The Qilian Mountains are vast, connected to the Altun Mountains in the west and the Qinling Mountains and Liupan Mountains in the east, with a length of more than 1,000 kilometers. The Qilian Mountains have many scenic spots distributed in many areas of Gansu and Qinghai provinces.
In Qinghai, the main attractions for sightseeing in Qilian Mountains include Zhuoer Mountain, Niuxinjian in Qilian County, the rapeseed flowers in Menyuan and the Gangshika Snow Peak; in Gansu, they are mainly concentrated in Zhangye City, with the Qiyi Glacier, Yanzhi Mountain and Shandan Military Horse Farm.
Attractions Location: Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province
Tickets: free
Time reference: More than 3 hours
Experience the breathtaking scenery of the Qilian Mountains with a day trip focused on easy hikes and enjoying alpine meadows and crystal-clear streams.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Qilian County town or nearby guesthouses. Try Tibetan-style yak meat, barley wine, and local dairy products.
Souvenirs: Tibetan handicrafts, yak wool products, herbal teas, and alpine honey.
Combine mountain exploration with a visit to the vast Sangke Grassland, renowned for its natural beauty and Tibetan nomadic culture.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Qilian town or a yurt guesthouse on the grasslands for an authentic experience. Sample tsampa, butter tea, and roasted lamb.
Souvenirs: Handmade Tibetan jewelry, yak wool scarves, and traditional music CDs.
This itinerary extends your exploration to the nearby Ruoergai Wetlands, one of the largest high-altitude wetlands in China, offering rich biodiversity.
Accommodation/Food: Stay near Ruoergai or return to Qilian. Enjoy Tibetan yak butter tea and local wild herbs.
Souvenirs: Wetland-themed crafts, local medicinal herbs, and Tibetan-style souvenirs.
Add a visit to the Zongwulong dinosaur fossil site, a significant paleontological location near Qilian.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Qilian town. Sample local dairy products and Tibetan-style soups.
Souvenirs: Fossil replicas, geological maps, and local handicrafts.
Explore the beautiful Heihe River area, known for its clear waters and scenic hiking routes.
Accommodation/Food: Return to Qilian or stay nearby. Enjoy river fish dishes and local barley wine.
Souvenirs: River stones, Tibetan embroidery, and natural herbal products.
This itinerary allows for deeper exploration of the natural and cultural heritage around Qilian including smaller villages and cultural experiences.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Qilian town or guesthouses in Tibetan villages. Try homemade butter tea and barley pancakes.
Souvenirs: Tibetan textiles, local jewelry, handwoven rugs, and traditional medicines.
A comprehensive week-long journey combining mountain scenery, grasslands, wetlands, fossils, rivers, and cultural experiences.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Qilian town. Enjoy local specialties and relax in Tibetan-style guesthouses.
Souvenirs: All previous souvenir options including yak wool products, fossil replicas, herbal teas, and traditional crafts.
The Qilian Mountains in October are no longer green, but the yellow hillsides are another sight.
It feels so happy to see the cattle and sheep walking around freely and grazing freely on the mountain.
There are many small holes on the mountain. I don't know if they are holes made by mice or something else.
Standing under the vast sky and stepping on the solid Qilian Mountains, I feel an inexplicable sense of security.
In front of the mountains, I felt so small that I was almost invisible.
During the National Day holiday in October 2016, I drove 5,000 kilometers in the Qilian Mountains to feel the vastness and majesty of the Qilian Mountains. I drove all the way to Dunhuang, rolled down the windows, and exchanged speed for a thrill. The Qilian Mountains are located in the northeastern part of Qinghai Province and the western border of Gansu Province in China. It consists of many parallel mountain ranges and wide valleys running from northwest to southeast. Because it is located on the south side of the Hexi Corridor, it is also called Nanshan. It is 800 kilometers long from east to west, 200 to 400 kilometers wide from north to south, and 4,000 to 6,000 meters above sea level. There are 3,306 glaciers in total, covering an area of about 2,062 square kilometers.
The Qilian Mountain Crossing is a must-go trip for self-driving travelers. The scenery along the way is very beautiful. The road from Qilian County to Yanglong Township is very well built. After Yanglong Township, the road becomes a dirt road with gravel and small washboards, which requires an urban SUV. The second half will cross the Qilian Mountains, with the highest altitude of about 4,300 meters. Be careful of altitude sickness. There are relatively few villages and towns along the way, so you need to fill up your gas tank to enter.
