The heart of the Qaidam Basin: Self-driving guide to Chaerhan Salt Lake

🌠Chaerhan Salt Lake, located in Golmud City, Haixi Mongolian Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, in the central and eastern part of the core area of the Qaidam Basin, is the largest in China and the second largest natural salt lake in the world, with an area of 5856 square kilometers. 🎇Chaerhan in Mongolian means salt lake, and from west to east, the salt lake is divided into four lake areas: Letan, Dabusun, Chaerhan, and Hobusun, with an altitude of about 2700 meters. 🌅Self-driving can navigate to the Chaerhan Salt Lake Tourist Service Center, and then spend 100 yuan (half price for children) to take the scenic spot sightseeing car to the hinterland of the salt lake. The journey takes about 20 minutes, and the return bus will stop at the Wanzhang Salt Bridge for 10 minutes for photo check-in. 💰Ticket price: Free 🕙Business hours: 8:30-20:30 (stop admission at 19:00) ⏳Play time: 3-4 hours 📍Detailed address: 60 kilometers north of Golmud City, Haixi Mongolian Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province