What is the travel guide to Qinghai?

You only know that Tibet is the pure land of the soul and Xinjiang is a paradise of beautiful scenery. That’s because you haven’t been to Qinghai yet.

Snow-capped mountains, lakes, temples, believers, colorful danxia, ??desert sunsets, the realm of the sky... everything you can think of is here.

If you are tired of the nine-to-six, Simmons, spring beds, and the starry sky covered by car exhaust, then it’s time for you to go to Qinghai.

Some people say that Qinghai is full of magic. Indeed, Qinghai can make people lose their pretentiousness, cleanse their souls, and become pious and clear.

When I travel to Qinghai for the first time, I am often helpless when faced with this paradise-like world. How to have fun in this magical Qinghai, then read this guide first! !

About Qinghai

If you don’t get to Qinghai, you don’t know what paradise is. This place combines the beauty of Xinjiang and Tibet. When you go to Qinghai, you will find that the four seasons are constantly playing in this mysterious land, and every frame will make you fascinated!

More often, we will regard Qinghai as part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, as if it is always so distant and mysterious.

At present, Qinghai’s image is vague. However, this blur is not due to monotony, but to richness.

Preparation for departure

Qinghai has a large temperature difference between morning and evening, so be careful to prevent cold. Bring a thick coat or two.

Do a good job of moisturizing. Qinghai is a plateau area with very strong ultraviolet rays, especially in desert areas which are relatively dry, so be sure to bring sunscreen, lip balm... and hydrating products.

Girls prepare brightly colored skirts and clothes. If you want to take photos in scenic spots, bright and fresh skirts are essential.

There are many places to take photos in Qinghai, such as Qinghai Lake Rapeseed Flowers, Chaka Salt Lake, Menyuan...

Every photo taken at these places is a blockbuster Level, the skirt is preferably mainly white or red.

Ps: You can prepare various photo props such as sunglasses, straw hats, and sun umbrellas.

Recommended itinerary

D1

Gather in Lanzhou/Xining (full day free activities)

D2

Xining ?Ta'er Monastery? Riyue Mountain? Daotang River? Qinghai Lake? Chaka Town/Heima Lake

D3

Chaka Salt Lake? Emerald Lake? Dachaidan

D4

Qinghai South Eight Immortals Yadan? Dangjin Mountain? Aksai? Dunhuang

D5

Dunhuang? Mogao Grottoes? Mingsha Mountain Crescent Moon Quan? Dunhuang

D6

Dunhuang? Guazhou? Jiayuguan? Zhangye Colorful Danxia? Danxia Scenic Area

D7

Zhangye? Biandukou? Qilian Mountain Grassland? Gangshika Snow Peak? Menyuan Flower Sea

D8

Hotel? Free activities? Xining? Return by flight

Recommended attractions

|| Kumbum Monastery - a national 5A tourist attraction

Tambum Monastery is the activity center of Tibetan Buddhism in northwest China. It enjoys a high reputation in China and Southeast Asia. People always respect the religious status of Kumbum Monastery.

Buttered tea, strokes and embroidery are known as the "three unique arts of Kumbum Temple". The temple also collects many Buddhist classics and academic monographs on history, literature, philosophy and so on.

The entire temple is built against the mountain. If you stand on a high place, you will really feel like it is surrounded by mountains, winding, well-proportioned and majestic.

When you walk into the temple, you will see towering ancient trees and numerous pagodas, and the scenery is magnificent and extraordinary.

The architecture of the temple covers the styles of Han palaces and Tibetan flat-roofs. It uniquely combines the Chinese three-eaves Xieshan style with the Tibetan eaves' cleverly built whip hemp walls, with Kalachakra Sanskrit mantras and copper inlays in the middle. The mirror and the brickwork on the ground floor are integrated into one, harmoniously and perfectly forming a building complex that combines Chinese and Tibetan artistic styles.

Tickets: 70 yuan/person (peak season)

40 yuan/person (off-season)

Opening hours: 07:00-18:00 (peak season)

08:00-17:00 (off season)

|| Qinghai Lake - the Tibetan name is Cuo Wenbu?

Tsangyang Gyatso once Said: "If you can retreat in a drop of tears, you won't be suspicious at this moment. Isn't the worldly lover really retreating by the Qinghai Lake?" ?

