China has 400 million hectares of grassland, with those of economic value accounting for 313.33 million hectares. China is one of the countries with the largest area of pasturelands in the world. Natural pasturelands are mainly distributed in areas west and north of the Greater Hinggan Mountains, the Yinshan Mountain and the eastern foot of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, while artificial pasturelands are concentrated in southeast China.

Four Major Pastoral Areas

Inner Mongolia Pastoral Area The largest in China, it produces such fine breeds as Sanhe horse and Sanhe cattle.

Xinjiang Pastoral Area Fine breeds in the area include Xinjiang fine-wool sheep, Altay big-tail sheep and Ili horse.

Qinghai Pastoral Area A main yak producing area, the area also breeds the world-famous Hequ horse.

Tibet Pastoral Area It is a main yak producing area.