Qaidam Basin

The Qaidam Basin in western Qinghai, with the salt-lake reflections of Chaka and the Emerald Lake, the yardang starry skies of Mangya and Lenghu, and Golmud and Hoh Xil, forms the wilderness heart of the Qinghai–Gansu Grand Loop.

By Qinghai's tourism definition, Qaidam covers the whole of the Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, centered on the Qaidam Basin and surrounded by the Kunlun, Altun and Qilian mountains. A note on boundaries: the Kunlun Pass and Hoh Xil are visited via places such as Tanggula Town, which is administered by Golmud, and this scheme attaches them to Haixi and counts them in Qaidam. The part of Three-River-Source National Park in Tanggula Town, Haixi, is also assigned by prefecture as a whole. Highlights: Chaka Salt Lake in Ulan County is known as the 'Mirror of the Sky'. Da Qaidam has the Emerald Lake and yardang landforms. Delingha is widely known through a poem by Haizi, and nearby are lakes such as Toson Lake. In Mangya, Aiken Spring, the Water Yardang and the Huatugou oilfield landscape are unique, while Lenghu has the ruins of an oil base, a Mars camp and astronomical observation points, with superb stargazing. Golmud is a key town on the Qinghai–Tibet route, and going south through the Kunlun Pass you enter Hoh Xil, where you may see wildlife such as Tibetan antelope. Classic itinerary: as the western section of the Qinghai–Gansu Grand Loop, travel from Xining via Chaka, Delingha, the Emerald Lake at Da Qaidam, Lenghu and Mangya, then enter Dunhuang in Gansu, with the Haixi section taking about three to four days. Golmud–Kunlun Pass–Hoh Xil can be a separate one-to-two-day trip or connect onward into Tibet via the Qinghai–Tibet route. Getting there: Golmud, Delingha and Huatugou all have airports, and the Qinghai–Tibet Railway passes through Delingha and Golmud. Self-driving or a chartered car is the most common option. Service areas are sparse on some sections, so carry plenty of fuel and drinking water. Season: summer and autumn are best. Hoh Xil is at high altitude and entering its core area without authorization is prohibited. The plateau salt lakes have strong ultraviolet rays, so use sun protection and guard against altitude sickness.

Destinations

• Chaka Salt Lake
• Da Qaidam
• Golmud & Qarhan Salt Lake
• Delingha
• Lenghu
• Mangnai & Huatugou
• Kunlun Pass & Hoh Xil

Itineraries

• Western Qaidam Wilderness Crossing – A one-way journey from Xining to Dunhuang, passing through Hoh Xil, Water Yadan, Mangya, Eboliang, and Lenghu.
• 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…
• Qinghai-Tibet Highway: Xining to Lhasa – Follow the Qinghai-Tibet Highway across Hoh Xil and the Tanggula Pass, passing Namtso to enter Lhasa.
• 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.
• 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.
• Dunhuang, Guazhou and the Lenghu Desert – A day loop to Guazhou's Yulin Caves on top of the Dunhuang east and west routes, then across Dangjin Pass to Lenghu to…
• 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.