Introduction of China Northwest Great Ring Road Tourism

Most of them have already budgeted the right time when they choose to travel to the northwest, so they usually choose the Great Ring Road. The northwest is scattered and the distance is far, so we must prepare enough time. The following small series will introduce you to the classic Great Ring Road in Northwest China. Come and have a look.

Northwest great ring road

Look at this route from the map, starting from Xining, going to Qinghai Lake, then taking Delingha on the edge of Qaidam to Dachaidan, entering Dunhuang, taking Hexi Corridor to Zhangye, taking the most beautiful 227 National Road from Zhangye and returning to Xining. This is a complete cycle, there is no turning back.

The whole journey is 2,700 kilometers. The famous scenic spots along the way include Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, Qaidam Basin, Mogao Grottoes, Ya Dan Ghost Town, Jiayuguan Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring, Zhangye Colorful Danxia, Horseshoe Temple, Zall Scenic Area, Qilian Mountain, Qilian Grassland and 10,000 mu of rapeseed in Menyuan. It covers the essence of Qinghai and Gansu, and is a great collection of natural scenery and cultural history of the Silk Road in the northwest of China. It is one of the best northwest routes at present. And the whole road condition is good, which is suitable for both self-driving and taxi/chartered car.

Why choose Xining as the starting point and the end point instead of Lanzhou?

Reason one: Xining is known as the summer capital, and the temperature in summer is cool and suitable. The summer temperature in Lanzhou is too high, the traffic jam in Lanzhou is serious, and the urban environment is not optimistic (I didn't mean to black Lanzhou, it was true ~ ~);

Reason 2: If you start from Xining, you can reach Qinghai Lake 120 km on the first day. The journey is short, so you have enough time to play. If you change to Lanzhou, Lanzhou is 225 kilometers away from Xining and then to Qinghai Lake, you will basically be on the road on the first day;

Reason: The last day of the trip is 350 kilometers from Zhangye to Xining, taking the most beautiful National Highway 227. If you go directly from Zhangye to Lanzhou, it is 520 kilometers. The whole journey is Gobi, and the landscape is monotonous. Even from Zhangye to Xining and then to Lanzhou is more than 500 kilometers, too busy and too tired, so I chose Xining as my destination;

Reason 4: Xining has more folk characteristics, and Hui, Tibetan, Tu and Mongolian are integrated. Xining is also the largest city on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Mosques and Buddhist temples abound and are worth visiting.

How to take this route?

Most partners are looking for local carpooling or chartered cars. Why? Because local drivers are more familiar with the route, it is easier for locals to drive all the way and play. The road conditions in the northwest are not bad, but there are many Panshan highways and high-altitude highways along the way, so it is easy to have accidents due to lack of experience. Moreover, long-distance driving is easy to fatigue, and self-driving is not recommended.

Carpooling cost: Carpooling in the Great Ring Road is generally 1500 yuan/person; Low season 1200 yuan.

Special instructions:

If the holiday is short and there are no seven days, you can also play in the small circle around Qinghai Lake for 2-4 days.