The blue sky here is wider than other lakes. When the sky is clear, there is not a trace of white clouds. When there are clouds, they look like large marshmallows of different shapes. It just looks like it. Sweet taste.

The water and the sky are the same color, and the sea and the sky are connected. It is probably about the water of Qinghai Lake. Although the water and the sky are both blue, the water surface is more lively and the color is deeper when blown by the breeze, more like a lively child.

The surface of Qinghai Lake is really too wide. It was originally majestic and majestic on the snow, but looking across the lake, it actually looks a bit small. When it is connected with the brocade-like clouds, it is hard to tell whether it is snow or snow. Under the clouds, only the undulating mountain lines are looming

When thousands of acres of rapeseed flowers bloom around the lake, the vast expanse of blue is dotted with bright yellow.

The sea of ????Gelsang flowers is fluttering in the wind and is dotted with colorful small wild flowers in Tibet. The world surrounded by flowers makes people happy no matter how they look at it.

If you don’t go to Qinghai Lake yourself, you will never know that there is such heart-stirring beauty in this world.

Tickets: 100 yuan/person (peak season)

50 yuan/person (low season)

Cruise boat: 45 yuan/person

|| Chaka Salt Lake - Land of the Sky

Chaka Salt Lake, also known as Chaka or Dabson Nur, is a natural crystalline salt lake located in Chaka Town, Wulan County, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It is one of the four major salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin.

It is one of the four major scenic spots in Qinghai. It is called China's "Mirror of the Sky" by travelers and is rated as one of the 55 places that everyone must visit in their lifetime by the National Tourism Geography Magazine. .

Chaka Salt Lake is a brine lake where solid and liquid coexist. The lake surface has a strong reflective ability, just like a mirror prepared to dress up the sky. This natural landscape is rare in China, so it is It is recognized as China's "Mirror of the Sky". Sky Mirror? The best shooting times are before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

At night in Chaka Salt Lake, you can see the vast and majestic Milky Way and the dazzling and weird shooting stars. Due to the reflection of the lake surface, the starry sky and the lake surface merge into one color, creating a spectacular scene where the stars seem to fall on the lake surface.

Therefore, the Chaka Salt Lake at night is also known as China's "Mirror of the Night Sky".

The most attractive thing about Chaka Salt Lake is not only the lake surface, but also the railway track leading to the center of the lake. This railway track was first constructed in 1958, and some of the rails used were produced in 1904.

In 2008, the small train on the rails completed its industrial mission, but this scenic line across the Salt Lake was left behind. In the eyes of travelers and photographers, it even became a kind of romance. art!

Tickets: 60 yuan/person (peak season) 30 yuan/person (off season)

Small train: 50 yuan/person

Cruise boat: 90 yuan/person

Battery car: 5 yuan/person

Observation tower: 20 yuan/person

Opening hours: 07:00-21:00

|| Emerald Lake - The world's rare large Qaidan Emerald Lake

The Emerald Lake is called the Great Qaidan Lake. The salt pools with different shapes and different depths are like pieces of crystal clear "emerald".

Standing by the lake, the mirror-like surface of the lake reflects the blue sky, white clouds and snow-capped peaks, just like a fairyland.

The dark brown land, white salt crystals and blue-green lake water blend together, making it peaceful and quiet.

The color of the lake is not single, emerald green, mint blue, amber yellow, milk white, the edges of the lake are milky white rock walls.

The quiet surface of Emerald Lake is like a mirror! The sky is blue and the clouds are low.

It is more dreamy than the Chaka Salt Lake, either blue or dark green, and the reflection you take when standing here is no less than the sky.

There seems to be a layer of mist in the transparency, like pure water frozen. People walking by the lake feel like swimming in a painting.

You can step barefoot on the edge of the salt lake and feel the coolness of the plateau lake in summer, or you can stand quietly by the lake, facing the vastness, waiting for the wind to blow across your cheeks, and let your mind go.

Tickets: Temporarily free

Opening hours: all day

|| Yadan Landform-Devil City

Dunhuang Yadan National Geology The park, commonly known as Dunhuang Yadan Devil City, is an important part of the Dunhuang Western Tourist Area.

Dunhuang Yadan National Geopark, with its unique desert scenery, various geological wonders, and ancient folklore, has attracted countless brave explorers to uncover the mysterious veil of the "Devil City" , explore the mysteries of nature.

