Chaka Salt Lake

Initially when we arrived at Chaka Salt Lake, the weather was gloomy, and we felt a bit down. But don't be discouraged, cloudy days have their own sense of sophistication: smoky purple, protein green, and gray-blue are all sophisticated colors! We drove from Qinghai Lake. The road was just an ordinary highway. It was okay to drive in the morning and it took about two hours. We went to the old scenic area, directly navigated to Chaka Salt Lake. Because we thought the small train was interesting, we bought tickets for the small train. Actually, you don't need to buy tickets for the battery car. If you want to walk, I think it's okay. The small train takes about half an hour from the starting station to the terminal station. It's not so cold if you sit in a covered one. About taking pictures, in fact, it's enough to take pictures at the terminal station. Remember to take pictures with the small train, railway tracks, and small boats. Finally, you can also buy the ice cream of Chaka Salt Lake for taking pictures. This makes it perfect~

The May Day holiday is coming up🌪️ Has everyone got their tickets🎫? If you haven't, don't worry, you can head directly to these destinations from Xi'an‼️ Check out these last-minute options👀! ▫️ 📍Optional Routes ✅Wild Shennongjia 4 days and 3 nights🚌Bus——Latitude 31 degrees line, watch the morning mist over the Great Jiuhu Lake🌫️, and find the Hubei 'Little Nara' among the mountains and waters 💰Budget 1️⃣3️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ D1: Xi'an→Tianyan Scenic Area→Muyu Town D2: Muyu Town→Great Jiuhu Lake→Shennongjia→Muyu Town D3: Muyu Town→Guanmenshan→Shennong Altar→Muyu Town D4: Muyu Town→Tiansheng Bridge→Xi'an ▫️ ✅Mountain and Water Three Gorges 4 days and 3 nights🚌Bus——A journey through mountains⛰️, a journey through water, the most beautiful Three Gorges scenery, explore the natural beauty of the Three Gorges 💰Budget 1️⃣3️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ D1: Xi'an→Fuyin Expressway→Shangluo→Shiyan→Xiangyang Ancient City→Yichang D2: Yichang→Three Gorges Dam→Three Gorges Waterfall→Yichang D3: Yichang→Three Gorges Family→Yichang D4: Yichang→Xi'an ▫️ ✅Touring Gannan 5 days and 4 nights🚌Bus——A trip to check in both Longnan and Gannan, arriving at the earthly Shambhala kingdom🌇 💰Budget 1️⃣6️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ D1: Xi'an→Langdu Wetland Grassland→Dangchang D2: Dangchang→Guan'e Gully→Lazi Mouth→Diebu D3: Zhagana→Ruoergai Grassland→Langdu Wetland Grassland→Langmu Temple D4: Langmu Temple→Sangke Grassland→Labrang Monastery→Lanzhou D5: Lanzhou→Lianhuo Expressway→Xi'an ▫️ ✅Strolling in Qinghai 5 days and 4 nights🚌Bus——See the sapphire of the plateau, Qinghai Lake💎, witness the sky mirror Chaka Salt Lake, and encounter the beautiful time in Qinghai 💰Budget 1️⃣6️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ D1: Xi'an→Xining City walk D2: Xining→Ta'er Monastery→Guide Danxia Landform→Guide D3: Guide→Yellow River Qing→Chaka Salt Lake→Chaka Town D4: Chaka Town→Rubber Mountain→Heima River→Qinghai Lake→Lanzhou D5: Lanzhou→Xi'an ▫️ ✅Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong 5 days and 4 nights🚌Bus——See the scenery of Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong🏞️ in one go, check in at characteristic ancient towns + Sichuan-Tibetan flavors 💰Budget 1️⃣6️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ D1: Xi'an→Hanzhong→Qingmuchuan Ancient Town D2: Qingmuchuan Ancient Town→Jiuzhaigou County D3: Jiuzhaigou County→Huanglong Scenic Area→Jiuzhaigou Valley Entrance D4: Full day tour of Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area→Wen County D5: Wen County→Zhaohua Ancient City→Guangyuan→Xi'an ▫️ ✅Self-driving Gannan 5 days and 4 nights🚗Car——Explore the nine-colored Shambhala, deeply traverse the Rock's Road🛣️ 💰Budget 1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ D1: Xi'an→Langdu Wetland Grassland→Min County D2: Min County→Zhagulu Town→Rock's Road→Zhagana D3: Zhagana→Gannan Xiaoduku→Langmu Temple D4: Langmu Temple→Sangke Grassland→Labrang Monastery-Linxia D5: Linxia→Xi'an ▫️

