Some say that unless you’ve been to Qinghai, you can’t imagine just how rugged and extraordinary it is. Qinghai boasts the beauty of being the “origin of mountains and waters,” home to the world’s largest expanse of alpine wetlands and grasslands. Just imagine such vast, lofty landscapes—majestic mountains and lakes, awe-inspiring and spectacular, truly the “most breathtaking scenery under heaven,” so stunningly beautiful that it’s beyond compare and absolutely peerless. Nowadays, people living in cities are suffocated by the pressures of life. Taking time off to explore different places, experience local customs, and immerse oneself in regional culture has become an excellent way to unwind and de-stress both mentally and physically. And of course, Qinghai Lake is the perfect destination!
The Circumambulation Festival, where pilgrims walk around the lake to pray, is an important religious ritual for the local ethnic groups. During this time, monks and laypeople gather, and the event lasts for several months. It attracts tens of thousands of people from all directions who come with devout hearts to circle the lake alongside Tibetan devotees, worshipping together. This allows their overburdened hearts to finally find release and their souls to be purified and elevated here. This time, Cloud Fox A8 accompanied the editor-in-chief of Shan Ye as they traveled to Qinghai Lake. However, the editor-in-chief chose a unique approach: walking on foot, step by step, to sincerely experience the cleansing brought by the sacred mountains and holy lake. For four days and three nights, a pilgrimage on foot—measuring every step of the sacred journey—began here.