Yadan Devil City is a very mysterious place. Although it is deserted, it is also spectacular.

Sometimes I have to marvel at the magic of nature, the Natural Sculpture Museum, and the uncanny craftsmanship of nature.

The Yadan landforms are widely distributed and continuous. Yadan bodies have complete types and diverse shapes. Yadan bodies representing different stages of development can be seen, making this place a natural laboratory for studying the formation and evolution of the Yadan landforms. It has become a natural classroom for popularizing earth science knowledge and a resort for leisure, entertainment, adventure and tourism.

The beauty of Yadan landform mainly reflects the five characteristics of surprise, danger, secludedness, ancientness and charm.

Ticket: 120 yuan/person

Opening hours: 6:00?22:00

|| Mogao Grottoes - the largest existing Buddhist art in the world Di

Gao Grottoes, commonly known as Thousand Buddha Cave, is located in Dunhuang at the western end of the Hexi Corridor. With a huge scale, it is the largest and richest Buddhist art site in the world. The Mogao Grottoes are listed as a world cultural heritage.

The Mogao Grottoes, together with the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan, and the Maijishan Grottoes in Tianshui, Gansu, are known as the four major grottoes in China.

The Mogao Grottoes are a large-scale cave temple that integrates painting, sculpture and architectural art, with murals as the mainstay and statues as the supplement.

The most painful scene a hundred years ago is still heartbreaking to look back on today.

The fact that a huge treasure house of Chinese civilization suffered such a vicious attack makes people today shed tears.

Today, the sun is still bright and brilliant in Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain is still towering and abrupt, the river is still flowing quietly, and the nine-story building is still shining under the sunlight.

Tickets: 200 yuan/person (peak season)

100 yuan/person (off-season)

ps: 50 yuan/person to visit the digital display center alone

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|| Jiayuguan - The most majestic pass in the world

Jiayu Pass, known as the "No. 1 majestic pass in the world", is located in Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province. The walls on both sides of the city pass cross the Gobi Desert and are connected to the Black Mountains in the north. The wall of the Great Wall is connected to the first pier in the world in the south.

It is the westernmost pass of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. It was once known as the throat of Hexi in history. Because of its dangerous terrain and majestic architecture, it was known as the key to the border.

Jiayuguan is a transportation fortress on the ancient Silk Road and one of the three wonders of the Great Wall of China

Ticket: 110 yuan/person

Opening hours: 08 :30-20:00

|| Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring - one of the five most beautiful deserts in China

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area is located in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. It is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain.

It is known as "one of the five most beautiful deserts in China" and has been approved as a 5A tourist attraction.

Crescent Moon Spring is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain and is named after its shape resembling a crescent moon. Mingsha Mountain is formed by quicksand and is divided into five colors: red, yellow, green, white and black.

It is this kind of sand dunes, sand beams and sand peaks that meander freely on the north and south sides of Mingsha Mountain, unexpectedly forming a U-shaped ravine, exposing an open land.

The Crescent Moon Spring, a blue water shaped like a crescent moon, blooms like a flower in this open land with twists and turns, full of water, and blooms brilliantly with its tranquility and sweetness. , Her jade, her clarity is like a mirror.

Ticket: 110 yuan/person

|| Zhangye Colorful Danxia - one of the largest and best areas for Danxia landform development in China

Located in Zhangye, Gansu Province 30 kilometers south of Linze County, the city is one of the areas with the largest and best development of Danxia landforms and the richest landform shapes in China. It is a typical representative of China's colorful Danxia and window lattice palace-style Danxia, ??and has high scientific research and tourist appreciation value.

Many people are familiar with Zhangye Danxia landform. The endless red mountains in Zhang Yimou's "Three Guns Surprise" are the Zhangye Danxia landform.

Danxia is a landform wonder, usually a deep red mountain. Zhangye's Danxia landform is famous because under the sunlight, the mountains can naturally form a variety of bright colors such as red, yellow, orange, white, green, gray, etc., which are colorful and very beautiful.

The park itself is very large. There are 5 viewing platforms (hillsides) open as soon as you enter, and shuttle buses are required between the viewing platforms. The first thing to climb is the No. 1 viewing platform, which is the largest and requires climbing a small hill.

