Himalayan blue sheep seek food in Ningxia park

Winter is the season when bharals, or Himalayan blue sheep, go down from the mountains in a group to look for food at the foot of Helanshan Mountain in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Residents in Yinchuan, capital city of Ningxia, got the opportunity on last Sunday to have close interaction with some bharals who came to the city's Helanshan National Forest Park for food.

As an endangered species, the bharal is a second-class nationally protected animal. Skilled at climbing and jumping on mountains and cliffs, they are known locally as "elves on the cliffs".

According to the local government, there are more than 40,000 bharals in the region.