Haiyan Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Biggest salt water lake in China

Qinghai Lake, nestled in China's Qinghai Province, is the largest saltwater lake in East Asia, covering approximately 4,600 square kilometers. Its beauty lies in its serene, azure waters and the surrounding Tibetan Plateau's majestic landscapes. At an elevation of 3,205 meters, the lake is a vital ecological hotspot, home to diverse avian species and unique aquatic life. The lake holds cultural significance for Tibetans and the local Tibetan-Qiang people. It's a site for various religious ceremonies and festivals. However, environmental concerns, like shrinking water levels due to climate change and pollution, pose significant challenges to its preservation. Conservation efforts are underway to safeguard this remarkable natural treasure. #timetotravel #China #nature

Turquoise Eye of Qinghai Province

Tibetan plateau AKA "Roof of the World" is the highest in the world and Qinghai lake (青海湖) is the largest saltwater lake in China. 🌊Have you noticed that we're speaking in superlatives? It's not a coincidence. Qinghai lake (青海湖) definitely deserves to be be called the sea of the West due to its size, vastness, and the fact that it resembles a sea in certain aspects. It's a saline waters boasts incredible variety of wildlife at an altitude of 3205m. "On the plateau's crest, a jewel so grand, Qinghai Lake's waters stretch across the land. Azure skies embrace its tranquil face, A mirror of nature's serene embrace." 😍 Tips and tricks: If you want to visit Qinghai lake without any tour operators or rental cars you can easily get there from the Xining bus station (西宁汽车客运中心站). Several buses go to Qinghaihu (hu = lake) every day starting from 8AM. 🚌The drop off location is called 青海湖国家重点风景名胜区. That's the closest scenic area to the Xining city. One way ticket costs 60RMB. 💸The bus will wait for the passengers at the scenic area's parking lot for around 3 hours before heading back to the Xining bus station. To make sure you have a seat you can buy round way tickets at the Xining bus station. Total cost will be 120RMB per person. 🙃 #summerbreak #SpinTheWorld #qinghailake #xining #summervacation

Qinghai lake - the biggest in China

Only taking into consideration that it's the biggest, it's worth visiting. Yet I think Scenic area tickets are overpriced. There's not much to do in the area apart from taking pictures, riding a boat (3 types, start from 100yuan) and feeding seagulls. Still it's worth visiting, though it feels much much better if you drive a car in Qinghai (we took a shared taxi from Xining to Qinghai lake) and overall had pretty much headache with transportation in this province. Almost all the wild areas around are privately owned and you need to pay to enter (or, say, ride a horse, 200yuan per 3km round-trip to the lake🙄). This numerous fences and herds of tourists made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the beauty of the lake and surrounding landscapes (I just ran into the mountains 😂) . Also it was pretty hard to find a hotel accommodating foreigners (beginning of August). Only Chinese food (quite pricey) Still it was a great trip, I'd like to come back driving a car😁 #qinghai #qinghailake

The Beautiful Qinghai Lake

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we first saw Qinghai Lake. We were cycling down from the main road, through fields of grass and bright yellow rapeseed flowers when we first caught a glimpse of the blue water. For a split second, we forgot where we were and thought we had somehow made it to the sea! #mytripvlog

Salt Lake

Caka Salt Lake, situated in Qinghai, China, is a natural wonder renowned for its ethereal beauty. Spanning over 100 square kilometers, it's one of the largest saltwater lakes in the region. What sets Caka apart is its striking pink hue during certain seasons, attributed to the presence of microorganisms and high salinity. The lake's landscape is surreal, with vast salt flats extending to the horizon, forming mesmerizing hexagonal patterns. Caka Salt Lake is also ecologically significant, providing habitat for migratory birds and supporting unique flora and fauna adapted to extreme salinity. Tourists are drawn not only to its surreal landscapes but also to the cultural richness of the Tibetan and Mongolian communities in the surrounding areas, making Caka Salt Lake a destination of natural and cultural intrigue. #timetotravel #China #instatravel

A Fairy lake surrounded by snowy mountains

Chaka Salt lake is a naturally crystallized saline lake surrounded by snow capped mountains in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. It is located at an altitude of approx 3000m about 300km from Xining. The combination of the white lake with reflection of the sky in the water, the distant snowy mountain range, the fresh wind makes it a magical place. I went there in May. It snowed in the evening the day I reached Chaka town while the prediction was 6-12 deg. I carried a puffer jacket for just in case and that saved my life 😄. So, take your jackets no matter which time of the year you decide to visit 🤭