Qilian Mountain is located at the junction of Qinghai and Gansu. From the north of Qinghai Lake, leave National Highway 315 (between Gangcha and Atomic City) and head north, take Provincial Highway 204, and go up the mountain. The scenery along the way is very beautiful and the road conditions are also good. It is worth a walk. When you arrive at Qilian County, turn to Provincial Highway 302 towards Menyuan, which is also towards Zhangye. When you reach Ebao Town, take the National Highway.
Along the way, there are not only beautiful mountains and grasslands, but also various unique and beautiful scenery.
We have to pass through the Dadongshu Mountain Pass in Qilian Mountain, which is 4120 meters above sea level. It is the highest point of our trip.
Experience the legendary Nordic style along the way. The azure sky, the brown-red mountains, the white sheep, the rolling wheat waves at the bottom of the mountain, the boundless grassland, and the fresh rape flowers spread on the beautiful curved hillside...
The snow of Qilian Mountain brings a patch of oasis to the Hexi Corridor
It is nice to get up early to see the scenery. If you get up late, it will be as crowded as other domestic attractions.
As the car drove through the mountains, I almost didn't want to blink. Every frame of the scenery of the Qilian Mountains looked like a painting.
This undeveloped temple lacks a lot of commercial atmosphere and is the authentic Arou Temple!
There are some things to learn in Qilian Mountain.
Very nice place
At that time, there was drizzle in the sky and the sea of clouds was everywhere. I couldn't see the snow-capped mountains known as "Little Switzerland", but it was a different kind of scenery. I experienced firsthand what "Heavenly Qilian" means.
A historical and cultural city in the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor
The Qilian Mountains, with their bizarre and angular ridges, and the herds of cattle feeding at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, all made us feel like we had walked into a painting, a watercolor painting depicting the infinite charm of the Northwest.
It’s a pity that it was autumn when we went there and the green grassland had already turned yellow, but the scenery was nice!
As we drove into the mountains, we saw peaks covered in snow. Only then did I remember that it was the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. After all, it is as famous as Tibet.
It’s snowing. Let’s walk together without an umbrella. Can we walk together until we grow old?
You will see many hamsters on the snow. They are so cute that they will immediately hide in their holes when you approach them. I always want to play a trick on them and stand by their holes to scare them. I don’t know if they are timid or I am stupid.
The scenery of our motherland is so magnificent that the trip is worthwhile.
Qilian, the heavenly land, is beautiful!
A very ordinary prairie with lots of little gophers on it, which is really cute!
The Qilian Mountains grassland is very beautiful, and there are small animals that look like rabbits and mice running around.
The scenery at the foot of Qilian Mountains is beautiful, and the most beautiful scenery is on the road. You will agree with me.
The weather was not good and the Wild Bull Valley in Qilian Mountain became ordinary.
Next time I'll go
When going from Zhangye to Xining, you must take a mountain road, which is very beautiful and unique. The air is fresh, the hills are undulating, and the ground is green. Cows and sheep are grazing freely on the hillside. It is a leisurely scene. I like it very much.
I always thought that the Qilian Mountains were like the mountains I had seen before, and that you could go down the mountain after climbing over the top. I didn't expect that when I reached the highest Dadongshu Pass in the Qilian Mountains, I would still see endless mountains and vast grasslands. I realized that the Qilian Mountains are not a line, but a long strip, more than 1,000 kilometers long from east to west and more than 300 kilometers wide from north to south.
The two sides of the Qilian Mountains are extremely uneven. To the north is the Hexi Corridor in Gansu, which is dry and sandy, but has a prosperous culture; to the north is rich in water resources and fertile grasslands, but lacks in humanities. Our car drove from the north of the vast Gobi Desert to the south of the picturesque scenery. The hinterland of Qilian is endless grasslands, and large areas of cattle and sheep on the grasslands.
The scenery on the way from Daxiadan to Dunhuang was picturesque. We screamed from time to time when looking at the beautiful scenery outside the window. We stopped to look at the scenery and couldn't bear to blink, for fear of missing this beautiful scenery, and just wanted to deeply engrave it in our minds.
I want to go out and see this big world
After being brainwashed by this song, I set out for the Northwest alone with only a suitcase.
There's a cloud made of rain in the wind, There's a cloud made of rain in the wind
The scenery along the way in Qilian Mountain is really surprising, with grasslands all over the mountain and herds of cattle and sheep. Everyone in the same group felt surprised, because I have been to Ganzi before and this kind of scenery is very familiar to me.