The Qinghai Grand Loop is a self-driving route that traverses the magnificent hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in southern Qinghai, taking you deep into this mysterious and magnificent land. 1. Xining - Qinghai Lake Your journey starts from Xining, the capital of Qinghai, also known as the 'city of bright sunshine'. Heading west, you will reach the magnificent Qinghai Lake. The azure lake is surrounded by the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, dreamlike. Walking by the lake, you will feel the tranquility of the plateau and the coolness of the lake. 2. Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake Next, you will go to Chaka Salt Lake, a place like a fairyland. This lake, due to its special structure of saline-alkali land, presents dazzling blue and white salt fields, like a huge mirror. Here, you can stroll on the salt lake and enjoy the beautiful lake view and reflection. 3. Chaka Salt Lake - Hoh Xil Nature Reserve Continuing west, you will come to the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, the main distribution area of the Tibetan antelope in China. You can observe these rare wild animals at close range, while admiring the majestic Kunlun Mountains. In the reserve, remember to keep quiet to avoid disturbing these endangered animals. 4. Hoh Xil - Kunlun Mountains The Kunlun Mountains are the 'ancestor of ten thousand mountains' in China. Here you will feel the grandeur of the mountains and rivers. Snow peaks, glaciers, valleys, alpine meadows, every scene is intoxicating. Exploring the Kunlun Mountains, you will feel like you are in a fairyland. 5. Mangya Emerald Lake This is a secluded natural lake, nestled in the highland valley. The lake is crystal clear and green, surrounded by green grasslands and majestic mountains, like a fairyland. You can wander by the lake, feeling the tranquility and beauty of the lake and mountains. Chaka Salt Lake

After people return, their hearts stay at Chaka Salt Lake, it's simply too beautiful. 🍒 Chaka Salt Lake is known as China's 'Mirror of the Sky', comparable to Bolivia. What makes Chaka Salt Lake different from other salt lakes is that it is a brine lake with both solid and liquid states. Walking on the lake is like being in the sky, with the lake reflecting the heavens, the earth, and you. If you're lucky enough, during the day you can see mirages formed on the surface of the lake. 🌈 Chaka Salt Lake has been rated by 'National Geographic Traveler' as 'one of the 55 places to go in a lifetime'. When the sun sets behind the mountains, the afterglow scatters on this white scroll. 🌵 Chaka Salt Lake is located near Chaka Town, Wulan County, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, 292 kilometers from Xining and about 151 kilometers from Qinghai Lake. 🌻 Chaka Salt Lake ticket price: 70 yuan, half price with a student ID; Scenic area train ticket price: one-way 50 yuan/person; 🍒Tips: 1. The small train at Chaka Salt Lake is a major feature, but it departs at fixed times during the peak season, and the queue time is long, so make sure to manage your time well when visiting. 2. It is recommended to bring waterproof shoe covers or transparent water shoes, as there are pebbles in the water that can easily cut your feet, and it is very painful to sprinkle salt on wounds. 3. There is a large temperature difference between day and night in the salt lake scenic area, and it is especially cold in the morning and evening, so you need to bring a coat to keep warm. The climate is dry and the ultraviolet rays are strong, so be sure to bring sunscreen, especially to prevent altitude sickness. 4. If it has been cloudy and rainy for several days, the salt layer in the lake may be diluted and dissolved, revealing the mud underneath, and you will not be able to go down to the lake to play. There are many small black holes in the lake, which are actually traps, so don't step on them, and the darker they are, the more dangerous they are.