After boarding, the view is very broad. The sky and the earth are surrounded by mountains of Danxia landform. Every angle feels very magical and magnificent.

Looking around, we are surrounded by colorful undulating mountain peaks. If the weather were not too hot and there was no shelter, I would have been intoxicated in such a world. Danxia landform, if expressed in words, only two words are shocking.

Its majestic momentum, spectacular scenes, strange shapes, colorful colors, and the uncanny craftsmanship of nature are amazing.

She not only has the wonder and danger of ordinary Danxia, ??but also is more beautiful in color. Zhangye Danxia's landforms create a colorful fairy tale world with her interlaced lines, colorful tones, and dazzling and magnificent paintings.

Tickets: Adult ticket (including sightseeing bus) 74 yuan/person

Senior/child ticket (including sightseeing bus) 47 yuan/person

Free admission: 70 Seniors aged 70 and above (excluding sightseeing cars); children under 1m/2m

Sightseeing cars: 20 yuan/person

|| Menyuan Flower Sea - the largest in the world Small rapeseed planting area

Menyuan County is the birthplace of small rapeseed in the north. It is the largest small rapeseed planting area in the country and even the world, with a planting area of ??600,000 acres.

Standing on the river bank and looking to both sides, the sky is covered with golden yellow, boundless.

Set against the common blue sky and white clouds on the plateau, the endless golden color looks extremely colorful and breathtaking, and the simple composition of large color blocks gives people a rich sense of reverie.

Paradise on earth, the canvas of nature... are not enough to describe the beauty of Menyuan. The rapeseed flowers stretch for nearly a hundred kilometers. Looking at it, the entire rapeseed flower is like a golden sea, with no end as far as the eye can see. !

When the fog is filled, although it is full of fairy spirit, it is inevitable that people cannot see clearly.

When the weather is fine, the rapeseed flowers become particularly dazzling, taking off their green coat and revealing most of their golden color.

August in Menyuan may not be the most beautiful season for rapeseed flowers, but it is the most gentle time for them.

In this 600,000-acre land, accompanied by blue sky and white clouds, there are endless graces and dazzling colors, some are enchanting and bright, some are gentle like water, some are graceful and pleasant.

Walking in the sea of ??flowers, the breeze passes by and is dyed with goose yellow, and you are intoxicated in the dream of this color.

In the evening, without the glare of the scorching sun, the rapeseed flowers were much quieter. The sun sets in the west, spreading the last ray of light over the countryside, making people lively and enjoyable.

Here, a simple and ordinary day can also be filled with the fragrance of flowers.

Tickets: Free

tips: There is a fee to enter the flower viewing platform on the top of the mountain, where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the sea of ??flowers.

Opening hours: all day

Flowering period: July-August

Recommended food

01

Hand Mutton grabbing

As the name suggests, you need to grab and tear it with your hands, or cut it with a hidden knife. This is a unique way of eating mutton. Although with the development of the times, this way of eating is no longer used, but The name is still passed down to this day.

The meat is red and white, fat but not greasy, oily and crispy, tender, smooth and very delicious. The meat tastes delicious. If you don’t particularly like mutton, you can try it. It doesn’t have a strong mutton smell.

02

Sheep intestine noodles

Sheep intestine noodles are a common snack in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province.

It uses sheep intestines as the main ingredient and is eaten with hot soup and noodles.

The method is to wash the large and small intestines of the sheep without stripping the intestinal wall oil, add mushy bean flour with onions, ginger, pepper, refined salt and other seasonings, prick the mouth and cook, and then put it into the soup. Add cooked diced radish, diced onions and garlic into the soup for cooking the mutton intestines.

03

Qinghai Hotpot

Those who have been to Qinghai will definitely recommend you the famous Qinghai Hotpot. Its taste, in short It’s just super delicious!

The content is quite rich. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has a cold climate and is rich in cattle and sheep. The bottom of the Qinghai hotpot is generally made of mutton clear soup with a little pickled cabbage.

If you like spicy food, the best thing is that Qinghai local hot pot is more spicy, but the soup is clear and the taste is natural and mellow; take a bite and you will find the perfect combination of the deliciousness of the mutton and the refreshing taste of the pickled cabbage, and the full fatness none.

04

Sweet fermented grains

Sweet fermented grains is one of the specialty snacks in the northwest region, made with oats or highland barley.

