Things to do in Qinghai

There aren't many people now, but it's very cold. Remember to wear winter clothes! Wear thick shoes too. The little train is now enclosed, so remember to bring some hot water; the only hot drink inside is Xiangpiaopiao milk tea 😂~ A cup of hot water is absolutely essential now. The salt lake is very weather-dependent; don't come if it's cloudy, rainy, or snowy, it won't be worth it. Highly recommended on a sunny day.

Excellent, even more satisfying than expected. However, there were just too many people, which somewhat affected the experience. Kumbum Monastery has a long history, and its architectural complex is more complete than that of typical Tibetan Buddhist temples, including a printing house. Overall, it's worth a visit.

Qarhan Salt Lake is definitely worth a visit. The lake is so vast that the shuttle bus ride takes a long time. The water is such a beautiful green, it looks just like green apple juice. The various buildings and facilities along the lake shore are also very attractive. The photos taken there are absolutely gorgeous.

I recommend entering the park around 4 PM; it's perfect for taking great photos, and the lake's color is almost like a filter. Taking the mini-train is also recommended to save energy. It can be windy by the lake, so remember to bring a jacket.

Buy tickets for the 9:00 AM bus from Xining Bus Station to Qinghai Lake. You can buy tickets through the Xining Bus Station's WeChat mini-program! The journey takes about 2.5 hours, with a stop at a service station for restroom use. Arrive around 11:30 AM. (There will be grasslands along the way; you can see them from the window.) The tour guide will assist with buying tickets on the bus, or you can buy them at the ticket center. Upon arrival, take a fast cruise to the island, then either the cruise ship to the island or a small train or bus to the lake. On the island, you can play in the sand and see seagulls and yaks. Plan your itinerary carefully; less than 4 hours for sightseeing will feel rushed.

Erlangjian is the main scenic area of ​​Qinghai Lake, shaped like a long sword entering the lake. Visitors can take a cruise to explore the heart of the lake and also get a close look at the ruins of a torpedo launching test base. The facilities are well-developed, making it suitable for first-time visitors, but prices are high during peak season due to crowds.

I'd been to the Devil City in Dunhuang before, so I specifically wanted to see the Water Yadan landform. The scenic area shuttle bus goes all the way to the innermost part, then stops at various checkpoints. I walked along the lake for a while, and the weather was nice, so overall it was a good experience! The main problem is that it's too far from Golmud, which is inconvenient for tourists without a car!

Scenery: It's worth going to Riyue Mountain just for the scenery in picture 1. It's on the main loop and the scenery is truly unique. The rocks at the base have Tibetan characters written on them; although I can't understand them, they still feel very sacred and auspicious. Impressions: Overall, besides picture 1, there's not much else to see. The surrounding environment is similar to picture 4. The wind there is really strong. If you go in winter, be sure to wear a mask, hat, sunglasses, and gloves.

It's pretty good. The shuttle bus to and from the mountain only takes a few minutes. The facilities on the mountain are also well-maintained, especially the water slide on the way down. You can experience playing on a slide at an altitude of 3,000 meters!

I stumbled upon these pictures online and immediately added Mangya to my itinerary before embarking on the Qinghai-Gansu loop. We entered the scenic area in the evening. The weather was so-so that day; thankfully, the sun came out later, but there was no sunset. The visual impact inside was still breathtaking, though the photos seem to show it even more beautifully than it appears in person. Bringing a drone would have been even better for aerial photography. We didn't visit Rouge Mountain separately; the red color wasn't as pronounced there, and the online pictures seem to have been edited.