Qaidam Basin

Qaidam Basin

Guide The Qaidam Basin lies deep in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, surrounded by the Altun Mountains, Qilian Mountains, and Kunlun Mountains. Nestled within a crescent-shaped valley formed by mountains and plateaus with an average elevation of over 4,000 meters, the basin contains more than 5,000 saltwater lakes, the largest of which is Qinghai Lake, spanning 1,600 square kilometers. Introduction The Yardang landforms of the Qaidam Basin are world-famous, formed due to weathering. The basin is also rich in salt and mineral resources, which is why it is hailed as the "Treasure Basin." At the same time, it is part of a desert region where strong winds prevail. During the rainy seasons in spring and autumn, fierce winds dominate, but when blocked by the western Kunlun Mountains, the wind direction shifts and the wind speed decreases. As a result, a large amount of pebbles and sand accumulate in this strip-like area. Overall, the Qaidam Basin presents a desert landscape. Its central area is covered with rubble eroded from surrounding mountains, as well as fragments and sand carried by the wind.

The western part of the Qaidam Basin is a barren land. Although long-distance buses pass through here every few days, no passengers get off because there is nothing but saltwater, highly alkaline soil, and harsh weather. On sunny days, the weather is extremely hot, while on cloudy days, it is very cold. No one wants to stay here for long, let alone live here.

Qinghai Golmud