Chaka salt lake - winter landscape in summer

We spent about a week in Qinghai, mostly at Qinghai lake as we visited local horse racing there. I liked Chaka lake better than Qinghai lake (as I still don't understand why Qinghai lake entry tickets are so overpriced) We came to Chaka in the evening by bus from Qinghai lake and stayed in a hotel. In the early morning I walked about 3-4km to the Scenic area witnessing wildlife such as hares and ducks. At the entrance I requested information in English and there was an English speaking employee to give details which were quite helpful. The path in the area is about 5km long, there are some cafés at the beginning and special shoes and fancy dresses rental somewhere in the middle. Visiting Chaka was one of the highlights of this summer! There are 2 Scenic areas, I've been to one only (should have visited both) It's not easy to find a taxi in the area, so the English speaking employee helped to arrange it in the evening #chakasaltlake #chaka

Surrounded by SALT

Chaka Lake is a must to visit. We took a bus and a slow train to the lake . People use to walk all the way to the lake in the past. Glad we don’t have too. It is known as “Mirror of the Sky in China”. “Chaka” means “Salt Lake” in Tibetan. As the name, Chaka Lake is a famous natural crystal salt lake in Qaidam Basin, able to meet all Chinese’s need to salt for 75 years. The lake reflects wonderful images , but it depends on where and how you take your pictures. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to caption the reflection from the lake. However, we had a great time.

Sand Island of Qinghai Lake

Sand Island Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake is located in the north of Qinghai Lake, avoiding the crowded internet-famous Erlang Sword Scenic Area and Bird Island Scenic Area. The entrance of the scenic area is Sand Island Hotel, which is of the level of old-style guesthouses, big, old, quiet, and close (to Beijing). The Sand Island Scenic Area well reflects the characteristics of the northwest lakes, half is lake water, half is beach (Bosten Lake is also like this). Blue sky, clear lake, beach, and sculptures form a colorful pattern. Walking along the lakeside plank road, you can step on the lake light and sand color, but riding a horse on the sand dune is another scene.

Qinghai, the only place I have to go through the wedding dress vomiting blood recommended fish carp private travel route! At the beginning of the year, I decided to take a photo with my husband in Qinghai Lake. I really didnt disappoint. The surprise brought by Damei Qinghai is definitely not a little bit. Today, the fishermen vomit blood and share an absolutely small trip. The route is recommended by the local chartered car master, pro test, perfect! First, order dry goods 1. Chartered around 600 a day, you can also choose to rent a car, there are many chartered cars and car rentals at the high-speed rail station, very convenient. 2. If it is a day trip, you can take three points, the full content! Route: Depart from Xining, take the Beijing-Tibet Expressway---Wuyuan County and then take the 315 National Road----Xihai Town and then take the Huanhu East Road to Jinsha Bay (also known as Sand Island) ), it is along the Huanhu East Road to the original 109 National Road, and then the west road passes through the Erlangjian Scenic Area, about 200 meters away. Wild spots Specific content: If you take the Huanhu East Road from Xining, it is very beautiful. On the way, you will feel the absolute charm of Qinghai. This is also my favorite place. In fact, I have also gone to the scenic spots in Qinghai. I still like the feeling of being on the road. There are many temporary stops on the road. You can take pictures on both sides of the road and feel the most authentic scenery, but be sure to pay attention to safety. Don't stay in the middle of the road. Continue to the northeast direction. There is a place called Shadao. This is also the attraction that I highly recommend. Dont go to the ticket, you can go directly. If you dont go to Dunhuang, you dont need any regrets, directly in Qinghai. Sand Island is full of desert addiction. Need to pay attention to is that we must take care of the environment, do not leave any garbage in the desert, there is a desert here, you can also see Qinghai Lake in the distance, the sea and the sky, beautiful. The third stop is also my favorite point. Qinghai Lake Erlangjian Scenic Spot is about 200 meters. When I saw a big stone and wrote the Moge Hotel, I found a place to park and stop. Here is the legendary Wild attractions, but very large scale, no tickets, mainly the scenery is too beautiful! ! ! ! I took a lot of photos here and they are super super love. There are colored golden dragonflies here, and then taking a walk around the lake to take pictures and what is perfect. ok route is like this, all the way is beautiful, pay attention to safety, respect the local rules and then stop taking pictures! Any questions, please leave a message for me!

