Nanshan Park & Puning Pearl Tower
南山公园
A city park on the summit of Nanshan, south of Xining, with the 188-metre Puning Pearl Tower. It is the best spot for views over the Huangshui Valley and the city, and for night views.
Nanshan Park lies on Nanshan (Phoenix Mountain), south of Xining city proper, at an altitude of about 2,500 metres. It is the largest mountain park in the city. The park has the Phoenix Terrace, Nanchan Temple, shaded walking paths, and several viewing platforms. From the summit you can look over the whole city of Xining spread across the Huangshui River valley. Opposite, to the north, is Beishan with its Tulou Taoist Temple. The Puning Pearl on the summit is a sightseeing tower donated by Shanghai’s Pudong New Area. It stands 188 metres tall, is one of Xining’s landmarks, and has an observation deck and a revolving restaurant. The observation deck costs about RMB 50 to 80, and the tower has a light show at night. How to visit: take a taxi or bus up in the late afternoon, watch the sunset from the Phoenix Terrace, and then climb the tower to see the city lights. If you are fit, you can walk up from Nanchan Temple at the foot of the mountain in about 40 minutes, passing local residents who exercise along the way. Nanchan Temple is a Han Buddhist temple. It is small and free to enter. The park is free to enter, and locals often camp and picnic here on summer weekends. Getting there: a taxi from the city to the summit costs about RMB 20 to 30, or take a bus to the foot of Nanshan Road and walk up. Note that it is windy at the summit and cooler at night. Tower opening hours vary, and the tower may close early in the off-season, so check on site. Nanshan can be combined with Mojia Street and Dashizi for a one-day city itinerary.
Opening hours
Park open all day; Puning Pearl about 09:00–21:00
Nearby sights
- Nanchan Temple, Xining
- Mojia Street & Shuijing Lane
- Dongguan Great Mosque
- Qinghai Provincial Museum
- Ma Bufang Mansion
- Beichan Temple (Tulou Taoist Temple)
- Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wild Zoo
- China Tibetan Medicine Culture Museum