Not cycling around the lake, not going to Chaka—here’s actually the most beautiful Qinghai route...

Cycling around Qinghai Lake and visiting Chaka Salt Lake to experience the "Mirror of the Sky" have been two of the hottest Qinghai experiences hyped up in recent years. Admittedly, Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake do have stunning scenery, but the influx of large numbers of tourists somewhat detracts from the experience. Beyond these two spots, Qinghai has countless other breathtaking sights—starting from Xining heading westward to Golmud and then returning eastward, you’ll encounter flower seas, green mountains, beautiful waters, grasslands, danxia landforms, salt lakes, and high-altitude peaks.......Traveling counterclockwise along this route lets you enjoy a diverse array of unique landscapes.

As the capital city of Qinghai, Xining boasts numerous historical and cultural sites, among which the most recommended are Ta'er Monastery and the Ma Bufang Mansion. As for the Dongguan Mosque, if you're not Muslim, viewing it from the outside is sufficient.

Ta'er Monastery is one of the six most famous Gelug (Yellow Sect) monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism in China, and also the highest institution of Tibetan Buddhist learning in Qinghai Province. With its staggered halls and grand momentum, it’s a spectacular sight. When visiting, don’t miss the monastery’s “Three Artistic Wonders”: murals, appliqué thangkas, and butter sculptures.

Ticket:80Yuan/per person

The Ma Bufang Mansion is the only official residence in China built entirely out of jade, hence it's also known as the "Jade Mansion." The layout of the inner courtyards and rooms is orderly and rigorous, and the hidden passageways between the various halls give this Republican-era building an air of solemn depth and mysterious allure.

Ticket:30Yuan/per person

The most beautiful time to visit Menyuan is during the7month rapeseed flower season. At that time, stretches of rapeseed flowers covering dozens of kilometers look like a golden carpet spread across the vast northwestern land, and against the backdrop of the distant Qilian Mountains, the golden sea of flowers becomes especially magnificent.

Ticket: Free; Viewing Platform30Yuan/person

Qilian County is known as the “Little Switzerland of the East,” a testament to its stunning natural scenery. Here you’ll find vast grasslands and endless mountain ranges. Zhuoer Mountain is a natural photo studio for photography enthusiasts. If you enjoy interacting with small animals, you can also visit the Qilian Deer Farm for some fun.

In summer, Zhuoer Mountain is at its most colorful — emerald-green grasslands, crimson Danxia landforms, golden rapeseed flowers, and azure blue skies. Just a few snapshots here will make your social media feed stand out.

Admission:60yuan/per person

Nestled among mountains, the Qilian Deer Farm is Asia’s largest semi-wild deer domestication base, where you can get up close with precious protected animals such as red deer and sika deer. With few visitors, the deer here remain delightfully wild and natural — you might even find yourself surrounded by them.~

Admission:60yuan/per person

“Delingha” means “Golden World” in Mongolian. Compared to places like Menyuan and Qilian, it’s a relatively off-the-beaten-path destination, but one that offers delightful surprises: the Keluke Lake.-The scenic beauty of the Tuosu Lake Nature Reserve rivals that of Qinghai Lake, and it’s far more peaceful. If you’re interested in extraterrestrial life, you can also explore the Alien Ruins on White Mountain.

Although not far apart, Keluke Lake and Tuosu Lake are a saltwater lake and a freshwater lake respectively. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway runs through the middle, adding a touch of human presence to the vast, serene lake views. The scenery here is no less impressive than Qinghai Lake, yet with very few visitors — you might even have entire vistas to yourself.

Admission:20yuan/per person

Located on the southern shore of Tuosu Lake, the Alien Ruins are famous for their mysterious triangular caves and the “pipes” found inside. The site is not large, and some visitors feel it’s not worth going out of your way for, but if you’re intrigued by the unexplained, it’s worth checking out.

Admission:20yuan/per person

The third-largest city on the Tibetan Plateau, an oasis in the desert, Golmud combines a variety of landscapes including Yardang landforms, glacial snow mountains, the headwaters of the Yangtze River, vast salt lakes, and desert poplar forests. Due to its remote location, you won’t be surrounded by crowds no matter which attraction you visit.

The Tanggula Mountain Pass is the boundary between Qinghai and Tibet, as well as the source of the Yangtze River. It is often battered by wind and snow all year round. The Hoh Xil uninhabited area at the foot of the Tanggula Mountains is a challenging destination that countless self-driving enthusiasts aspire to conquer. If you’re lucky, you might even spot endangered wildlife such as Tibetan antelopes here.

Admission: Free

This duck-egg-shaped devil city is much larger in area than the one in Xinjiang, but it is far less famous. With minimal development, endless plains are dotted with countless bizarre earthen mounds. Standing amidst them, you can experience the most pristine form of Yardang landform.

Compared to the tourist-crowded Chaka Salt Lake, this place is not only little known but doesn’t even qualify as a formal scenic area. With its snow-white salt flats, translucent green lake water, and vast, open lake surface, once you’ve visited Chaka Salt Lake, you’ll definitely lose interest in Chaka.

Admission: Free

Lush primeval forests, tranquil lakes, boundless grasslands, and towering, steep snow-capped mountains together form an idyllic paradise-like Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It’s a haven for hiking enthusiasts and one of the favorite shooting locations for photographers.

Also known as Guoluo Mountain, Nianbaoyuze is the highest peak of the Bayan Har Mountains. It was established as a national geopark in2005(year missing, leave as is if no year provided). The scenic area features two major lakes: Fairy Lake and Witch Lake. Most hikers who come to Nianbaoyuze choose to trek across it. The traditional north-south route is about49(distance missing, leave as is if no number provided) kilometers long and generally takes around4(days missing, leave as is if no number provided) days to complete.

Admission:120(price missing, leave as is if no number provided) yuan/per/3person per day

“The Yellow River is clearest at Guide.” In Guide, you can see the clear waters of the Yellow River. Walking and taking photos along the Qinghai Yellow River Bridge, you’ll witness the gentle, jade-like beauty of the river. In addition, Guide is also home to famous danxia landforms. The currently developed Qishigou Seven-Colored Peak Forest in Guide Ashigong Gorge has an admission fee of80(price missing, leave as is if no number provided) yuan/per person, but the scenic area isn’t very large, and you can still enjoy the view from afar. You may choose not to enter and instead take photos while driving alongS101the provincial highway.If you have more time, you can visit the Kanbula National Forest Park near Guide County to admire even more spectacular danxia peak forests.

1.Best time to visit Qinghai:6--8(month(s) missing, leave as is if no number provided)

2.Best ways to travel: Self-driving/or hired car

3.Chaka Salt Lake has no admission fee, and in principle, only vehicles with access permits are allowed to enter. You can confirm with the driver before hiring a car whether it is possible to drive into the salt factory for a visit. However, even if stopped by security, giving them a small “tip” as an unofficial “admission fee” may get you through.

4.Hiking through the entire Nianbaoyuze scenic area also requires crossing4350mand4550mtwo mountain passes, so you need to bring your own tent and provisions.

5.The sunlight in Qinghai is very strong, so be sure to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.

6.Qinghai is located on the plateau, so it’s recommended to take some preventive measures against altitude sickness before setting off, such as taking medications like rhodiola appropriately.

7.Most of Qinghai consists of highland deserts, so it’s best to hire an experienced local driver. If you’re driving yourself, make sure to check your vehicle condition in advance and drive cautiously.