Da Qaidam
An overnight town on the northern edge of the Qaidam Basin, with the turquoise salt pools of Emerald Lake, snow-mountain hot springs and Mars-like landscapes, a must-stop on the Qinghai–Gansu Grand Loop.
Da Qaidam is the Da Qaidam Administrative Committee under Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Its seat, Chaidan town, lies on the northern edge of the Qaidam Basin at the southern foot of the Dakendaban Mountains in the Qilian range, at about 3,150 m. It is an essential overnight stop on the Qinghai–Gansu Grand Loop, linking Dunhuang (about 4 hours across Dangjin Mountain) with the Delingha and Chaka directions. The main attraction is Emerald Lake, about 10 km northwest of town, a group of turquoise salt lakes formed from abandoned salt-mine pools, along with the snow-mountain hot springs in Wenquan Valley north of town. Nearby are the two high-plateau saltwater lakes of Da Qaidam Lake and Xiao Qaidam Lake. To the southwest, the Red Cliff Mars landform and the U-shaped road on the G315 make a good one-day self-drive. About 200 km farther west are the Wusute Water Yardang and the Nanbaxian Yardang (farther away, usually visited en route to Lenghu and Mangya). The best season is June–September, with plenty of clear days and vivid lake colours; winter is bitterly cold and some attractions close. Getting around: the Liuge Expressway, G215 and G315 meet here, and the Dunhuang–Golmud railway has a Da Qaidam station, but the sights are spread out, so driving or a chartered car is most convenient. Usually one night and 1–2 days of sightseeing is enough. Note the strong UV at altitude and big day–night temperature swings; petrol stations are scarce on the Gobi stretches; do not enter the brine of the salt lakes.
Top sights
- Emerald Lake, Da Qaidam – Abandoned salt-mine ponds in Da Qaidam, with shades of emerald green and lake blue that look like a painter's palette. After Chaka, it has…
- Wusute Water Yardang – Yardang mounds rise from the azure waters of a lake, shaped like a fleet setting out to sea. It is one of the most popular photo spots on t…
- Da Qaidam Lake – A natural saltwater lake southwest of Da Qaidam Town, with wetlands, aquatic plants and snow peaks in the distance. Emerald Lake was formed…
- Xiao Qaidam Lake – A high-altitude saltwater lake at the junction of National Highways G215 and G315. Its water is a deep blue, and mountains surround it. Dri…
- Da Qaidam Snow Mountain Hot Spring – A hot spring valley at the foot of the Dakendaban Mountains, about 8–10 km north of Chaidam Town. Natural springs reach 70–80°C, letting vi…
- Hongya Mars Landform Area – Red hills and gullies on the eastern edge of the Qaidam yardang cluster. The site was selected in 2017 for the Chinese Academy of Sciences'…
- G315 U-shaped Road – A straight stretch of National Highway G315 that rises and falls like a roller coaster and stretches toward the horizon. Nicknamed “China's…
- Chaidan Town & Starry Sky Camp – An overnight town on the Great Loop, where restaurants and hotels are concentrated. The Starry Sky Camp on the outskirts is a stopover for…
- East Taijinar Lake – A salt lake in the Qaidam Basin, with sapphire-blue waters set against white salt flats. It is a popular “hidden blue lake” on the Great Lo…
Where to eat
- Yibula Special Kanguo Restaurant – The Muslim pan-roasted lamb restaurant that travel guides mention most often in Da Qaidam. Its signature is pan-roasted…
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.