Located on the boundary between the monsoon and non-monsoon regions of my country, it is the natural boundary between the inner and outer basins of Qinghai Province.
Because the mountain is red, it was called Chiling in ancient times. In Tibetan and Mongolian, Riyue Mountain means sun and moon.
According to legend, Princess Wencheng threw her precious mirror onto two hills, with the east side reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun and the west side shining the rising moon, hence the name Sun-Moon Mountain.
The east side of Riyue Mountain is like the scenery of Jiangnan on the frontier, and the west side is vast grassland with herds of cattle and sheep. It is a scene outside the frontier. The contrast between the two sides is rare in China.
Attractions Location: Riyueshan Village, Huangyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province
Tickets:
Peak season: Adult ticket 50 RMB (April 15-October 15 Monday-Sunday)
Off-season tickets: Adult tickets 30 RMB (April 14-October 16 Monday-Sunday)
Opening hours:
07:00-19:30 (April 15-October 14, Monday-Sunday)
08:30-18:30 (October 15th to April 14th of the following year, Monday to Sunday)
Transportation:
Take a bus from Xinning Road Bus Station to Huangyuan County, then take bus No. 708 to Riyue Township Government (bus station), and then take local transportation to Riyue Mountain.
Time reference: 1-3 hours
Spend a full day immersed in the natural beauty of Sun Moon Mountain, enjoying hiking, scenic views, and local culture.
Accommodation/Food: Recommended to stay in Xining for easy access to restaurants serving Qinghai specialties such as yak meat and Tibetan barley wine.
Souvenirs: Tibetan wool products, local herbal teas, traditional handicrafts.
Combine Sun Moon Mountain exploration with visits to nearby cultural and natural sites.
Transportation: Private car or taxi recommended for flexibility.
Accommodation/Food: Local guesthouses near Guide Geopark or Xining city hotels. Try local dishes like hand-pulled noodles and Tibetan butter tea.
Souvenirs: Geological rock samples, Tibetan arts, local snacks.
Explore the mountain and extend your trip to Qinghai Lake and other nearby scenic spots.
Transportation: Private car or tour bus necessary for longer distances.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Xining or lakeside guesthouses. Sample fresh fish from Qinghai Lake and local dairy products.
Souvenirs: Salt products, Tibetan handicrafts, yak wool scarves.
Combine natural wonders with deeper Tibetan cultural experiences near Sun Moon Mountain.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in local guesthouses or return to Xining. Enjoy Tibetan barley wine and traditional breads.
Souvenirs: Handmade wool products, Tibetan silver jewelry, traditional paintings.
Explore more cultural sites, including monasteries and natural reserves around Sun Moon Mountain and Xining.
Transportation: Taxi or tour bus for monastery visits.
Accommodation/Food: Xining hotels or monastery guesthouses; try vegetarian monastery dishes.
Souvenirs: Buddhist prayer beads, thangka paintings, incense sticks.
Combine all major nearby attractions with extra time for relaxation and shopping.
Transportation: Private car or tour bus for Chaka Salt Lake.
Accommodation/Food: Overnight in Xining or near Chaka. Enjoy local dairy and Tibetan specialties.
Souvenirs: Salt crystals, Tibetan crafts, herbal teas.
Spend a full week exploring Qinghai’s culture, nature, and Tibetan heritage with Sun Moon Mountain as a scenic centerpiece.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in comfortable Xining hotels. Taste fusion cuisine blending Han and Tibetan flavors.
Souvenirs: Tibetan arts and crafts, Qinghai specialty foods, yak wool products.
Sun and Moon Mountain is the demarcation line between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo, and also the demarcation line between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In the beautified legend, Princess Wencheng smashed the Sun and Moon Mirror here, bid farewell to her hometown, and went to Tibet without hesitation. As a historical and geographical legendary scenic spot, there are very few tourists. The sky here is clear and blue. After thousands of years, you can still see the 14-year-old girl looking back at Chang'an.
It is said that when Princess Wencheng passed by this mountain on her way to Tibet, she climbed to the top with a precious mirror in her arms and looked eastward, but she could not see her hometown of Chang'an. She was overwhelmed with grief, and the empty mirror slid down to the ground and split into two, one half turned into a golden sun and the other half turned into a silver moon. The sun and the moon shone together, illuminating her journey to the west.