There is a place in the northeastern part of Qinghai Lake called Shadao. I havent been to Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain before I came here to have an addiction in the desert, but the prayer flags on the roadside are different here. There is no direct shuttle bus available, you may need to charter or drive by car, and it will be enough to spend two or three hours here. The locals who often ride horses will come over and ask if you want to go horse riding. The price is not high at the time, I dont know what the current price is. There are still a lot of sand play projects, sand motorbikes, sand slides, and we are busy shooting, and have not enjoyed it. Set up a tent to prepare for the sunset, the temperature is getting lower and lower, the wind is getting bigger and bigger, if you open your mouth, you may eat a bite of sand, even the gap in the tripod is filled with fine sand, come back to clean up For a long time. The setting sun was not as stunning as we expected, and after a little exposure, I quickly hid behind the clouds.

After entering the Shadao Scenic Area, the car will pass through several small inner lakes, such as the Crescent Lake and the Sun Lake. I haven't arrived in Qinghai Lake yet. I have seen the beauty of the desert and the lake. Shadao is located in the northeastern part of Qinghai Lake. It is the largest island in the lake. It is like a crescent-shaped sand island scenic spot. It is a large sand dune in the national key scenic spot of Qinghai Lake. It is formed by the accumulation of sand and sand, just like a new moon floating in the new dunes on the water surface, which is a great spectacle in the lake.

Riyue Mountain as frozen Winter Dreamland

Most posts show Qinghai province during summer but also the late winter creates a beautiful countryside. While the lakes are frozen, you can enjoy still the monasteries, temples and mountains partially covered in snow. Riyue Mountain is beautiful during late winter days with a mixture of snow and awakening nature. Almost no tourists will come this way but you can do small hiking tour from top to top of each grass hill. Put your warm clothes on and don’t forget sun protection then you will be ready to spend some good time there without having many other people there. #winter #mountaintop #mountainhike

Sun and Moon Mountain-Nyima Dawa La (Tibetan)

1. Riyue Mountain Address - Huangyuan County, Xining, Qinghai Provinve, China Highlights - Princess Wencheng statue , Temple, Museum Rating - 4star The legendary story behind this geographic travel spot is the relationship between Han-Chinese princess Wencheng and Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo from 7th century. On her way to marry the king, the queen looked into a magic mirror with a sun-moon design to see her future family. But unfortunately, she only sees herself in the mirror. Out of agony, she breaks the mirror and the Daotang River flowing in unusual east to west direction, originates from her tears. #thisischina

The place where Princess Wencheng shattered the Sun and Moon Treasure Mirror is called Riyue Mountain

Princess Wencheng, on her long journey westward for a marriage alliance, carried with her a precious item known as the "Sun and Moon Treasure Mirror". It is said that whenever the princess yearned for home, she could look into this mirror and see the landscape of the Tang Dynasty. However, while passing through a mountain, the princess, longing for her distant homeland, couldn't help but take out the "Sun and Moon Treasure Mirror" given to her by the Empress before departure to gaze upon it, and instantly, the enchanting scenery of Chang'an appeared in the mirror. At that moment, Princess Wencheng, overwhelmed with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, accidentally dropped the mirror, breaking it into two halves, which landed on two small hills. The eastern half faced west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, while the western half faced east, illuminated by the light of the rising moon. Thus, the name Riyue Mountain was derived.

The Christmas Eve platter performance in Xining is here!

