Amdo is Tibet's northeastern province, and most of it was swallowed by the Chinese province of Qinghai in 1928. In the far north, just outside Xining, is the 14th Dalai Lama's hometown.  This is in rich farmland but Amdo is mostly high rolling grasslands which can be wet (middle right photo). One of Tibet's three main pilgrimages is around the Amnye Maqen Shan (top left and middle). The immensely deep red gorges of the Yellow River cut a sweeping about-turn through Amdo (mid left). The Goloks who live there made travel there dangerous before the Chinese subdued the bandits among them (most of  the population - it was regarded as a worthy pastime) and now they just string up prayer flags everywhere (top left).