When it comes to my favorite travel destinations in China, aside from Xinjiang, Qinghai Province undoubtedly tops the list! Qinghai has been a hotspot year after year, especially during the summer holidays when hordes of tourists flock to the Qinghai-Gansu Loop, making it seem like an invasion of the Huns.
Fortunately, Qinghai boasts vast lands and sparse population, making it easy to escape the crowds while exploring its wonders.
It’s no surprise that Qinghai attracts so many visitors, as who wouldn’t want to visit such a breathtakingly beautiful place? Within a single province, Qinghai encompasses a diverse array of stunning landscapes, including snow-capped mountains, grasslands, salt lakes, Gobi Desert, barren lands, and Yardang landforms.
Moreover, Qinghai is home to China’s largest national park, a lonely highway that rivals America’s Route 66, and an abundance of natural marvels like the Mirror of the Sky, moon-like terrain, and wild animals.
If you visit during the summer, you’ll be greeted by the incredibly romantic sight of rapeseed flower fields in full bloom. With such a concentration of awe-inspiring scenery in one place, it’s impossible to resist Qinghai’s allure.
It’s no exaggeration to say that even if you placed me beside one of Qinghai’s salt lakes, I could happily sit there for an entire day. The colorful, crystal-clear water resembles the sea of the Maldives transported to the Gobi Desert, leaving me at a loss for words to describe its sheer beauty.
Seizing this moment of enthusiasm, I’ve decided to put together a comprehensive travel guide for fellow wanderers who wish to explore Qinghai.
For those hailing from Zhejiang, now is the perfect time to consider Qinghai as your next travel destination. Haixi is the core of the Qinghai-Gansu Loop, and with the peak travel season upon us, there’s no better time to plan your trip.
🔸 Best Time to Visit Qinghai
The weather in many parts of Qinghai can be unpredictable, with the possibility of experiencing four seasons in a single day.
Nevertheless, I recommend visiting Qinghai during the summer for two reasons: firstly, to escape the heat, and secondly, to witness the boundless rapeseed flower fields that blanket the province in a golden hue. The sight of these vibrant flowers set against the backdrop of azure mountains and lakes is simply breathtaking.
Despite being the peak season, Qinghai’s vast size and expansive attractions ensure that you won’t feel overwhelmed by crowds, even at the most popular destinations.
🔸 How to Plan Your Qinghai Itinerary
✅ Summer Seasonal Itinerary: Xining – Menyuan – Qinghai Lake
- Day 1: Xining – Riyue Mountain – Qinghai Lake – Chaka Town
- Day 2: Chaka Town – Chaka Salt Lake – Qinghai Lake West Road – Qilian
- Day 3: Qilian – Arou Temple – Qilian Grassland – Menyuan – Xining
✅ Most Popular Itinerary: Qinghai-Gansu Loop
- Day 1: Arrive in Xining
- Day 2: Xining – Riyue Mountain – Qinghai Lake – Chaka Salt Lake
- Day 3: Delingha – U-shaped Highway – East Taijinar Lake – Water Yardang – South Baxian Yardang – Dachaidan
- Day 4: Dachaidan Emerald Lake – Dunhuang
- Day 5: Dunhuang Mogao Caves – Mingsha Mountain
- Day 6: Dunhuang – Jiayuguan Pass – Jiayuguan
- Day 7: Jiayuguan – Zhangye Danxia National Geopark – Zhangye
- Day 8: Zhangye – Qilian Grassland – Menyuan
- Day 9: Return to Xining
✅ Qinghai-Only Itinerary: Haixi Small Loop
- Day 1: Arrive in Golmud
- Day 2: Golmud – Qarhan Salt Lake – Dachaidan Salt Lake – Dachaidan Town
- Day 3: Dachaidan Town – South Baxian Yardang (pass by) – U-shaped Highway (pass by) – East Taijinar Lake – Water Yardang – West Taijinar Lake (pass by) – Heidu Mountain – Lenghu Town
- Day 4: Lenghu Town – Eboliang – Mangya Emerald Lake – Ayak Spring – Mangya Town
- Day 5: Mangya Town – Golmud (If time permits, consider staying an extra day in Golmud to visit Kekexili)
✅ Off-the-Beaten-Path Itinerary for a Sense of Freedom, Even in Summer: Qaidam Loop
- Day 1: Arrive in Xining
- Day 2: Xining – Riyue Mountain – Qinghai Lake – Delingha
- Day 3: Delingha – U-shaped Highway – Dachaidan Salt Lake – Dachaidan
- Day 4: Dachaidan – Water Yardang – West Taijinar Lake – Huatugou
- Day 5: Ayak Spring – Mangya Emerald Lake – Huatugou
- Day 6: Huatugou – Mars Road – Mars Camp
- Day 7: Mars Camp – Eboliang – Qarhan Salt Lake – Golmud
- Day 8: Kekexili
- Day 9: Return from Golmud
🔸 Tips for Exploring Qinghai
Experienced drivers can opt for self-driving, but if you have limited experience driving on high-altitude roads, it’s safer to hire a car with a driver or join a group tour.