According to legend, Princess Wencheng once passed this mountain when she married Songtsen Gampo. Standing on the top of the mountain, she looked westward, feeling sad about being away from home. She took out the "Sun and Moon Mirror" given by the empress before her departure, and the charming scenery of Chang'an suddenly appeared in the mirror.
The princess was filled with mixed feelings of sadness and joy, and accidentally dropped the "Sun and Moon Mirror" into two pieces, which happened to fall on two small hills. The eastern half faced west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, and the western half faced east, illuminating the rising moonlight. This is how Sun and Moon Mountain got its name.
For the stability of the Tang Dynasty and the peace and tranquility of the Central Plains and the Western Regions, Princess Wencheng married into Tibet and passed through this place. It is said that when she climbed the peak with a precious mirror in her arms and looked east, she could not see her hometown of Chang'an. She was filled with sorrow, and the empty mirror slid down to the ground and split into two, one half turned into a golden sun and the other half turned into a silver moon. The sun and the moon shone together, illuminating the journey to the west. This place later became a transit station for the exchange of materials between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo and the communication of envoys between the two places.
Sun Moon Mountain is a very good small tourist attraction. There are some small pavilions on the mountain, which can provide shade, shelter from rain, rest, etc. You can also appreciate some ethnic culture. Looking from the top of the mountain, you can see different scenery. It is really beautiful and worth everyone's appreciation. Sun Moon Mountain is located on the dividing line between my country's monsoon and non-monsoon areas. It is located in the overlapping area of the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is the natural dividing line between the inner and outer basins of Qinghai Province, dividing agricultural civilization and nomadic civilization. The Tibetan language calls Sun Moon Mountain "Nima Dawa" and the Mongolian language calls it "Nara Sala", both of which mean the sun and the moon.
It is the geographical dividing line between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and is the site of the poignant legend of Princess Wencheng's journey to Tibet.
It's worth a visit. Sun Moon Mountain, Sun Moon Pavilion, and Exhibition Hall are all worth seeing. The weather was not good when we went there, and it was past the peak season, so we could take our time to stroll around, which was great.
On a section of the road between Xining and Qinghai Lake, the scenery is quite spectacular, but the wind is very strong and very cold
We didn't go in to play. We just took some photos of yaks on the snow-capped mountains and grasslands at the entrance and continued on our way. There would probably be better camera positions in the scenic area, but there are many snow-capped mountain landscapes on the Qinghai-Gansu line, so there is no need to stay here for long.
Princess Wencheng passed through this place when she was on her way to Tibet. She threw a mirror and reflected the sun and the moon on both sides, hence the name. The continuous snow-capped mountains are undulating and changing, which is spectacular.
On the way to Qinghai Lake by car, we passed the Sun and Moon Mountains. The sky was high and the sea was vast, the sky was blue and the clouds were white, and cattle and sheep were running around. The plateau area showed the charm of nature to the fullest.
The grasslands under the Sun Moon Mountain are covered with yellow sand, which is really unsightly. The task of protecting the environment is still very difficult. Natural factors plus human factors have caused such a dangerous phenomenon. I hope the government and the herdsmen here can quickly find a way to improve the environment here.
Standing on the top of the scenic area, you can overlook the entire southern grassland of Huangyuan County, Qinghai. The scenery is beautiful, but it is 3,800 meters above sea level and it is very cold, so you need to wear a thin down jacket or windbreaker.
It is about 90 kilometers away from Xining City and is the only way to Qinghai Lake. Personally, I think it is not very scenic. Since the altitude is high, be careful not to engage in strenuous activities when visiting to avoid altitude sickness.
Sun Moon Mountain is located 40 kilometers southwest of Huangyuan County, Qinghai Province, and east of Qinghai Lake. It is a branch of the Qilian Mountains (a branch of the Qilian Mountains). It runs from northwest to southeast, is 90 kilometers long, 10-15 kilometers wide, and has an average altitude of about 4,000 meters. The highest peak is Ale Dawan Mountain, which is 4,877 meters above sea level. In July and August every year, the scenery of Sun Moon Mountain is still quite good!
It is related to the story of Princess Wencheng's journey to Tibet. The scenic area also includes Princess Wencheng Temple, Princess Wencheng Statue, etc. The overall scenery is average. The towering power towers affect the entire scenery, which is not in line with the yaks and sheep on the hillside.