📍【About Transportation】First, get to Xining 🚌Bus ✅There is a bus departing for Chaka Salt Lake from Xining Bus Station at noon every day at 12 o'clock, taking about 4 hours, with a ticket price of about 65 yuan. It is about 5 kilometers from the town to the salt lake, with no public transportation available, so you can only walk or take a taxi, or consider hitchhiking 🚂Train ✅Xining Station--Chaka Station train number: K6831 (08:00--12:10) Duration: 4 hours and 20 minutes ✅Hard seat ticket price is 62.5 yuan, upper berth is 110.5 yuan, middle berth is 114.5 yuan, lower berth is 117.5 yuan 🚕Chartered car, self-driving ✅The most popular way is self-driving or chartered car 1⃣️Qinghai Lake + Chaka Salt Lake The wind at Qinghai Lake is also very strong, remember to dress appropriately Arrive at Chaka Salt Lake in the afternoon, it's very sunny, and the wind is strong. (Decide whether to go to Chaka No.1 or the Mirror of the Sky) 🎫Ticket: Chaka Salt Lake 60 (108 yuan for a round-trip by train, not recommended) 2⃣️ U-shaped Highway + Water Yadan Be sure to pay attention to safety on the U-shaped Highway⚠️There are many large vehicles, and the slope is steep 📍The best photo spots are on the dirt slopes on both sides❗️ For Water Yadan, the small train can only be taken one way to the exit. Do not stay too long at the first, second, and third stations. 🎫Ticket: Water Yadan 60 (60 yuan for a scenic car) Nearby attractions: If you have enough time, you can visit 👉Da Qaidam Jade Lake It's just like a wallpaper for your phone. After the small train enters, there are many people at each pool. Just take some simple photos. 📍Transparent boats can only be photographed at Pool No. 3. The piano is at the last station. Not many people there. 👉Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring It's best to arrive at 18:00 in the evening, otherwise, it's too sunny! The camels there are too pitiful🐫Their humps are either very small or non-existent! It's better to walk up. 📍The sunset is almost over by 21:00, so hurry up. You can spend 480 yuan to experience a glider, which is very stable and allows you to overlook the entire view of the desert and Crescent Spring. 👉Zhangye Danxia Scorching sun! Be sure to use an umbrella, apply sunscreen, wear long pants, and long sleeves 📍Do not stop at Station No. 1, go directly to Stations 2 and 3. There are more views, and people are dispersed. Tips: ⚠️Be sure to pay attention to safety along the way, do not stop by the roadside to take photos randomly. ⚠️Essential items: sunglasses, sunscreen, umbrella, long sleeves, long pants, body lotion

Qinghai-Gansu Loop | One of the most worthwhile travel routes!! ||| The Northwest is really a gathering place for peculiar landforms! Salt lakes, Yardang landforms, water Yardang, Devil City, deserts, canyons, snow mountains, Danxia and so on, the scenery in the geography book finally saw in reality! 1⃣️Transportation🚗 If you choose to charter a car, carpool or follow a group, you basically start from Xining. There are four, seven, nine or bus seats. There are many drivers who walk the loop. This time I was really lucky to meet the experienced little fat brother and super matching companions. Little fat brother really helped us avoid a lot of thunder, enter the scenic spot when there are the fewest people, take us to catch the good weather into the scenic spot, so even if it is the May Day season we go to see Qinghai Lake Emerald Lake Water Yardang Chaka Salt Lake Xiaochaidan are sunny! Little fat brother will also give us drone and mobile phone photos, really good at finding angles! 2⃣️Accommodation🏨 If the itinerary is confirmed, you can book the hotel as soon as possible. I booked all the hotels for May Day at the end of March, catching up with the time when the price did not rise. If you confirm to travel in the peak season of July and August, you must book early. 