Qinghai has many uninhabited areas and a significant number of large vehicles traveling to and from Tibet. Additionally, many places lack mobile signal coverage and have the presence of wild animals. Therefore, I strongly recommend hiring a car with a driver.
It’s crucial to emphasize the importance of finding a local, experienced driver when hiring a car!
🔸 Free Admission Information
All A-level tourist attractions in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai are offering free admission to visitors holding Zhejiang ID cards. Additionally, several star-rated hotels are providing a 20% discount!
Here’s a list of some well-known attractions in Haixi for your reference: Chaka Salt Lake, Qarhan Salt Lake, Dachaidan Salt Lake, Kekexili, Mangya Emerald Lake, East Taijinar Lake, and more.
🔸 Must-Visit Lakes in Qinghai
When visiting Qinghai, lakes are the most common sight. Each lake has its unique features, and even if you see them every day, you won’t get tired of them.
Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake is almost everyone’s first stop when starting their Qinghai journey. This highland lake, which we have longed for since elementary school, has its own unique charm.
July and August are the best months to visit Qinghai Lake, with golden rapeseed flowers complementing the azure lake water, resembling a flowing oil painting.
Qinghai Lake is vast, naturally extending to many activities. Self-driving around the lake and cycling along the lakeside plank road are both excellent choices.
Chaka Salt Lake
This is an old-time internet celebrity in Qinghai, initially promoted as comparable to Bolivia’s “Mirror of the Sky.”
However, I think the scenery here is much less impressive than the salt lakes below, and there are more tour groups. If time is limited, you can skip it.
Dachaidan Salt Lake
Dachaidan may not be the most beautiful salt lake in Qinghai, but it is my favorite, with its colorful “Mirror of the Sky.”
Take the small train to the end, then slowly explore towards the entrance. You will see salt lakes in various colors such as yellow, Tiffany blue, and turquoise. Not far from the salt lake are snow-capped mountains, perfectly embodying the wild beauty that aligns with Chinese aesthetics.
Mangya Emerald Lake
Mangya Emerald Lake is super large. From an aerial view, it is emerald-colored, like Kunlun green jade, and very eye-catching amidst the endless desolation.
There are far fewer tourists here than at Dachaidan Salt Lake, so you can take photos to your heart’s content. There are also glass boats here, and the fees are slightly cheaper than in Dachaidan.
Qarhan Salt Lake
Qarhan Salt Lake is the second-largest salt lake in the world. Like Mangya Emerald Lake, it is vividly turquoise, with a particularly bright and dopamine-inducing color.
There is also a ten-thousand-meter salt bridge on the lake surface. From a god’s eye view, the salt lake is simply a fairyland.
East Taijinar Lake and West Taijinar Lake
Many people can’t tell the difference between East Taijinar and West Taijinar. Just remember one thing: East Taijinar is the place known as the “Maldives” of Qinghai, and it has now reopened with very clear lake water.
West Taijinar is a bicolor lake, although not obvious from the road; it looks better from an aerial view.
Ayak Spring
Ayak Spring is the legendary “Devil’s Eye.” Even those who have never been to Qinghai have surely seen its picture somewhere and been stunned by its mystery.
However, this is another scenic spot I recommend skipping. The mosquitoes at Ayak Spring are so numerous they can eat people alive. Anyone who has been there knows, and the Ayak Spring seen with the naked eye and by drone are two completely different worlds.
The only thing that amazed me about Ayak Spring was the distant view of Altyn-Tagh on a sunny day along the way.
🔸 Yardang Landforms
South Baxian Yardang
Qinghai has the world’s largest yardang landforms, also known as “Devil’s City.” The landforms are peculiar, and the wind sounds like the wailing of devils, hence the name.
On the way to the Water Yardang, you will pass by South Baxian Yardang, a large area of naturally formed yardang landforms.
The name South Baxian Yardang is in memory of eight southern girls who disappeared here while searching for oil. They lost their way in the yardang landforms and remained forever in this land.
Driving along the highway, the yardang landforms on both sides extend endlessly, forming a magnificent landscape. There is also almost no signal here, so be careful not to wander too far when taking photos.
Water Yardang
This is the only water yardang in the world, where nature’s craftsmanship has been stretched to the extreme.
Looking closely at the shape of the Water Yardang, it is quite interesting, resembling a fleet about to set out on an expedition.
When visiting, be sure to climb to a high point to capture the full view of the Water Yardang.