Time: Sunday, 2023/12/24 20:00 Venue: Qinghai Grand Theatre - Art Lecture Hall Who says there's no Christmas atmosphere in the great Northwest? Here it comes, the Xining Spring Wave Island, Gua, and Mimi Dream Band concert! Besides watching the performance on Christmas, take advantage of the weekend to check out the local attractions in Xining! 1. Ta'er Monastery Ta'er Monastery is located in Huangzhong County, Xining, with a history of over 400 years. It is one of the important monasteries of the Gelug school (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect. The monastery's architecture is magnificent, its treasures are abundant, and it offers a strong religious atmosphere, making it one of the more popular tourist destinations in Xining. 2. Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum The Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum is a comprehensive museum with a theme of Tibetan medicine and culture. It houses 16 exhibition halls, including the Silk Road and Qinghai-Tibetan Civilization, Panorama of Chinese Tibetan Art Paintings, History of Tibetan Medicine, etc. It treasures the Guinness World Record-holding Thangka masterpiece - 'Panorama of Chinese Tibetan Art Paintings', which is 618 meters long. Planned by the renowned Thangka master Zongzhe Lajie, it was completed by 400 painters over 4 years. The content encompasses the Tibetan understanding of the universe, the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, history, religion, medicine, culture, art, and folklore. The painting is detailed and colorful, a grand spectacle, and is known as a 'contemporary national treasure' and an encyclopedia of Tibetan culture. 3. Riyue Mountain Riyue Mountain is located on the way from Huangyuan to Qinghai Lake and is also a necessary route to Tibet. Legend has it that when Princess Wencheng entered Tibet, she broke the stone mirror that could not reflect her hometown into two pieces, the sun and the moon, hence the name Riyue Mountain. On both sides of the Riyue Mountain pass, there is a small peak with the Sun Pavilion and the Moon Pavilion, two iconic buildings.

Northwest Trip

D1: Xining - Laji Mountain - Riyue Mountain - Qinghai Lake - Delingha (Stay) D2: Delingha - Chaka Salt Lake - Dachaidan Emerald Lake - Dachaidan (Stay) D3: Dachaidan - 315U-shaped Highway - Heidu Mountain - Dunhuang Night Market - Dunhuang (Stay) D4: Dunhuang Mogao Caves - Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring - Dunhuang (Stay) D5: Dunhuang - Jiayuguan (optional) - Zhangye Danxia Landform - Zhangye (Stay) D6: Zhangye - Qilian Grassland - Xining (Return)

Green Treasure: The vitality and energy of Chaerhan Salt Lake

Green｜Chaerhan Salt Lake Green, as a color, is located in the middle of the spectrum, with a wavelength range of 517-570 nanometers. In nature, green is widely present, such as in leaves, grasslands, oases, etc. In human culture, green is usually associated with concepts like life, health, vitality, nature, peace, etc. Chaerhan Salt Lake is located in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China. It is the largest salt lake in China and the second largest in the world. The area of Chaerhan Salt Lake is about 5856 square kilometers, and its altitude is about 2670 meters. Chaerhan Salt Lake is an inland lake, with its water mainly coming from the melting snow of the surrounding mountains and groundwater. The salt content of the lake water is extremely high, reaching 32%, making Chaerhan Salt Lake one of the most important salt chemical bases in China. The green of Chaerhan Salt Lake may be related to the microorganisms, minerals, and light in the lake water. Under sunlight, the microorganisms and minerals in the lake water may appear green. In addition, the green of Chaerhan Salt Lake may also be affected by the surrounding ecological environment, such as grasslands, oases, etc.

Chaerhan Salt-Lake in Qinghai Province

The Chaerhan Salt Lake is located 60 kilometers away from the northern Golmud city, more than 110 kilometers away from the southern Chaidamu. The salt lake is more than 160 kilometers long from east to west and 20-40 kilometers wide from south to north. The thickness of the salt lake is 2-20 meters. The Chaerhan Salt Lake is located in the desert; the weather is dry and hot. With the long-time sunburn and windburn it's necessary to bring sun protection. 🏴 Tourists can rent cars to get to the Chaerhan Salt Lake along the No. 215 National Highway. Hotels or travel agencies might also organized tours. Adventurours without driving license can try to hitchhike. 🎫 Entrance including bus to the final destination inside the lake: 100元/80元 students ✨ You can also rent bikes (if they're not broken) or drones at the final destination. #dessert#hiking#roadtrip#summervacation

[Qalhan Salt Lake in Qinghai] Zarhan Salt Lake is the largest salt lake in China and one of the most famous salt lakes in the world. The picture taken in my picture is the Wanzhang Salt Bridge, which is a road made of salt and extends into the lake. Its hardness is comparable to that of the asphalt road. We can see from the sky that there are white crystals on both sides of the salt bridge. The lake is transparent and green. The scenery here is picturesque. The sunny Chaerhan Salt Lake has also become a good place for photography. Note: Sun protection measures should be prepared. It is recommended to bring a hat and sunglasses. You can drive in by yourself. In principle, only visiting documents are allowed to enter. You need to communicate in advance.