3⃣️Food🥣 The Northwest is really delicious! Every meal is full of beef and mutton! 1. Yogurt: The yogurt here has a yellow skin on the surface 2. Kang pot: Very flavorful! The potato slices inside are like chips. 3. Stewed bread: Must order mutton stewed bread, camel meat is a bit unaccustomed. 4. Hand-grabbed mutton: Not smelly, super fragrant. 5. Eight-treasure tea: The more you brew, the sweeter it is 6. Beef noodles: The noodles are chewy and the soup is delicious 7. Milk fermented glutinous rice eggs: Like dessert 8. Yak earth hot pot: A bit ordinary, the dipping sauce is not very good. 9. Roast whole lamb: Eight people come down to only over a hundred per person, opening the sheep is very ceremonial, the meat is tender but the spices are not enough. 10. Pepper chicken: The meat is tender 4⃣️Essential items👗🕶️🎩 1. Clothes: The weather in the Northwest is a bit changeable, you can bring clothes for all four seasons, if the sun is out, wearing a skirt is no problem, but it snowed when I walked to Qilian Mountain on the last day. 2. Sunglasses and hats: Sometimes the wind is strong and blows sand, so wear them to keep warm and windproof. 3. Bring slippers or rent shoe covers: It's hard to clean shoes in Mingsha Mountain and Salt Lake 4. U-shaped pillow: Every day on the road to various attractions, it's much more comfortable to sleep in the car with a U-shaped pillow 5. Student ID: Tickets are half price for students, and some attractions are free for people from Zhejiang 6. Power bank: The time on the road is too long, basically only at the hotel at night. 7. Sunscreen or sun protection products: The sun here really stings the skin 5⃣️About group tours The mechanism here in the Northwest is a bit strange, many people report different things and they are inexplicably put together. Some are only carpooling, some are car fees plus accommodation, some are all expenses, and even travel agencies and drivers communicate very little, hotel locations, performance times, ticket times are all different, but the arrangements of little fat brother are really good, all the places that should go will go, if you can get together a car charter together is the best.

Winter tourism in the Northwest: Four days and three nights of hassle-free, nanny-level guide💡There's only one month left until the Spring Festival!🎉Everyone can start planning their Spring Festival travel plans📆If you don't know where to go, come to the Northwest!💯Traveling in winter is more economical, just eating and accommodation can save a lot of money💰. In addition, during the Spring Festival, attractions will be half price, or even free, you can have fun without spending money, it's so happy!🎊Here is also a five-day and four-night travel plan for everyone, friends who need it hurry up and collect it!🌟 🛍Travel preparation: 1⃣ Documents: ID card, student card, etc. 2⃣ Appliances: mobile phone, charger, headphones, power bank, camera, etc. 3⃣ Daily necessities: toiletries, hydration, cosmetics, sunscreen, etc. 4⃣ Weather: The temperature is suitable (🌞), but the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, it is recommended to bring jackets, long-sleeved suits, skirts, sun hats, etc. 🛳How to get to Qinghai: 1⃣ Plane: Directly to Xining Caojiabao Airport, or first fly to Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, then take the high-speed train to Xining. 2⃣ High-speed train/train: Directly to Xining Station or transfer at Lanzhou Station, and then transfer to Xining. 🏡Recommended accommodation in Qinghai: 1⃣ Business district near Xin Qian International Plaza: Convenient transportation, night market, rich snack street. 