In the coming of its 5th anniversary, Tour of Qinghai Lake for the first time welcomed its mascot - a cartoon rendition of a Przewalski's gazelle on July 13.

The animal, introduced as Duoji, a Tibetan name meaning strong and vigorous, has three designs in terms of different action, but it always wears a blue T-shirt with words of "Tour of Qinghai Lake", posing gestures of "V" with a big smile.

The organizing committee also announced a new emblem for the tour.

The emblem resembles a green rider presenting a lively cycling figure racing on the yellow road near the blue Qinghai Lake. It is said that the emblem celebrates the motif of the tour, namely Green, Humanity and Environment.

Przewalski's gazelle, named after the Russian naturalist Przewalskii, has been listed as a highly endangered species by the World Conservation Union and China. It is considered to live solely in Qinghai Province.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2006)