🔸 About Kekexili
We currently cannot enter the core protection area of the Sanjiangyuan, so going to Kekexili basically only reaches the Sonam Dargye Memorial.
From Golmud to Kekexili, it takes about a day. Along the way, you will pass by Kunlun Divine Spring, Buzong Spring Protection Station, Yuzhu Peak Viewing Platform, Wuji Longfeng Palace, Kekexili Viewing Platform…
Only when you reach Kekexili do you realize that this land is not barren but full of vitality. Kekexili is home to countless wild animals; it just doesn’t welcome humans.
Passing through the snow-capped mountains and grasslands of Kekexili, standing in front of Sonam Dargye’s tombstone (Sonam Dargye is the prototype of Ri Tai in the film “Kekexili”), my heart’s admiration for him reached its peak.
There are always people who give their lives for their beliefs.
In Kekexili, if you’re lucky, you may encounter freely running Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan wild donkeys, etc. Remember to prepare a telephoto lens for photos and don’t disturb them.
Tips: The climate in Kekexili is also quite variable. One moment it may be clear skies, and the next moment it may start snowing in June. Be sure to keep warm and avoid altitude sickness.
🔸 No Man’s Land and Mars Road
U-Shaped Road
This internet-famous road has gone viral online. Everyone can take a photo by the roadside when passing by, but never go to the middle of the road.
There are still many cars on this road, so safety first when traveling.
Heidu Mountain
Heidu Mountain is a place I missed last time I went to Qinghai, and I regretted it for a long time. The hills are covered with black sand and gravel, much like the surface of the moon.
The world of intertwining black and white also resembles Chinese ink paintings.
When visiting here, be sure to protect the land beneath your feet and do not drive to damage the landforms.
Mars Road and Mars Base Camp
When you reach Lenhu Town, follow the Mars Road through a long stretch of no man’s land to reach the legendary Mars Base Camp.
In my opinion, Mars Base Camp is the “Most Lonely Hotel in China,” built in a true no man’s land, with Ebao Ridge right outside the door.
Although the journey is bumpy and far, and there are no other hotel buildings here except for this one, I still recommend staying here for a night if conditions permit to experience true solitude and remoteness.
This is one of the best stargazing spots in China. You can cosplay as an astronaut taking a spacewalk and explore Ebao Ridge.
However, this hotel is still difficult to book during the peak season, so friends who want to stay here can contact the hotel in advance.
Ebao Ridge
Ebao Ridge is one of the largest yardang landforms in the world and a forbidden zone for life where not a blade of grass grows.
In Ebao Ridge, you can almost feel the passage of time in the howling of the fierce wind. It’s hard to describe Ebao Ridge in one sentence, but if you come here, it will definitely become one of the most memorable moments of your life.
When visiting, be sure to follow the self-driving route provided by the scenic area and do not deviate from the route.
🔸 Qinghai-Gansu Route
Dunhuang
The strategy for Dunhuang has been updated this year, so everyone can directly check the link:
I will only say one thing: the A tickets for Mogao Grottoes are super difficult to get during the summer vacation, so friends who want to go must plan early.
Jiayuguan
Since you’re in the Northwest, I think Jiayuguan, the starting point of the Great Wall, is a must-visit.
The Jiayuguan scenic area is divided into Jiayuguan, the First Beacon Tower under Heaven, and the Overhanging Great Wall. You can directly buy a combo ticket.
Climbing up Jiayuguan, you can see the Qilian Snow Mountains.
Zhangye
The Zhangye Danxia Landform is a stop that must not be missed on the Qinghai-Gansu loop.
If time permits, it is also recommended to visit Shandan Military Horse Farm, the largest horse farm in Asia, which is also super beautiful in summer. Around 7 am, you can see the spectacular scene of “a hundred horses drinking water” here.
Menyuan
In summer, Menyuan is also a must-visit in Qinghai, with its beautiful rapeseed flowers. The flowers are as bright as sunshine, spanning mountains and fields.
Non-self-driving tourists can actually choose to take the high-speed rail from Xining, where they can capture the moment of passing through the sea of rapeseed flowers on the train.
The Yuanshan Flower Viewing Platform in Qingshizui Town, Menyuan, is an excellent spot for viewing flowers. In addition, the Daban Mountain Viewing Platform offers a distant view of the sea of rapeseed flowers and the Gangshika Snow Mountain.
There are many more ways to play in Qinghai, depending on how you combine them. The routes listed above are all relatively classic (routes are for reference only; actual travel may vary).
If time does not allow and you want to visit the lesser-known corners of Qinghai, you can also go to just one place, such as directly to Menyuan to see the sea of rapeseed flowers, or directly fly to Golmud and then visit Kekexili or the salt lakes.
