China released an overall plan on the development and management of national parks to protect its natural beauty on Tuesday. The country has 10 pilot national parks, which are expected to undergo assessments in the coming years and could then be termed national parks.

1. Sanjiangyuan National Park 

A Tibetan antelope forages at Hoh Xil in Xining, Qinghai province, May 19, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

Location: Northwest China's Qinghai province

Total area: 123,100 square kilometers

Sanjiangyuan is the first and biggest of 10 pilot national parks in the country. Sanjiangyuan, or 'Source of Three Rivers', is where the Yellow, Yangtze, and Lancang rivers originate. The whole area provides 49 percent of the water discharge of the Yellow River, 25 percent of the water discharge of the Yangtze, and 15 percent of the water discharge of the Lancang. It is known as China's "water tower".

2. Pudacuo National Park 

 A view of the Pudacuo National Park in Diqing Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, May 20, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Location: Southwest China's Yunnan province

Total area: 1,313 square kilometers

Pudacuo, or Potatso, National Park is located in the province's Shangri-La county. The region of this park contains more than 20 percent of China's plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species, though it comprises only 0.7 percent of the country's land area.

It is notably home to vulnerable Black-necked cranes, many rare and beautiful orchids, and Himalayan Yew, a coniferous tree whose extracts are a source of the anticancer drug, paclitaxel.

3. Mount Qilian National Park 

 A view of the Qilian Mountains in Zhangye, Gansu province, May 19, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Location: Northwest China's Gansu and Qinghai provinces

Total area: 50,000 square kilometers

The altitude of Qilian Mountains ranges from 4,000 to 6,000 meters. Mountain snow forms a long and wide glacier landscape. The four seasons at the mountains are never very clear. In July and August, the mountains are still covered with snow.

The area is prominent habitats of snow leopards, white-lipped deer and other endangered wild animals and plants. It's also an important passage for some wild migratory animals.