2⃣ Haihu Wanda Business Circle: High-end hotels, developed commerce. 3⃣ East Street: Rich ethnic flavor, characteristic homestays. 📸Five days and four nights route to have fun in Qinghai: ⭕ Day 1: Xining→Mysterious Desert→Xiaobo Lake Tree Planting→Cycling around the East Lake Road→Erlang's Small Crowd Sunset ⭕ Day 2: Sunrise of Qinghai Lake→Departure from Erlang Sword→Chaka Salt Lake→Cycling around the West Lake Road→Stay in Gangcha ⭕ Day 3: Depart from Gangcha→4120 Dadongshu Mountain Pass→Ice Gully Forest Sea→Zhuoer Mountain→Stay in Qilian County ⭕ Day 4: Depart from Qilian County→Qilian Mountain Grassland→Small Crowd Matisi→Zhangye Rainbow Danxia→Stay in Zhangye ⭕ Day 5: Depart from Zhangye→Menyuan Rapeseed Flower→Daban Mountain Viewing Platform→Return 📸Northwest scenic spot check-in: 1⃣ Qinghai Lake: The emerald on the earth 2⃣ Mogao Grottoes: The witness of ancient civilization in the world 3⃣ Crescent Spring: When the wind rises, the sand rings, the sound of camel bells echoes, the beautiful scenery under the moonlight 4⃣ Water Yadan: Yadan landform floating on the water surface 5⃣ U-shaped road: The mysterious 315 road, China's Route 66 6⃣ Rainbow Danxia: At a glance, Rainbow Danxia, the mountains in the world are colorless 7⃣ Qaidam Basin: Experience the feeling of crossing the uninhabited area ⚠ Tips: For the first time to take the baby to Qinghai, you can choose the local team leader to charter or carpool, both are good choices. Because the distance between the attractions in Qinghai is far, self-driving may be a bit difficult, find a team leader old driver to lead, the experience is simply too good!🎉 Wish everyone a happy Spring Festival in the Northwest!🎆🥳

Qinghai Travel Guide 📌Chaka Salt Lake (Sky No.1) Chaka Salt Lake is divided into Sky No.1 and Mirror of the Sky scenic spots! 📌Zhuoer Mountain Climbing at high altitudes is really tiring! 📌Colorful Danxia What the human eye sees is absolutely the most real. You need to feel the Colorful Danxia scenic spot in the noisy crowd, the masterpiece of nature.

Chaka Salt Lake, located in Qinghai Province, China, is a tourist destination full of mystery. It has a vast salt lake, the water of which is like a mirror, reflecting the beautiful scenery of the sky, hence it is known as the 'mirror of the sky'. When you step into Chaka Salt Lake, you will be shocked by the beautiful scenery in front of you. The lake water is clear and transparent, the white salt cover formed by salt crystallization covers the lake surface, like a silver world. Under the sunlight, the lake water is sparkling, reflecting the sky, forming a beautiful picture. The beauty of Chaka Salt Lake is not only in the lake water, but also in the surrounding natural scenery. There are large grasslands and deserts here, as well as unique halophyte communities, forming a complete ecosystem. Here, you can feel the wonders of nature and the wonders of life. In addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery, Chaka Salt Lake also has many interesting experience activities. You can try walking in the salt lake, feel the softness and moisture under your feet; you can also visit the Salt Lake Museum to understand the formation of the salt lake and the salt production process; you can also taste the local specialty food - Salt Lake Brine Insect Sauce, to feel the taste of the salt lake. Chaka Salt Lake is a place that makes people yearn for. Here, you can relax and feel the charm of nature; you can take photos to commemorate and record this beautiful moment; you can spend a good time with your family and friends and leave unforgettable memories. Come to Chaka Salt Lake to check in! Let this mirror of the sky become a bright landscape in your journey.