It is said that when Princess Wencheng was married and went to Tibet, she stopped here to rest and accidentally broke a mirror given to her by the emperor, so she buried it. Half of it is the Sun Pavilion and the other half is the Moon Pavilion, or something like that... Anyway, there are two pavilions... It's OK as long as the surrounding scenery is nice... It is said that this place was very lively before, but there was a lot of garbage, and it was later protected. Compared with the pavilions, the natural scenery is more beautiful.
In terms of shooting background, the scenery on the mountain is indeed more beautiful than that at the foot of the mountain.
Even though there are mouse holes everywhere on the grassland, it is still difficult to capture one. These little gophers are very agile and just as they pop their heads out, they disappear again in a flash.
The prayer flags at Sun Moon Mountain were covered with scriptures, and some friends mistook them for QR codes. We saw more cattle and sheep on the grassland, and even saw eagles! ! ! We were very satisfied! ! ! We bought a bucket of yak yogurt and shared it with everyone.
Private attractions, ticket price 20. Tibetan costume horse riding and archery are said to be free, but there is no one there, so it is not recommended to go.
Driving from Xining to Qinghai Lake, passing by, you can see the plateau scenery.
A typical scenic spot with a big reputation but empty content. It is given three stars just because of its reputation. In fact, it is enough to just pass by and take a look. There is no point in buying tickets. There are only two pavilions telling you that this is Sun Moon Mountain. It is windy, so remember to wear more clothes.
The five-color prayer flags match the blue sky. There is also a Huangyuan Ancient Road Museum here, which you can visit. When you are almost at the top of the mountain, there is a row of prayer wheels. Although it is a bit tiring to climb up the mountain, the scenery you see from a high place is very spectacular. The rolling mountains and vast meadows. The highest altitude of the Sun and Moon Pavilion is 3,500 meters, and you need to climb stairs. If you have altitude sickness, you should do it according to your ability. There are also camels and yaks on the mountain between the two pavilions, the camel caravans of the Silk Road.
If you don't have enough time, it's worth considering whether to visit this attraction. It was raining and the temperature dropped sharply on the day I visited. I felt like it dropped to freezing point. It was too cold and the wind was very strong. It affected the mood and quality of the visit.
It's just a large piece of grass and a pavilion. You don't need to pay to go in and see it.
After coming down from Laji Mountain, everyone was a little tired, so the task of checking in at Riyue Mountain was given to me.
Yaks, prayer flags, Mani piles
Okay, this is Tibetan.
You can drive into the scenic area, and the exit of the scenic area leads directly to Daotang River. Self-guided tours are not suitable here, as there are not even electric cars in the scenic area. Since it is on the way, you might as well take a look. However, this is a climb from zero altitude to an altitude of 3,500 meters, which is a bit difficult to adapt to.
The Tibetan language calls Sun Moon Mountain "Nima Dawa"
It is called "Narasala" in Mongolian
They both mean the sun and the moon
Sun Moon Mountain has been an important passage for the "Qiangzhong Road", "Southern Silk Road" and "Tang-Tibet Ancient Road" since ancient times.
To the east of Riyue Mountain is Qinghai's agricultural area, with fertile fields and a scene of Jiangnan on the Great Wall. To the west is an endless pasture grassland with vast grasslands and herds of cattle and sheep, a scene beyond the Great Wall.
Colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind can be seen everywhere on the Sun and Moon Mountains. To the Tibetan Buddhists, every flutter of the prayer flags represents a recitation of scriptures, which continuously conveys people's wishes to God and prays for God's protection.
Passed by, did not enter the scenic area...
The scenic spot is not big. There are two small pavilions on two hills. Surrounded by mountains and hillsides, it is visually quite vast. The sky is blue with white clouds. There are some yaks around for taking pictures. There are not many tourists.
There were some prayer flags and yaks and lambs that had been waiting for tourists to take photos here for a long time. SO, these were not what we were interested in. We took some photos, took a short rest and then left.