Qilian Mountain Grassland, one of the six most beautiful grasslands in my country, is a high-altitude grassland. Grassland, white clouds, cattle and sheep, snow-capped mountains, herdsmen and tents with smoke from cooking constitute its beautiful picture. Driving on the road across the grassland, the sky is vast and the wilderness is boundless. Looking at the herds of cattle and sheep on the mountains and grasslands, you can only sigh at the magic of nature!
I experienced different mountain and river scenery. From blue sky and white clouds to lightning, thunder and hail, I experienced too many weather changes in one day.
Although it rained, there was a big surprise after the rain. I saw a double rainbow.
It is really beautiful. The name of the Oriental Switzerland is well-deserved.
Qilian Mountains are located in Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province (about 120 kilometers southwest of Jiayuguan City).
The Qilian Mountains we often mention are mainly distributed in many areas of Gansu and Qinghai provinces, with a total length of more than 1,000 kilometers. The scenic spots in Gansu are concentrated in Zhangye City, such as the Qiyi Glacier, Yanzhi Mountain and Shandan Military Horse Farm; the scenic spots in Qinghai include Zhuoer Mountain, Niuxinjian, Menyuan rapeseed flowers and Gangshika Snow Peak.
The Qilian Mountains are a gift to Zhangye. The meltwater from the snow-capped mountains provides sufficient water here, making it an "oasis" in the Gobi Desert.
Qilian Mountains is known as Little Switzerland. Along the way, the air is humid, there are many cattle and sheep, and the grass is lush!
After entering Qilian, it really feels like a little Switzerland!
There are beautiful scenery all along the Qilian Mountains, with cows, sheep, horses and the indispensable rapeseed flowers.
The scenery of Qilian grassland is simple and rustic. Every July and August, there are endless rapeseed fields and barley fields on both sides, with dark and light colors. In June, there are no endless rapeseed fields and barley fields, but green meadows, fertile grass, sparse cattle and horses, and the setting sun... It is as beautiful as a landscape painting.
The first pass into the Qilian Mountains was the most comfortable place for me to stay during this journey. The master also brought melons and ate them on the grass.
It's spectacular, the scenery is great, and snow-capped mountains can be seen everywhere.
From Qilian County to National Highway 227, the Qilian Mountains accompany you all the way. The entire Qilian Mountains are 800 kilometers long from east to west, 200 to 400 kilometers wide from north to south, and 4,000 to 6,000 meters above sea level. There are 3,306 glaciers in total, covering an area of about 2,062 square kilometers.
Summer is the most beautiful season for the Qilian Mountain grasslands, and it is also the most suitable season for traveling. Self-driving is the best way to experience the Qilian Mountain grasslands. The roads in the two directions are separated, and there is always a gap of dozens or even hundreds of meters in the middle. There are very few vehicles coming and going, and driving is safe and comfortable. Driving on the road across the grassland, the sky is vast and the wilderness is boundless. Looking at the herds of cattle and sheep on the grass on the mountain, you can only sigh at the greatness of nature.
The snow scenery of Qilian Mountains is still very beautiful from a distance. Even in summer, there is still ice and snow on the mountain, which is very majestic.
Only when you are here can you deeply feel the meaning of the four words "Heavenly Qilian"! Climbing up Zhuoer Mountain, you can have a panoramic view of the scenery here! Danxia Mountain and rolling rapeseed flowers! Very shocking!
It's such a beautiful scenery. The mountains, sky, fields and Danxia merge into a wonderful picture. Although it rained☔️, it was worth the trip (●°u°●) 」
Only after arriving here did I understand what altitude sickness is. In a word, it was suffocating.
The most famous mountain in Qilian is probably Zhuoer Mountain. Standing on the top of Zhuoer Mountain, you can see an extremely broad view without any obstructions on all sides. Opposite the mountain is Niuxin Mountain, where you can see the scenery of all four seasons. On the left and right sides are Ladong Gorge and Baiyanggou Scenic Area. Behind it are the rolling Qilian Mountains. At the foot of the mountain, the surging Babao River surrounds the county like a white Hada.
There is always a beautiful legend in a poetic and picturesque place. It is said that Zhuoer Mountain is the incarnation of Zongmu Mayuma, the daughter of the Dragon King. In order to marry her beloved mountain god, Ami Dongsuo (Niuxin Mountain), she was willing to violate the rules of heaven and stay in the human world. For this, she paid the price and turned into a stone mountain, facing Niuxin Mountain across the river, and together they protect the beautiful mountains and rivers of Qilian.