Chaka Salt Lake lies quietly in the Qaidam Basin, which spans over 200,000 square kilometers, nestled between the Qilian Mountain range's Wanyan Tongbu Mountain and the Kunlun Mountain range's Wanggaxiu Mountain. It is a must-visit destination for self-driving tours in the great Northwest! To capture the beautiful scenery of Chaka Salt Lake in photos📸, you must check the weather. Only on a clear sunny day 🌞 can you capture the color of the sea and sky! ⚠️Special reminder: The salt lake is quite corrosive to shoes, and even with rubber shoe covers, some may still get damaged. If you don't want your precious shoes to become stiff, consider wearing more ordinary shoes when going down to the lake! ➡️Chaka Salt Lake has two scenic areas, one is the Mirror of the Sky, and the other is Sky No.1. It is said that the former is the one people usually visit, while the latter is newly developed and has added some entertainment facilities; ➡️Upon arriving at the scenic area, you first need to register with your real name and take a free shuttle bus to the entrance. After purchasing a ticket, there are three options: one is to take a small train back and forth to the end point (you can get on and off at the stations), the second is to take an electric cart for 800 meters to the square (the starting point of the scenic area), and the third is to walk the entire distance (it is estimated that walking the full round trip is about five or six kilometers, so if you're not physically fit, it's better to just take the train... after all, walking the whole way can be very tiring. ➡️The train has stops where you can get off to take photos. There are scenic area signs, some shaped objects, and old salt extraction facilities where you can also take a boat to look around. The lake's daytime appeal is its mirror-like reflection and transparency... It's best to wear white or light-colored clothes, and most of the rental costumes inside are red; ➡️Shoe covers‼️ are a must-rent, after all, walking on the lake surface is a part of the experience. You can rent and return them at each train stop. The rental fee is ten yuan and the deposit is fifty, which is really not expensive; it is recommended to start renting from the third stop, where there are more shapes; ➡️Sun! It's very sunny! Make all the necessary sun protection preparations; also bring sunglasses, as the white salt can be dazzling; ➡️The management of the scenic area is actually quite good. There are simple foods at the stations, as well as places for oxygen inhalation and first aid, and the ice cream looks good and tastes delicious;

🌟 **Chaka Salt Lake Travel Guide** 🌟 📍 **Location & Transportation**: - Chaka Salt Lake is located in Ulan County, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. - Departing from Xining, you can choose to drive yourself or take a bus to Chaka Town, then walk or take a taxi to the scenic area. 🎫 **Ticket & Fees**: - The ticket price is 60 yuan, with a half-price discount for students. - The small train ticket costs 50 yuan per person for a single trip, and the electric cart ticket costs 10 yuan per person for a single trip. 🕒 **Best Time to Visit**: - It is recommended to visit in the summer from June to September when the climate is cool and the saltwater depth is suitable. - The best times of the day are around 9 am or 5 pm. 👗 **Dressing Suggestions**: - The ultraviolet rays are strong in the plateau area, it is recommended to wear sun-protective clothing, and bring sunglasses and hats. - Red or white dresses have a good photo effect on the salt lake, but you can also choose other bright colors. 📸 **Photography Guide**: - Walk deeper into the scenic area where there are fewer people and the background is clean, the lake surface is less disturbed, suitable for shooting reflections. - There are popular photo spots in the scenic area, such as the old train track ruins, water piano, and bird nests. 🍦 **Food Recommendations**: - There is sea salt ice cream in the scenic area, which has a unique taste and is worth trying. 💡 **Notes**: - There are no dining facilities inside the scenic area, it is recommended to eat well in advance or bring dry food. - The weather in the plateau area is changeable, carry rain gear with you. - Pay attention to sun protection and timely replenish sunscreen. - Avoid strenuous exercise to prevent altitude sickness. 🏨 **Accommodation Suggestions**: - There are accommodation options in Chaka Town, or you can choose to stay in the starry sky tents near the scenic area to experience stargazing at night. 🚶‍♀️ **Tour Route**: - From the entrance of the scenic area, take an electric cart to the East Pier, take a boat into the lake, visit the Lake Heart Pier, then take a train to the Sky Mirror Station to view the salt sculpture group, and finally return to the scenic area exit. 🌈 **Special Tips**: - Chaka Salt Lake is divided into "Sky Mirror" and "Sky No.1", both of which have similar scenery, but the "Sky Mirror" is more classic, while "Sky No.1" is newer and less crowded. Hope this guide helps you plan a perfect trip to Chaka Salt Lake! 🧳🗺️🌄