When we first saw the magnificent scene of herds of cattle and horses galloping on the vast grassland, our young hearts were deeply moved. The yellow grass leaves all over the mountains covered the vast land with a golden gauze, and the thick smoke flying everywhere added a mysterious color to the boundless plateau. Due to the unusually cold weather and the majestic fog, we dared not stay for long and quietly left this fascinating and beautiful place.
Sun Moon Mountain is located in Sun Moon Mountain Village, Huangyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province. If we talk about the scenery, Sun Moon Mountain is not very attractive, the scenery can only be said to be average, but the point is that it is an important geographical dividing line in my country.
It should be emphasized that there is a charge for riding yaks and taking photos in the Riyue Mountain Scenic Area. In addition, there are potential consumption in some places. Please be cautious when visiting to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Sun and Moon Mountain is still worth seeing. In memory of Princess Wencheng, a pavilion was built on each of the two peaks, with the sun and the moon shining against each other. Princess Wencheng's tears formed a backwards river.
Due to its important geographical location, Sun Moon Mountain has become a place of many responsibilities:
The fortress leading from the Central Plains to the Western Regions, where Princess Wencheng once looked back at her hometown and turned back to the Western Regions.
The only way to pass through the Southern Silk Road, the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road, and the Ancient Tea-Horse Road
The boundary between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the boundary between the agricultural area and the pastoral area. . . . .
It turns out that Xining is part of the Loess Plateau. I’ve learned a lot.
The east side of Riyue Mountain is an agricultural area with fertile fields and a Jiangnan scenery. The west side is a vast grassland with herds of cattle and sheep, a scene from the frontier.
The Sun and Moon Mountain Scenic Area is still worth visiting. Go up the steps from the plank road, remember to go slowly, because it is already 3,500 meters. When you reach the top of the mountain, you can see the wind horse prayer flags. After passing the wind horse, you will see the Ancient Road Museum. The driver reminded us that this museum has good things hidden, so we also looked at it very carefully. The Provincial Museum in Xining is not well-known, but this scenic area museum has a lot of collections, exhibiting more than 400 cultural relics, including stone tools, jades, and pottery. Although I don’t understand it very well, I have a general understanding of the importance of the geographical location of Sun and Moon Mountain.
The beautiful grassland where people, nature and animals live in harmony is worth a visit. It only costs 10 yuan to ride a yak or camel and take photos. The souvenirs in the store are too expensive. If you really want them, you can cut them down to 30 yuan. It is recommended to drive there by yourself, so that you have enough time to play. Don't be afraid to go up the hill, the scenery is more charming.
The scenic area has yak riding, taking photos, etc., which need to be paid separately. There are souvenirs, but the price is not affordable, so it is not recommended to buy. The wind in Sun Moon Mountain is very strong~
Driving from Qinghai Lake through Sun Moon Mountain, the scenic spots are pretty good.
Passed by on the way. I heard it was just two sheds. Didn't go in.
There is no need to go in, just take pictures of the snow-capped mountains on the roadside. It is beautiful. It should be a photo-taking spot. There are many cars parked and many people taking pictures. The snow-capped mountains are so beautiful!
The Sun-Moon Mountain is a very important dividing line and a must-pass place to enter the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is not recommended that we spend money on tickets to go up the mountain. The scenery on the mountain is very ordinary and people who have not experienced it personally will not have a strong feeling.
I saw its early spring appearance. Compared with the lushness of summer, the current one is more imposing.
2018 5.26 The latest travel guide to Qinghai, follow Travel Cat and set off together!
It’s graduation season again. Students are trying to relieve stress after the college entrance exam and travel before graduation. Qinghai Lake Travel is giving you a treat. Here is a graduation travel itinerary from a friend who traveled in Qinghai and Gansu for 6 days.
