uninhabited area in China. There have never been cell phone signals, let alone cellular and computer networks.

Things are to change. A satellite ground station has been built at the Suonandajie protection station, located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with an average elevation of 4,600 meters above sea level.

The signals emitted from the satellite ground station will be able to cover a radius of about 1,000 meters. At present, no more than 100 users can access the internet simultaneously. This is the first stage of the new communication network project in the Hoh Xil nature reserve. The communication network coverage will be better and larger in the near future.

Hoh Xil, which means “beautiful girl” in Mongolian language, was approved as China’s 51st world heritage site by UNESCO last month. As China’s largest world natural heritage site, it covers an area of 45,000 square kilometers.

The new communication network will support the staff and volunteers working at the nature reserve. It will not only facilitate their rescue operations, but also help them to fight poaching.