There is a folk proverb that says: To satisfy the mouth's craving, sweet fermented grains should come first. It can be seen that sweet fermented rice is a sweet food that is very popular among the local people in Xining.

It has a sweet aroma and a delicious taste. It is mostly made of jade (oats) and highland barley.

It can not only adjust the diet, but also serve guests. The brewing process pays attention to cleanliness and hygiene.

05

Beef with Sand Beef

Beef with Sand Beef is a delicacy in Xining, Qinghai Province. It is made of tofu skin or egg pancakes from egg stalls. Spread the meat filling, then put a layer of skin on it, and cut it into small pieces, usually diamond-shaped.

Then you need to burn oil, fry the small pieces until golden brown, add fungus and yellow flowers and bake them.

06

Stuffed skin

Stuffed skin is soft and smooth, sour and spicy, refreshing and appetizing. It is a traditional specialty food popular in northwest China. Although It is customarily called "Shaanxi snack", but Xining's stuffed skin has received numerous praises for its unique production technology and flavor.

Zongpizi is a unique pasta that can be used as a staple food or a snack. It is cool and delicious, appetizing and relieving the heat.

07

Ga noodle slices

Ga noodle slices are the most common and unique home-cooked pasta among Qinghai people.

Wagyu beef, mutton slices, tofu, vermicelli and vegetables are mixed together to become "stewed noodles"; there are also wagyu, mutton, vermicelli and vegetables mixed into "fried noodles", with many varieties and different tastes.

In Qinghai, it can be said that every store will have Ga noodle slices.

Precautions

Wear

Qinghai has a large temperature difference between morning and evening, and the average temperature in summer does not exceed 20-25℃. Please keep warm; the average temperature in Qinghai is 10-16℃ , please dress appropriately to prevent colds? Colds in plateau areas mean the possibility of worsening into fatal pulmonary edema.

To prevent altitude sickness, in addition to carrying essential travel medicines, you can also carry some Rhodiola rosea. The common symptoms of altitude sickness are: asthma, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, insomnia, etc. Slowing down your movements and taking more rest on the plateau can effectively suppress altitude sickness.

Food

Please bring a small amount of food with you. Xining has a dry climate. In order to enhance your resistance, you should increase your intake of vegetables and fruits. Do not eat mutton without restraint. Once you get angry, your physical strength will be affected. and fitness level. You must taste the local delicacies, but the quantity should not be too large. When eating flavored snacks and specialty fruits, you must consider whether they are suitable for the soil and water. Since the local production of vegetables and fruits is not much, it is recommended to increase the daily intake of vitamins. You can bring synthetic vitamins such as Jinshierkang and Shancun tablets.

Health

Patients with high blood pressure and heart disease are not suitable to go to Qinghai. People aged 50 to 60 and above should fully consider their own health conditions and travel with caution.

Photography

During sightseeing and sightseeing, you should be careful when taking photos and videos. When taking photos and videos, you should pay attention to the passing vehicles and whether the location is dangerous or prohibited. Take pictures of signs and do not stay in places that may be dangerous or have danger signs.

Taboos

The northwest region is influenced by religion and has different customs and habits. When visiting (such as entering a temple), please keep in mind the relevant travel precautions announced by the local tour guide. When in town, do as the Romans do. Do not mention political issues related to ethnic minorities under any circumstances.

Carrying equipment

⊙Bring a trolley suitcase or a small waist bag, and travel light during the journey

⊙The temperature difference between morning and evening is large, so please prepare a thick Outerwear; depending on weather changes, pay attention to keeping warm and cold

⊙Sunglasses, brimmed hats, thermal water bottles, magic headscarves

⊙Traveling shoes, hiking shoes, and mountaineering shoes are all suitable (mostly waterproof ones) Good)

⊙Cold medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, motion sickness medicine, vitamins, band-aids, wind oil essence, you can prepare some glucose oral liquid to replenish energy

⊙Sunscreen + moisturizing lotion + Hand Cream + Lip Care

⊙Flashlight or headlamp, various digital products (and chargers, mobile power supplies)

⊙ID card, student ID, instructor ID, etc. Various documents

⊙Prepare some water, dry food, fruits and snacks

⊙Toiletries, change of clothes, garbage bags