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From the initial preparation to the cost, tickets, transportation, accommodation, and cultural features, starting from the very beginning, a popular travel guide that everyone can share with friends in need! [心]
6-Day Dunhuang-Gansu Grand Loop
Day 1: Xining - Ta'er Temple - Sun Moon Mountain - Daotang River - Qinghai Lake - Heima River (stay overnight)
Day 2: Sunrise at Heima River - Chaka Salt Lake - Crossing Qaidam Basin - Dachaidan (stay overnight)
Day 3: Dachaidan - Qinghai Yadan - Yangguan Scenic Area - Dunhuang City (overnight)
Day 4: Dunhuang – Mogao Grottoes – Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake – Shazhou Night Market – Dunhuang City (overnight)
Day 5: Dunhuang City - The Most Magnificent Pass in the World (Jiayu Pass) - Zhangye Colorful Danxia Geopark - Zhangye (overnight)
Day 6: Zhangye - Qilian Mountain, Qilian Grassland - Gangshika Snow Peak (view from a distance) - Menyuan Thousand Miles Rapeseed Flower Sea - Heiquan Reservoir - Xining City (end)
Xining - Ta'er Temple - Laji Mountain - Qinghai Lake - Sunrise over the Black Horse River - Chaka Salt Lake - Qaidam Basin - Emerald Lake - Yadan Landform - The Most Beautiful Highway - Yangguan - Mogao Grottoes - Crescent Lake - Jiayuguan - Colorful Danxia - Qilian Mountain Prairie - Menyuan - Xining.
The scenery of Riyue Mountain is very beautiful, and any photo taken of it will turn out to be a blockbuster.
The altitude is quite high. When I walked up the mountain, I had a little difficulty breathing. It was great to enjoy the breeze and take pictures on the mountain!
Beautiful Qinghai welcomes tourists from all over the world, Sun Moon Mountain Tourism looks forward to your choice
The only famous cultural attraction on the Qinghai-Tibet line
Running all the way to Sun and Moon Mountain, the scenery is very beautiful and you can take photos along the way.
The newly built prayer wheels still smell of cheap paint, just like this so-called scenic spot, lacking some sincerity.
Alpine meadow
Herds of cattle and sheep
Wildflowers blooming everywhere
The children are running happily on the grassland
or chasing the flock
or catch pika
Happiness fills their young smiling faces
Student tickets are half price, 20 yuan per person. It's very cold and windy on the mountain.
Sun Moon Mountain is 40 kilometers southwest of Huangyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province. It belongs to the Qilian Mountains, is 90 kilometers long, and is a natural dam in the east of Qinghai Lake. The average altitude is about 4,000 meters, with the highest altitude being 4,877 meters. The Sun Moon Pass through which the Qinghai-Tibet Highway passes is 3,520 meters above sea level. Sun Moon Mountain is located on the dividing line between my country's monsoon and non-monsoon regions, and is located in the overlapping area of the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is the natural dividing line between the inner and outer basins of Qinghai Province, dividing the agricultural civilization and the nomadic civilization. The Tibetan language calls Sun Moon Mountain "Nima Dawa" and the Mongolian language calls it "Nara Sala", both of which mean the sun and the moon.
According to legend, Princess Wencheng once passed this mountain when she married Songtsen Gampo. She looked west from the top of the peak, and was filled with sorrow for being away from home. She took out the "Sun and Moon Mirror" given by the empress before her departure, and the charming scenery of Chang'an suddenly appeared in the mirror. The princess was overwhelmed with sorrow and joy, and accidentally dropped the "Sun and Moon Mirror" into two halves, which fell on two small hills. The eastern half faced west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, and the western half faced east, reflecting the rising moonlight. This is how the Sun and Moon Mountain got its name.
As it was the off-season, the Sun Moon Mountain scenic spot was closed and we could only take a few photos at the entrance.
According to legend, Princess Wencheng once passed this mountain when she married Songtsen Gampo. She looked west from the top of the peak, and was filled with sorrow for being away from home. She took out the "Sun and Moon Mirror" given by the queen before she left, and the charming scenery of Chang'an suddenly appeared in the mirror. The princess was overwhelmed with joy and sorrow, and accidentally dropped the "Sun and Moon Mirror" into two halves, which fell on two small hills. The eastern half faced west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, and the western half faced east, reflecting the rising moonlight. That's how the Sun and Moon Mountain got its name. But the scenery here is really good! The view is wide, and I like it very much.
After passing Laji Mountain, you will pass Riyue Mountain (ticket price 40). Riyue Mountain is 4000m above sea level. May and June are the most beautiful time. When we went there, there was snow on the mountain so we did not go up. We looked at it from a distance. At that time, it was surrounded by snow-capped mountains on all sides and it was already quiet!