I want to go to the blue sky, white clouds and snowy mountains again during the National Day in 2014
It takes about 1-2 hours to climb the mountain near Mati Temple, and you can see the Qilian Mountains. It is very beautiful and spectacular. Although climbing the mountain is tiring, it doesn't matter if you see the beautiful scenery! You must go and see it
Crossing the Qilian Mountains, the scenery along the way is very beautiful, and the style is similar to that of western and northern Sichuan, but the shadows of the clouds cast on the ground are not as clear as those in western and northern Sichuan.
Qilian Zhuoer Mountain is a landscape that combines snow-capped mountains and alpine grasslands, and is worth a visit.
There is little rain in the northwest in summer, but the Qilian Mountains are lush and green, with undulating heights that change as if they are slowly passing through the four seasons.
The Qilian Mountains are majestic and stretching, like a sharp sword wrapped in green silk, with the sword light shining and the sword spirit roaring.
Going through Biandukou and crossing the Qilian Mountains in August is definitely a classic self-driving route, and you can see snow-capped mountains in October.
Beautiful, I have to say beautiful~~ worth a visit
The scenery along National Highway 227 from Zhangye to Qilian.
It's so beautiful!!! I wonder if the real scenic spot will be more beautiful. It's worth our last-minute decision to go into the mountains!!
To be honest, the Qilian Mountains are very beautiful, but unfortunately, they are the last few stops on our itinerary. The beautiful scenery of Qinghai and Gansu has already spoiled my vision.
From Xining, take G227 to Zhangye. The scenery on both sides of the road is very charming, with mountains covered with snow. After leaving the mountainous area, you can clearly see that the road is long and narrow, surrounded by mountains on both sides.
The snow-capped mountains and wheat fields are very beautiful. There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening, so be sure to bring a thick coat.
When passing Shandan and Yongchang, on our left were the ruins of the ancient Great Wall, while on the right were the Qilian Mountains, which were tightly locked by rain and fog.
The scenery of the Qilian Mountains along the way to Zhangye was very shocking to me who came from the Jiangnan water town. The mountains here are mainly grasslands, which are different from the southern mountains where trees are the main part. The blue sky and white clouds, coupled with the grasslands all over the mountains, instantly purify the soul, free from the constraints of high-rise buildings in the city, and give people a sense of freedom that everyone pursues. The photos taken along the way do not need much modification, and each one is the most beautiful scenery.
Qilian Mountain Grassland is the last stop on the return trip to Xining from the northwest.
You can also start directly from Xining and arrive in one day.
It is a high-altitude grassland with an average altitude between 4,000 and 5,000 meters.
You can see the snow on the Gangshika Snow Mountain in the distance, and you can see herds of cattle and sheep on the grassland and run with them. The cattle and sheep here will line up in groups to cross the road, and they are not afraid of people or cars at all.
Even a timid person like Bald Qiang, who didn't dare to approach the camels in Yangguan and Dunhuang, dared to take three consecutive photos with the calves.
Even if Huihui is chasing him, he is not afraid.
It will be better if you come here on a sunny day! It will be great for taking photos! The blue sky, white clouds, grassland and herds of cute cattle and sheep. The wind blows through the grassland and you can see cattle and sheep.
Winding mountain road, rape flowers, colorful flowers, grassland scenery, ice sea and forest ditch...beautiful scenery along the way
The beautiful scenery is always on the road, you need to appreciate it slowly, the road conditions are very good
Qilian Mountain is best viewed with the most beautiful camera, which is the eyes. I will always remember the scenery I saw when I woke up early. I just want to hold it all in my arms and freeze time: in addition to the blue sky and white clouds, there is a thin mist floating in the air, like a veil gently brushed by a dancer, especially soft, and the surrounding mountains behind it are smiling and welcoming your arrival. ... The rape flowers blooming in the fields are yellow, and on both sides of the winding road, you can jump into the sea of flowers at any time and drown in it. Here, you don’t need skills or foundation, as long as you can press the shutter, every picture you take is a classic blockbuster.
On the way from Zhangye to Jiuquan, not long after passing Gaotai County, we encountered the Qilian Mountains for the first time. They were lined up in a row in the distance and accompanied us all the way to Jiuquan.
The Qilian Mountains can be seen from all scenic spots around Zhangye. The Hexi Corridor is sandwiched between the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Loess Plateau, and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It has a continental arid climate with little precipitation, long sunshine hours, and strong winds. However, the area around Zhangye is very special. Under the nurturing of the snow and water from the Qilian Mountains, a piece of green mountains and clear waters that can only be seen in the south of the Yangtze River appeared, adding a touch of beautiful green to Gansu, which is mainly yellow.
