https://www.trip.com/moments/detail/golmud-332-138516288
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Qinghai hides a "mirror of the sky"! Qarhan Salt Lake is so beautiful it leaves people speechless

If there's a ceiling to the romance of China's Great Northwest, it must be Qarhan Salt Lake – this hidden gem in Golmud, Qinghai, is the world's second-largest and Asia's largest salt lake. It's more serene than Chaka Salt Lake and clearer than Qinghai Lake; stepping into it is like entering a crystal world from a fairy tale. 🌊 The awe of walking on the "Salt Bridge" can only be understood through personal experience. The lake surface is covered with a thick, gleaming white salt layer, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and the distant Kunlun Mountains. Heaven and earth merge into one, making it impossible to distinguish where the sky ends and the lake begins. The salt flats underfoot are hard and flat, as if nature paved an exclusive path with salt crystals. Each step crunches softly, like a conversation with billions of years of time. 💎 The beauty of the salt lake is hidden in every detail. The water changes with the light, from light blue to deep blue, and then to a dreamy Tiffany blue. Every casual shot is a masterpiece that needs no filter. The salt pillars on the shore come in various shapes, some like coral, others like ice sculptures. Polished by time, they shimmer with a crystalline luster, as if they were scattered jewels on earth. 🚗 There are no crowded throngs here, only pure tranquility and vastness. Driving slowly along the Salt Lake Highway, the car windows reveal an endless white world. Occasionally, you can spot salt field workers in the distance, adding a touch of life to this serene landscape. A gentle breeze carries a faint salty scent, refreshing and healing, making all worries vanish in this boundless expanse. 📍 It is located in Golmud City, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, in the southern part of the Qaidam Basin, about 60 kilometers from Golmud city center, making it very accessible. There's no need to specifically find an angle or wait in line for a spot; just standing anywhere, you can capture this ultimate beauty. Come to Qarhan Salt Lake, let the refreshing, salty breeze of the Great Northwest blow away all your fatigue. Here, you will understand what "captivating at first glance, unforgettable upon leaving" means, and what nature's most generous gift truly is.
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Posted: Nov 26, 2025
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Chaerhan Salt Lake

4.7/52980 reviews | Hiking
Golmud
No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Qinghai
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