The biggest impression of Qinghai Lake is not only the grassland and lake, but also the prayer flags. These prayer flags carry people's hopes and flutter in the wind, with each blessing speaking to the sky. After passing Huangyuan and seeing the Sun and Moon Mountains, this place is still worth a visit. The story behind it needs to be understood:
The average altitude of Sun Moon Mountain is about 4,000 meters. It not only has a magnificent historical significance, but also has a very important geographical significance. Sun Moon Mountain has been an important passage in history as the "Qiangzhong Road", "Southern Silk Road" and "Tang-Tibet Ancient Road". According to legend, Princess Wencheng once passed this mountain when she married Songtsen Gampo. She looked west from the top of the peak, and she was filled with sorrow for being away from home. She took out the "Sun and Moon Treasure Mirror" given by the Queen before she left, and the charming scenery of Chang'an suddenly appeared in the mirror.
It is a good place to take photos. The yellow sand all over the mountains seems desolate, but the withered grass proves that there was once green here.
It was a bit chilly when I went there in September, but the blue sky and white clouds made everything go away.
Sun Moon Mountain was not originally in the plan. When we passed by, it was still early, so we decided to choose between the two. It is said that the characteristics of the Daotang River are wearing national costumes, taking photos, riding horses and other traditional grassland recreational activities. So we chose Sun Moon Mountain. There is a field of rapeseed flowers near Sun Moon Mountain. Rapeseed flowers have become a major feature of Qinghai. Among them, the most famous Menyuan has passed its peak flowering period in August. Many flowers have withered and are not beautiful. Fortunately, rapeseed flowers were photographed at Sun Moon Mountain and Qinghai Lake, making up for the possible regrets. It is said that in order to promote and develop tourism, some scenic spots will replant rapeseed in autumn to ensure that it blooms on November 11, of course, it is just for viewing. There is a Princess Wencheng Temple after entering the door. The legend was left when the marriage passed by here. There are not many tourists, the scenic area is very clean, it is not newly built but renovated, the colors of the prayer flags arranged on the mountain are still very new, and even the yaks selling themselves on the mountain have pure white and clean fur and bright decoration.
It was snowing when I went there in early November. It was so cold on the mountain, and there was almost no one there. It was quite deserted. Because we had to pay for tickets and I was freezing, I just walked around the gate of the scenic area and then went down the mountain. If you are interested, you can buy tickets on the mountain.
It's nice to visit on the way, but there's no need to go there specifically.
It is now very magnificent, but I have never liked attractions with too much artificial traces. Don't burn incense casually, be careful of being ripped off.
At the place where the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road passes, Princess Wencheng's comb became the moon and her mirror became the sun, which transformed into the Sun and Moon Mountain.
A lot of new infrastructure has been built in Riyue Mountain. These are photos taken in October. We did not enter the scenic area but only took photos on the mountain road and in the parking lot.
As a native of Qinghai, I went to Sun Moon Mountain when I was very young. At that time, the mountain was bare, with only two pavilions and a road next to it, full of vendors. I had a very bad impression. I went there this summer and was shocked. If it weren't for the iconic buildings, I would have almost failed to recognize the prayer wheels, prayer flags, museums and temples. They were very impressive. Looking far into the distance, there were grasslands and snow-capped mountains on the right and rapeseed fields on the left. With the cool and fresh air, I really wanted to live here. Unfortunately, there were two museums built inside, and all the things from Qinghai in the past were displayed inside, and no photos were allowed. The explanation inside was really not very good, and I didn't know as much as my dad. Overall, it is worth a visit. When you go, remember this sentence: Qinghai's sky is like a baby's face. Sunscreen and warm clothes must be prepared. .
The ticket price for Sun Moon Mountain is 40 yuan per person. It is the throat of the inland Tibet. It was the boundary between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo in history. Emperor Taizong of Tang sent Princess Wencheng to marry Tubo to quell the war and gave her a precious mirror as a companion. When arriving at Sun Moon Mountain, Princess Wencheng threw the precious mirror out, and it happened to fall on two hills. The eastern half faced west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, and the western half faced east, shining the rising moon. Sun Moon Mountain got its name from this.
It is said that the east side of Sun Moon Mountain is full of fertile fields, a scene of the south of the Yangtze River in the Great Wall; the west side is vast grasslands with herds of cattle and sheep, a scene of the Great Wall. I wonder if this is an exaggeration...
According to the driver's original words, "I have been driving for so many years, and I have only been there twice."
