Nomadic people have begun their annual migration, taking their families, tools, and livestock, as the weather turns cold and the grass becomes sparse in Altay City, NW China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photos: VCG)

The herder families move from the high altitudes to lower pastures for the coming winter with camel caravans, providing a magnificent spectacle for tourists.

Ideally, adult sheep weighing more than 300 pounds are good for meat production; the sheep weighing around 20 pounds are known for their tails.

The drought has became a serious problem in recent years, killing an average of 8,000 animals each year. Over three million animals lack drinking water, according to an estimate by Xinhua.

Normally, people use horses as well as camels for transportation.