2018 Qinghai Lake Free Travel Guide

Qinghai Lake has always been a postcard of the northwest region. A large number of tourists come here every year for sightseeing, to appreciate the true face of the northwest region and to find their own historical memories. Let me share with you 2018 Qinghai Lake free travel guide for next year.

This is a travelogue that is three years late. The friends we rode with three years ago are now far apart. One has gone to the United States and the other has entered the military camp, but I am still here for 7 years. Years of city life have become my second hometown.

In the past, I thought photos were the best carrier of memories; slowly I discovered that photos with text are the most vivid memories. So, now I decided to write this travelogue, even though it is three years late. I would like to recall the good times of those three people and three bicycles.

The starting point of this ride is Xihai Town, Haiyan County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai.

Most cycling enthusiasts who circle Qinghai Lake will choose Xihai Town as the starting point and end point for cycling.

The bicycle rental market in Xihai Town is relatively mature, and all kinds of common mountain bikes and road bikes can be easily rented. We rented three GIANT ATX

770.

Departure

On the first day of departure, the sun was shining brightly.

The average altitude of Qinghai Lake is 3,000 meters. For three people from the south, there is still some mild altitude sickness. Especially when climbing hills, the discomfort caused by strenuous exercise suddenly intensifies.

I remember that shortly after setting off, I encountered a relatively long slope. It was the first section of the route around the lake. There were many people riding the bike, but not many people insisted on riding it. When I looked back at the many fellow travelers on carts at the top of the slope, I still felt a sense of accomplishment.

Lakeside rapeseed flowers

July is the season when rapeseed flowers bloom in Qinghai Lake. There are large areas of rapeseed flowers beside the road around the lake. Together with the undulating mountains in the distance, they look like a three-dimensional oil painting.

First sight of Qinghai Lake

The water and sky are the same color

After more than 2 hours of riding, we finally saw the long-awaited Qinghai Lake. Standing in the distance and looking at it, on the other side of the broad grass beach is Qinghai Lake, where the water and sky are the same color, or in other words, the lake is bluer than the sky.

Ripples

Walking

Loyal companion

Although it is a road around the lake, in fact the road is still some distance away from the lake. There are not many places close to the lake. We finally found a place where mountain bikes can enter without charging a fee. Finally, I can see Qinghai Lake up close and feel the clear water with my own hands. The breeze blew, causing ripples. The breeze also brings the moist smell of the lake, which is similar to the sea breeze, but more mellow.

Journey

Journey

The journey continues. Maybe no matter how beautiful the scenery is, it is no longer fresh after seeing it too much. In the following days of riding, we were already accustomed to the beautiful scenery. A person's journey is lonely, and the road is long and difficult. Fortunately, there are good friends traveling with you. No matter how tiring or far the journey is, you will never feel lonely.

Three people walking together

Looking up

Three people walking together, breaking the wind, shouting and singing. Even if you are tired, you can lie on the vast sea of ??grass and flowers and look up at the sky.

For the last section of the trip, because the estimated time has been advanced, I want to bite the bullet and ride another 70 kilometers to complete the trip one day ahead of schedule. At that time, the other two companions were already tired and did not have much motivation to complete the journey ahead of time. So I decided to challenge the last 70 kilometers alone. I collected the glucose and compressed biscuit stuffed bags from both of them and started riding alone.

Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Sheep

A person’s journey also has beautiful scenery. I saw the Qinghai-Tibet Railway passing by the Qinghai Lake and saw the sunset. Flocks of sheep. At the same time, a person's helplessness also deeply enhances the psychological feeling of a difficult journey. I encountered a huge headwind, so strong that even when I was going downhill, I had to pedal hard or the bike would fall over.

Sunset

End point

According to past experience, the 70-kilometer journey in the plains would only take me more than three hours. According to the original plan, I should be able to reach the finish line, Xihai Town, before 7 o'clock.

However, unexpected strong winds, undulating roads, and steep slopes made me arrive at my destination two hours late, at nine o'clock in the evening. Fortunately, it was summer, coupled with the high altitude and latitude of Qinghai Lake, and the sun set late, I was able to return to the town before dark and avoid unknown risks in the wild.

If I am given another chance to choose, I will never leave my friends behind and go alone. Although I finally successfully completed the challenge one day ahead of schedule, the thrill of a successful challenge is far less beautiful than the memory of walking on the road with three or two friends.

Since then, the three of us, good friends who grew up together since junior high school, have grown apart and have never had the opportunity to ride together. Even if they meet, they only meet a few times. This is my biggest regret on this trip.

Every ride is a practice. What I like most about it is that once you start riding, no matter how hard or tired you are, you have to persevere to the end.

Because there will be no one to pick you up on the road.

The road to cycling is often not a smooth one. Many people are scared off before setting off and dare not take the first step. Life is not always like this. Before doing something, you have imagined thousands of difficult reasons in your mind to convince yourself to stay in your comfortable comfort zone. However, the reality is not as difficult as imagined.

When riding a bicycle, you can walk as fast as you want. No matter how difficult it is, you will always reach the end.