A motorcade set off from Nanyang, a city in southwest Henan province on March 24, headed for Hoh Xil, an isolated region in the northwestern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, to promote the area's application for World Heritage status as well as environmental protection.

After a short departing ceremony, the convoy, made up of 11 off-road vehicles carrying 23 of Nanyang's local sports lovers, began their two week, 4,000-kilometer journey.

As well as promoting environmental protection throughout the journey, the team will also donate books, sporting goods, cash, clothes and necessities to two primary schools in Tibet and at the work station of the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve.

Hoh Xil's application for world heritage began in 2014 and is expected to be completed in 2017. The team leader of the motorcade said, "We hope to raise people's attention to protect the environment, treasure each drop of water and promote the application of Hoh Xil to become a world heritage site by our short journey."

The Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve is one of the largest unpopulated areas in China. Located in the west of the Yushu autonomous prefecture in Qinghai province, it has a total area of 4.5 million hectares with an altitude ranging from 4,800 to 5,500 meters. The formidable natural conditions will be a tough challenge for the motorcade.

The Nanyang motorcade team poses for a group photo before departing for Hoh Xil. [Photo by Sun Xizeng / hnr.cn]

Vehicles form a convoy before departing for Hoh Xil. [Photo by Sun Xizeng / hnr.cn]

Edited by Owen Fishwick