4.5/5
M53***28There were very few people during the off-season; our small group only had four people. The driver called in the morning to confirm our location and then picked us up. The departure time was slightly adjusted according to the season; in winter, the sunrise is later, so we set off at 6:30 am. Our itinerary was Lajishan Mountain → Riyue Mountain → Qinghai Lake. We spent about an hour at the first two attractions and a little over two hours at Qinghai Lake. Before coming, I read many posts online saying that there wasn't much to see in Xining at this time of year, but in reality, we still had a very satisfying day. The high plateau in winter has a unique charm; the scenery along the way was breathtaking. After the greenery faded, the vast, white-brown peaks unique to high-altitude regions were revealed—a world that was desolate yet expansive, peaceful yet blissful. Our driver, Ma Jie, was a very kind person. He gave us tips on avoiding tourist pitfalls in Xining, reminded us to bargain with locals if we wanted to take photos with lambs, and suggested stopping halfway to photograph yaks and marmots. He even had a power bank with him if our phones ran out of battery. The road from Daotanghe Highway to Qinghai Lake is a wide, winding mountain road. We connected to the driver's car Bluetooth to play music. The weather was fantastic, and my mood was wonderful. It made me want to come back to Xining again in the summer to experience the lush, high-altitude scenery once more. We returned to the city around 5:30 or 6:00 PM, and the driver still picked us up and dropped us off. There were no hidden costs during the trip; it was a very comfortable and relaxing journey. If you don't want to spend over four hours driving from Chaka Salt Lake and not get back to the city until late at night, coming here to watch the sunrise is also a great option. 😚
Qinghai Lake's freezing season returns with a view of half clear water and half ice | Dec 2025-Feb 2026
Featured in 2026 China 50 - Cool Water Escapes
