Qinghai–Gansu Grand Loop
A classic northwest self-drive loop starting and ending in Xining, linking Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, the Qaidam yardangs, Dunhuang, the Hexi Corridor and the Qilian grasslands.
The Qinghai–Gansu Grand Loop starts and ends in Xining. Travelling clockwise, it passes Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake and the Qaidam Basin before entering Dunhuang in Gansu. It then heads east along the Hexi Corridor through Guazhou and Jiayuguan to Zhangye, and finally crosses the Qilian Mountains, passing Menyuan on the way back to Xining. The total distance is about 2,800 kilometers.
In Qinghai, cross Riyue Shan to Qinghai Lake, and watch the sunrise at Heima River on the western section of the lake-circling road. Cross Xiangpi Shan to Chaka Salt Lake. Then enter the Qaidam Basin, where Emerald Lake in Dachaidan, the “U-shaped road” on National Highway 315, the Mars Road No. 1 in Lenghu, and the Ebo Liang Yardang have become popular in recent years. Cross Dangjin Pass into Akesai in Gansu, then reach Dunhuang to see the Mingsha Shan dunes, Crescent Lake and the Mogao Caves. In Gansu, you can see the “Children of the Earth” sculpture in Guazhou, the western end of the Great Wall at Jiayuguan, and the Colorful Danxia landforms in Zhangye. Then cross the Qilian Mountains via Biandu Pass, and visit Zhuoer Mountain in Qilian County and the rapeseed flower fields of Menyuan before returning to Xining.
Allow 7–10 days. Single days in the Gobi often exceed 400 kilometers, and petrol stations between towns are rare, so refuel whenever you can. The Qaidam Basin has intense sunlight and large temperature swings. Do not leave the road in the uninhabited areas around Lenghu and Ebo Liang. In peak season (July–August), accommodation is scarce and expensive, so book in advance for Dunhuang and Chaka. The highest point is a pass in the Qilian Mountains at over 4,000 meters.