The scenery is beautiful and the view is great. Photography enthusiasts can easily take great photos
We chartered a car to visit the Qilian Mountains. The beauty of the mountains still shocks me. The vastness and magnificence of the northwest of our great motherland. We walked along the grasslands, crossed the desert, bypassed the Gobi Desert, and looked up at the snow-capped mountains. We explored the meaning of life in the desolation and delicacy.
The Qilian Mountains in the morning are so beautiful, with clouds and mist, and birds chirping. It is really as beautiful as its name "Heavenly Qilian". Maybe it was too early, there were not many people in the scenic area, only a few photographers were taking pictures, and some were taking time-lapse photography of the sunrise with tripods.
The Qilian Zhuoer Mountains are so beautiful. They are worthy of their reputation as the Little Switzerland of the East.
The scenery along the road is nice, with blue sky, white clouds and beautiful roads. The snow-capped mountains can be seen all the way along the road, which is very beautiful.
The stunning beauty is beyond my own experience. I can only say that I have too little experience.
The Qilian Mountains are a huge mountain system with many parallel mountain ranges and wide valleys running from northwest to southeast. Because it is located in Zhangye City on the south side of the Hexi Corridor, it is also known as Zhangye South Mountains.
You have to look at the weather to get here. If it rains, you can't climb Zhuoer Mountain.
Leaving Xining, we headed north-west to Zhangye. On the way, we had to cross the Qilian Mountains, with the highest altitude of 3,600-3,700 meters. The beautiful highland pastures came into view.
Passing by on the train. From Xining to Jiuquan, the Qilian Mountains are with you all the way. The endless snow-capped mountains are exciting.
Self-driving in the northwest is full of scenery. The same is true for the Qilian Mountains. On the way to Qilian, we began to see snow on the mountaintops. When we approached Arou Temple, it began to snow. After leaving Qilian, we passed the Binggou Forest and the Dadongshu Mountain Pass at an altitude of 4,120. The Qilian Mountains gave us many surprises and beautiful scenery along the way. Even if we can't drive the big loop, it feels like it's not a bad idea to drive from Xining to Qilian to experience the magnificence of the Qilian Mountains.
The Qilian Mountains are located in the northeastern part of Qinghai Province and the western border of Gansu Province in China. It consists of a number of parallel mountain ranges and wide valleys running from northwest to southeast. Because it is located on the south side of the Hexi Corridor, it is also known as the South Mountain. It is 800 kilometers long from east to west and 200 to 400 kilometers wide from north to south. It has an altitude of 4,000 to 6,000 meters, a total of 3,306 glaciers, and an area of about 2,062 square kilometers. [1]
The western end is connected to the Altun Mountains at Dangjin Pass. The eastern end reaches the Yellow River Valley and is connected to the Qinling Mountains and Liupan Mountains. It is nearly 1,000 kilometers long. It is a fold-block mountain. The widest part is between Jiuquan City and the Qaidam Basin, reaching 300 kilometers.
From north to south, it includes Daxue Mountain, Tuolai Mountain, Tuolai South Mountain, Yema South Mountain, Shule South Mountain, Danghe South Mountain, Turgen Daban Mountain, Qaidam Mountain and Zongwulong Mountain. Most of the peaks are 4,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level, and the highest peak, Tuanjie Peak in Shule South Mountain, is 5,808 meters above sea level. Peaks above 4,000 meters above sea level are covered with snow all year round, and the valleys between the mountains are also between 3,000 and 3,500 meters above sea level.
Qilian Mountain, with the Hexi Corridor at its northern foot, carries a rich history, including the introduction of Buddhism and the reunification and inheritance of fragmented Chinese civilization during the Five Barbarians' Invasion of China. The southern foot is the gentle Qilian grassland with picturesque scenery. Coming down from Zhuoer Mountain, three small-displacement vehicles chug up to the Biandu Mountain Pass, where they stop to enjoy the view. The high-altitude mountain top feels very cold. According to historical records, Emperor Yang of Sui went to Yanzhi Mountain to meet with envoys from the Western Regions and hold an expo. He passed through the "Dadouba Valley" (i.e. Biandu Pass), where the mountain roads were narrow and dangerous, and most of the soldiers and escorts froze to death. From ancient times to the present, this place has always been extremely cold!