💧Often you will see such a set of photos on the Internet: a beautiful girl 💃 draped in a red scarf or wearing a red long dress, barefoot standing in a lake of blue and white interweaving 🌊. The lake surface is as transparent and holy as a mirror, reflecting the beautiful shadow of the girl. The check-in place for this set of photos is the Chaka Salt Lake in Qinghai. 💧'Chaka', in Tibetan means 'salt pool', and in Mongolian it means 'sea of blue salt'. During the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, some seawater accumulated in the low-lying areas and actively became many salt lakes and ponds. Chaka Salt Lake is one of them. The lake surface here is 3100 meters above sea level, 15.8 kilometers long from east to west, and 9.2 kilometers wide from north to south, in an oval shape. 💧According to the introduction: Chaka Salt Lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains 🗻, the calm lake surface is like a mirror, reflecting the beautiful and intoxicating sky scenery, it has been rated by the National Tourism Geographic Magazine as 'one of the 55 places a person must go in his lifetime', and it is even known as the 'Mirror of the Sky in China'. But I want to ask a question based on my personal experience, who gave Chaka Salt Lake this title? Is it the tourists or the experts, or the sky of China? Calling it the 'Mirror of the Sky in China', does the sky of China agree? 💧I came here in September, fantasizing about standing on the 'Mirror of the Sky' lake surface, taking a few memorable photos, what a comfortable thing it would be. However, when I took a bus for several hours, then took a small train 🚂, put on heavy boots and came to the heart of the lake, came to this so-called 'Mirror of the Sky', I asked myself: Is this muddy salt alkali beach in front of me the 'Mirror of the Sky'? Did I come at the wrong time? Isn't September the best season to come here? Is the weather wrong, it's a sunny afternoon 🔆! 💧The reality gave me the answer: this is indeed Chaka Salt Lake, but it is far less stunning than imagined, and it is not as beautiful as the photos on the Internet 😝! All there is here is a fairy-tale-like small train 🚂, and a few artificial salt sculptures along the way, and tourists who are taking photos in the lake like dumplings 👨‍👨‍👧‍👧. Chaka Salt Lake, let alone a mirror, it can't even be called 'clean', let alone 'clear'. 💧The photos on the Internet can only be appreciated. In reality, the so-called Internet celebrity check-in places sometimes really make people feel regret and regret. On such a sunny day, the scenery is so 1⃣, if it's a cloudy day, I guess the scenery can't even be 2⃣. 💧After returning from Qinghai, I learned that the so-called 'Mirror of the Sky' effect requires the joint action of light 🌈, water surface 🌊, and salt 🌫 crystals, and it won't work if one is missing. Therefore, the best time for the three to be one is probably after a heavy rain ☔️, when the weather suddenly clears up 🔅, that may be the most beautiful moment of Chaka Salt Lake, the real mirror of the sky. 💧I also learned that in Qinghai, there are actually many lakes with beautiful scenery, such as Chaerhan Salt Lake, Mangya Emerald Lake, Dachaidan Emerald Lake, Xitaijinoer Lake, etc. And Chaka Salt Lake belongs to a place where you will regret it if you don't go, and you will regret it even more if you go 🤭. 💧Some netizens commented on Chaka Salt Lake like this: 'As a local, I really can't stand it anymore. A few years ago, Chaka was really a mirror in the sky, now it's a stinky ditch, all polluted and destroyed.' Chaka Salt Lake, perhaps once a beautiful place, but now it is not as beautiful as the Internet says, let alone as stunning as the 'Mirror of the Sky', at most it can be considered a Internet celebrity check-in lake 🌊. 💧Leaving aside the lake itself, if you come here to see the small train 🚂, appreciate the salt sculptures, understand the crystal clear, pure quality of blue salt production process and scene, it is also worth it. But expecting to be able to take those filter big shots on the Internet here is a bit unrealistic. As for being called 'Mirror of the Sky in China', not only the sky of China will not agree, but also many of us ordinary tourists, I guess many people will not agree 😊🚫. 📍Tips: 💦Address: Chaka Salt Lake is located in Chaka Town, Ulan County, Haixi Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, about 300 kilometers from Xining. 💦Cost: about 200 yuan, including ticket 60 yuan + bus 30 yuan + small train 100 yuan (round trip) + battery car 10 yuan (round trip). 💦Opening hours: peak season (May to October) 7:00-20:00, off-season (November to next April) 7:30-19:00. 💦Title: National 4⃣A Scenic Area, China's first green edible salt production base. 💦Tour time: about 2⃣ hours. 💦Precautions: The UV rays in the scenic area are very strong, you need to bring sun protection and anti-high anti-products, etc. Chaka Salt Lake