Some say, if you travel all over this place
you will have seen all the beauty of Qinghai!
We don’t believe it, so we’re going to take you there to see for yourself.
Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province is located at the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It boasts vast land and is rich in profound Yellow River culture. Fresh, natural, simple, sacred, and pure—this is how people envision Hainan Prefecture.
A river that flows from east to west
Starting from Riyue Mountain in the east and ending at Qinghai Lake in the west, a clear stream quietly and gently winds its way for over forty kilometers. Without roaring waves or splashing sounds, it resembles a rainbow in the rain or a flowing galaxy in the night sky—crystal-clear, tranquil, and continuous. This is the Dao Tang River, a river that flows from east to west.
Here lies the “green” Longyang Lake
The Longyang Lake Scenic Area is located in Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, south of the famous Qinghai Lake, and is known as the sister lake of Qinghai Lake. The lake water is crystal-clear and emerald green, surrounded by towering mountains, resembling a piece of jade.
Here is the renowned Longyang Gorge
Longyang Gorge is situated on the upper reaches of the Yellow River in Gonghe County, Qinghai, and is the first gorge that the Yellow River enters after flowing through the Qinghai grasslands. The gorge entrance is narrow, with steep rock walls rising on both sides, and the surging waters create a spectacular scene.
By Qinghai Lake under blue skies and white clouds
Hainan Prefecture lies south of Qinghai Lake, hence its name “Hainan” (meaning “south of the lake”). When the sunset fades and the wind rustles the colorful prayer flags under the blue sky, shall we take a walk by the lake?
Smell the rapeseed flowers by Qinghai Lake
Here, there are vast fields of rapeseed flowers, with the wind blowing waves of golden hues.
Tongde Zongri Cultural Site – Kaligang
The Zongri Site is the farthest point of the Majiayao Culture distributed along the upper reaches of the Yellow River in Qinghai. Due to the uniqueness of its cultural content, it was studied and named the Zongri Culture.
Sai Zong Temple is located at the foot of Sai Zong Mountain, which is one of the three most famous sacred mountains in the Tibetan region of Amdo according to local legend. The temple is famous because of the mountain, and the mountain is made more illustrious because of the temple—a perfect harmony between ancient temple and sacred peak.
This is also where China’s highest-altitude average car rally championship, the Qinghai leg, was first held.
From August 9 to August 13, the “2017 China Qinghai Lake Plateau Off-Road Elite Race” kicked off in Gonghe County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province.
This year marks the second edition of the China Qinghai Lake Plateau Off-Road Race. The opening ceremony featured performances by two famous singers, Dekeye and Jiayinzhuoma.
The race included four special stages, including a super-short qualifying stage. The race route covered the sister lake of Qinghai Lake—Longyang Lake Scenic Area—as well as Tieguai, Shazhuyu, and Tanggemu sections. The total race distance was 800 kilometers, with about 600 kilometers of special stages.
Nearly 25 teams and 150 racers from all over the country competed fiercely in the beautiful Longyang Gorge.
The race surface included desert, Gobi, and plateau terrains. The entire race had an average altitude of over 3,000 meters, making it the highest-altitude stage in the history of the China Off-Road Championship, and it was also hailed by the first participants as “the most beautiful racecourse in China.”
Located in the Yellow River valley, Guide is flanked by Longyang Gorge upstream and Songba Gorge downstream. Surrounded by mountains and featuring open plains, fertile land, it is known as the “Little Jiangnan” of the plateau.
The beauty of the Yellow River is not only in its majestic grandeur but also in the awe-inspiring feeling of “the setting sun is infinitely beautiful, yet it is near dusk,” making one linger and reluctant to leave.
"Over nine bends the Yellow River carries sand for ten thousand li" — when people think of the Yellow River, this is often the impression they have. Who would have thought that in Qinghai, the source of the Yellow River, in Guide, Hainan Prefecture, one could see the river as clear as crystal? Just as the praise for Guide goes: "The Yellow River is clearest at Guide." Only when you see it with your own eyes do you realize the truth in the saying.
Here, towering snow-capped mountains, steaming hot springs, crystal-clear Yellow River waters, and emerald-green grasslands paint a vast and heroic frontier landscape. In late spring, when the spring breeze sweeps by, the landscape turns pure white, like freshly fallen snow, with the faint fragrance of pear blossoms wafting through the air — reminiscent of the misty pear orchards of the south, yet even more enchanting than the lingering drizzle there. Everything resembles the gentle and reserved visage of a maiden the first time I met her.
Here lies the Ancient City of Guide
Yet after admiring the pristine waters of the Yellow River, you’ll also discover a well-preserved complex of ancient Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. Temples and monasteries sit side by side, blending Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, setting aside sectarian differences to coexist harmoniously. The unique layout makes it a masterpiece of ancient architecture.
Here is the Guide Danxia Geological Park
Within the park, the colorful peaks of the Ashigong Danxia landform are vibrant and magnificent; the wind-eroded landscapes of the Mawu Gorge are exquisitely crafted and ever-changing; the Yellow River scenery is stunningly beautiful, like flowers in full bloom; and the Longyang Gorge is steep and precipitous, with a majestic presence. Such breathtaking sights will definitely make you marvel at nature’s wondrous craftsmanship. Your camera won’t stop clicking either.
Here is a unique folk culture
The Songba Folk Culture Village in Guide, with its distinctive folk culture and serene, picturesque environment, adds even more charm to Guide’s tourism culture.
The China Fortune Wheel in Guide
The world’s only Tibetan prayer wheel powered by the waters of the Yellow River, featuring the longest diameter, greatest height, and a unique rotating mechanism, has been successfully included in the Guinness World Records. It not only showcases Yellow River culture but also prays for the prosperity of the motherland.
With such beautiful scenery, even I feel as if I’ve traveled across the magnificent landscapes of the entire northwest.
Truly, Qinghai is magnificently beautiful, and Hainan is sacred and pure.