Fairy Bay

Fairy Bay

Fairy Bay is located on the northern shore of Qinghai Lake. It boasts a rich diversity of flora and fauna, along with uniquely distinctive wetland landscapes, making it a favored migratory habitat for dozens of bird species. Historical documents and poetry record this area, as seen in the poem "Jade Pool": "The Queen Mother opens her painted window by the Jade Pool, / The sorrowful 'Yellow Bamboo' song moves the earth. / The Eight Steeds travel thirty thousand li a day, / So why does King Mu never return again." The bond between the Central Plains emperor and the Western queen was deep, yet this poem tells us that the Queen Mother of the West waited in vain for her beloved. Now, only the swan-like incarnations of celestial maidens fly here every year, displaying to the world how, under the boundless blue sky, these fairies pause and nest—pure as ice and jade, graceful and elegant—bringing a touch of magic to the winter Qinghai Lake and forming a stunning scenic view. Hence, the name "Fairy Bay" came into being. Friends, there is also such a legend here: it is said that the Sixth Dalai Lama, while traveling by Qinghai Lake, was captivated by the crystal-clear lake light and the natural beauty, as if hearing the divine calling. He then stepped onto the waves and entered the sea. The feminine Qinghai Lake instantly revealed its sacred aura—fairies played the zither and blew the suona, while flocks of cranes danced in the sky. And so, the master disappeared. Some say he went with the fairies to the heavenly paradise. This shows just how infinitely charming she is, and thus Fairy Bay has become famous for this as well.

Between June and October each year, the Fairy Bay wetlands bloom with flowers of various colors in different seasons—reds, yellows—that look like a naturally woven carpet spread before your eyes, truly living up to the name "sea of flowers." At the same time, the area is also rich in religious culture and historical legends, guiding local worshippers to choose auspicious days each year to come here for incense burning and sea worship.