Fairy Bay

　　Fairy Bay is situated on the northern shore of Qinghai Lake. The area boasts a rich variety of plants and animals and features distinctive wetland scenery, especially as a favored migratory and nesting ground for dozens of bird species. Historical texts and poems document the following: the poem "Jade Pool" ("Yao Chi") reads, “The Queen Mother opens her painted window by the Jade Pool; / The mournful ‘Yellow Bamboo’ song stirs the earth with grief. / The Eight Steeds gallop thirty thousand li a day— / Why doesn’t King Mu ever come back here?” This tells of the deep bond between the Central Plains’ Son of Heaven and the Queen of the West. Yet the poem reveals that the Queen Mother of the West long waited in vain for her beloved, and now only the swan-like fairies return here each year, showing the world how these celestial beings pause and nest under the boundless blue sky. Pure and graceful, they bring an ethereal charm to Qinghai Lake in winter, forming a stunning landscape. Hence the name “Fairy Bay.” Local legend also tells that the 6th Dalai Lama, captivated by the crystal-clear lake light and natural beauty around Qinghai Lake, seemed to hear the divine calling and stepped into the waves and sea. The feminine spirit of Qinghai Lake then revealed its sacred aura — with fairies playing instruments and suonas, and flocks of cranes dancing in the sky. And so the master vanished, with some saying he went with the fairies to heaven. This shows just how enchanting this place is, which is also how Fairy Bay got its fame.

　　From June to October each year, the Fairy Bay Wetland bursts into blooms of various colors in different seasons — reds, yellows — like a carpet handwoven by nature, presented right before your eyes. It could rightfully be called a “sea of flowers,” and it’s truly no exaggeration. At the same time, the area’s rich religious culture and historical legends also draw local worshippers to come here in auspicious days each year to burn juniper and worship the lake.