Xunhua

The Yellow River valley homeland of the Salar people, with the legendary Camel Spring, the alpine lake of Mengda Tianchi and the red cliffs of Jishi Gorge, where you can raft the clear-water stretch of the Yellow River.

Xunhua Salar Autonomous County lies in eastern Qinghai at the southern tip of Haidong, with the Yellow River flowing west to east through it; it is the only Salar autonomous county in China. The county seat, Jishi Town, sits at about 1,900 m and enjoys one of the mildest climates in Qinghai. It is known for its slender chili peppers, walnuts and Sichuan peppercorns, earning it the nickname “Qinghai's Little Jiangnan”. The main route follows the Yellow River: west of town, Jiezi Town has the Camel Spring from the legend of the Salar people's migration east, and the Jiezi Grand Mosque, the Salar ancestral mosque; east of town, the river enters Jishi Gorge, where red danxia cliffs hem in the emerald “clear Yellow River” — perfect for summer rafting. Along the way is the Ming-dynasty wooden Mengda Mosque, and across the river, up in the southern hills, lies Mengda Tianchi. In the south, Wendu Tibetan Township is home to Wendu Monastery and the former residence of the 10th Panchen Lama; following Jishi Gorge east for about 40 km brings you to the Lajia site in Minhe. The best seasons are April for apricot blossoms and Jun–Sep. Getting there: Xining to Xunhua is about 2.5 hours by road, with regular buses; sights are scattered, so self-driving or hiring a car is recommended. Allow 2 days, and try Salar hand-held mutton, youjiaotuan (a savory grain dish) and Xunhua's “wanzi” stewed bowls. The Salar people are Muslim, so please respect their dietary and religious customs and dress modestly when entering mosques.

Top sights

• Mengda Tianchi Lake – A high-mountain lake in the Mengda National Nature Reserve, ringed by primeval forest and emerald waters, often called the “Xishuangbanna o…
• Jishi Gorge & Yellow River Rafting – The Yellow River gorge known as “Guiding the River at Jishi,” where red Danxia cliffs frame a clear stretch of river called the “Clear Yell…
• Camel Spring (Salar Green Homeland) – The site of the legend of the Salar people's eastward migration and settlement, with a white camel sculpture and folk exhibits. It is the c…
• Jiezi Grand Mosque – The ancestral mosque of the Salar people, right beside Camel Spring, which holds a handwritten Quran said to be centuries old.
• Mengda Mosque – A Ming-dynasty timber mosque in Mengda village with a Chinese-style hall and fine wood carvings. It is a national key cultural heritage sit…
• Wendu Monastery – A Gelug monastery in Wendu Tibetan township, Xunhua, closely linked to the 10th Panchen Lama and the heart of Tibetan culture in Xunhua.
• Former Residence of the 10th Panchen Lama – The birthplace of the 10th Panchen Lama in Mari village, Wendu township. This traditional Tibetan courtyard house displays the Lama's life…
• Lajia Archaeological Site – A Qijia-culture settlement about 4,000 years old on the bank of the Yellow River, buried in an instant by earthquake and flood. It is known…
• Dalijia Mountain Pass – A high mountain pass at about 3,700 m linking Xiahe to Xunhua in Qinghai. It looks north to the Jishi Mountains and south over the Ganjia g…

Itineraries

• 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…