I personally suggest you just take a look when you drive by, and spend more time and experience on the beautiful Qinghai Lake.
Five years ago, I traveled around Qinghai Lake and rode through the Sun Moon Mountain. I still remember it vividly. People say that when you ride a bike to climb a mountain, "going up the mountain is like eating shit, and going down the mountain is like running diarrhea." At that time, I rode over the Sun Moon Mountain at an altitude of 3,800 meters. I thought it would be easy to go down the mountain, but the westerly wind was strong and the wind on the ridge was very strong. I rode against the wind when going down the mountain. I was blown by the wind that day. At the end of the day, I was too tired to complain. I was playing a status on Renren at the time, "I was really hurt riding from Xining to Daotang River." Among them, it was because I crossed the Sun Moon Mountain.
Actually, I can't give an objective evaluation of this attraction, because I didn't actually go in, I just looked at it at the entrance, and I didn't go in because of time constraints.
It was super cold that day. We were freezing. We must wear more clothes when going up the mountain.
You can see rape flowers if you go there in July and August. The mountains are high and the wind is strong, so please keep warm.
According to legend, Princess Wencheng once passed this mountain when she married Songtsen Gampo. Standing on the top of the mountain, she looked westward, feeling sad about being away from home. She took out the "Sun and Moon Mirror" given by the empress before her departure, and the charming scenery of Chang'an suddenly appeared in the mirror.
The princess was filled with mixed feelings of sadness and joy, and accidentally dropped the "Sun and Moon Mirror" into two pieces, which happened to fall on two small hills. The eastern half faced west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, and the western half faced east, illuminating the rising moonlight. This is how Sun and Moon Mountain got its name.
It takes two hours to drive from Xining. We went there on September 9, 2017. It was drizzling that day and it was quite cold on the mountainside with wind and rain. I wore several layers of socks and a light down jacket to keep warm.
After reading everyone's guide, I didn't buy a ticket to visit. I took a tourist photo with the Sun and Moon Pavilion and saw the prayer flags. The enthusiastic locals invited us to take a photo with his yak, Xiaobai, but I declined it because I thought there would be another chance later in the journey. I don't know if it was the off-season or other reasons, but I didn't encounter the yak riding project in the future journey, which is a little regretful. If you drive by yourself, you need to turn right at the fork in the road and go up halfway up the mountain. As a rest during the drive, you can still take a look.
Sun Moon Mountain is located 40 kilometers southwest of Huangyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province. It belongs to the Qilian Mountains and is 90 kilometers long. It is a natural dam in the east of Qinghai Lake. The average altitude is about 4,000 meters, and the highest altitude is 4,877 meters. The Sun Moon Pass through which the Qinghai-Tibet Highway passes is 3,520 meters above sea level. The Tibetan language calls Sun Moon Mountain "Nima Dawa" and the Mongolian language calls it "Nara Sala", both of which mean the sun and the moon.
Sun Moon Mountain has been an important passage for the "Qiangzhong Road", "Southern Silk Road" and "Tang-Tibet Ancient Road" since ancient times. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the "Southern Silk Road" was opened due to the blockage of the Silk Road in the Hexi Corridor, which passed through Sun Moon Mountain, Qinghai Lake, and the Qaidam Basin to the Western Regions. The "Tang-Tibet Ancient Road" opened in the Tang Dynasty entered from the northeast and exited from the southwest to Heyuan and Lhasa, running through the hinterland of Hainan Prefecture. Sun Moon Mountain has been a witness to many historical events such as alliances, marriages, wars, and "tea and salt" and "tea and horse" trade.
According to legend, Princess Wencheng once passed this mountain when she married Songtsen Gampo. She looked west from the top of the peak, and was filled with sorrow for being away from home. She took out the "Sun and Moon Mirror" given by the empress before her departure, and the charming scenery of Chang'an suddenly appeared in the mirror. The princess was overwhelmed with sorrow and joy, and accidentally dropped the "Sun and Moon Mirror" into two halves, which fell on two small hills. The eastern half faced west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, and the western half faced east, reflecting the rising moonlight. This is how the Sun and Moon Mountain got its name.
Many guides say that you can just stroll around the outside to visit this attraction, so we followed in the footsteps of our predecessors and just took a look around from the outside.