Qinghai

A plateau province at the source of three great rivers, where Qinghai Lake, the wonders of the Qaidam Basin and Tibetan culture form the core of the Greater Northwest loop.

Qinghai lies in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and is the source of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang (Mekong) rivers, with many plateau lakes, salt lakes and gobi within its borders. Qinghai Lake is China's largest saltwater lake, ringed by seas of rapeseed blossoms in summer. In the Qaidam Basin, the Chaka, Delingha, Lenghu and Mangya Huatugou areas offer salt lakes, yardang landforms and starry skies. Rebgong art in Tongren, the Tibetan culture of Yushu and Nangqian, and the snow mountains and lakes of Nianbaoyuze suit deeper exploration. The best season is June–September, and altitude sickness is a concern. Xining is the main gateway, with an airport and high-speed rail, and the Qinghai Lake loop and the Grand Loop are mostly done by self-drive.

Destinations

• Xining
• Qinghai Lake
• Golmud & Qarhan Salt Lake
• Yushu
• Tongren (Rebgong)
• Nangqian
• Guide
• Maduo & Yellow River Source
• Mangnai & Huatugou
• Qilian
• Kunlun Pass & Hoh Xil
• Menyuan
• Chaka Salt Lake
• Da Qaidam
• Nyenpo Yurtse
• Delingha
• Lenghu
• Xunhua
• Maqên

Itineraries

• Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Classic Route – A closed-loop route starting from Xining, circling Qinghai Lake, Qaidam, Dunhuang, the Hexi Corridor, and the Qilian Mo…
• Western Qaidam Wilderness Crossing – A one-way journey from Xining to Dunhuang, passing through Hoh Xil, Water Yadan, Mangya, Eboliang, and Lenghu.
• Golog, Yushu & Nangqian: 10-Day Deep Kham Itinerary – Head south from Xining via Guide, Maqên, and Madoi to Yushu and Nangqian, venturing deep into the Kham region of the Sa…
• Amdo Loop: Golog, Gannan & Rebgong – A classic Amdo loop starting from Xining, passing through Golog, Langmusi, Labrang Monastery, and Rebgong, before retur…
• Menyuan, Qilian, Qinghai Lake & Chaka Loop – Head north to the Menyuan flower seas and Qilian grasslands, then loop around the north shore of Qinghai Lake to Chaka.
• Qinghai-Tibet Highway: Xining to Lhasa – Follow the Qinghai-Tibet Highway across Hoh Xil and the Tanggula Pass, passing Namtso to enter Lhasa.
• Yellow River Valley: Guide, Rebgong & Xunhua – Follow the Yellow River Valley to explore Guide Danxia, Kanbula, Rebgong art villages, and the homeland of the Salar pe…
• Qinghai Lake Loop with Chaka and Guide – A leisurely loop of Qinghai Lake, with day trips to Chaka Salt Lake and the Yellow River at Guide.
• Qinghai Lake & Chaka Salt Lake Classic Short Loop – A weekend route starting from Xining, connecting Kumbum Monastery, Erlangjian, the Heimahe sunrise, and Chaka Salt Lake.
• Xining and Qinghai Lake Clockwise Loop Drive – Acclimatize in Xining for a day, then drive clockwise around the lake: sunrise on the south shore, the West Lake Ring R…
• Cycling Around Qinghai Lake – Start from Xihai Town and ride clockwise around the lake, about 360 km over four days, with rest days in Xining before…
• Qinghai Lake South Shore and Heima River Sunrise – Drive from Xining over Riyue Mountain to the south shore, stay at Heima River to see the sunrise, then return via Jinsh…