Abstract: The 418 herdsmen families were visited using semi-structured interviews methods in Yeniugou township of Qinghai Province, Dahe and Qilian townships in Gansu Province. The herdmen’perceptions of and adaptation to climate change and extreme weather events were analyzed. Research results show that herdsmen perceptions in temperature were close to the fact but in precipitation contrary to the fact. In the perception of extreme weather events, herdsmen have a deep memory to the weather events which influence livestock production. The herdsmen have also taken different measures to deal with different climate events. Hoarding forage, building livestock housing and greenhouses, decreasing livestock, and migrant workers are the main adaptation measures. Meteorological service, loan support, and more perfect social security system will improve the ability of herdsmen adaptation to climate change.

Key words: mountain herdsmen, climate change, climate hazard, perception and adaptation