Wusut (Water) Yadan Geopark

Tickets are 90 yuan, and electric car tickets are 60 yuan. Seniors over 65 years old are free of tickets but not the car tickets. The electric car is available as you please, and there are 4 stops in total. However, most people only visit the last stop.

It took more than ten to twenty minutes by electric car to reach the last stop. We were amazed at how vast the Yadan is.

Seen from the air, the formation of Yadans are all heading in one direction, giving the feeling that a fleet is ready to go!

This is my second time to visit Yadan on the Water. I came here once in August. There were many tourists at that time. Compared with other cities, this is really a great place to escape the summer heat. I heard that Yahu Lake has been completely frozen, so I invited a few friends to come and see it. In winter, the whole Qinghai has entered the off-season for tourism. There are surprisingly few tourists. It feels like the whole place is reserved. This tranquility gives people a stunning feeling. It is really an ethereal holy place. I uploaded a few photos to let everyone feel the Yadan on the Ice in winter.

There are accommodations and RV camping. This place is already very mature. Next year, we can also take a boat tour of Yadan.

The second floor of the ticket hall is a restaurant with buffet and ordering.

There are 10 kilometers inside. They are all scenic spots. We also bought tickets for the sightseeing bus, which takes you to the end. It runs every half an hour. It stops when you wave. It is too big. We didn't go to the end. But it is still beautiful.

You can drive to the camping area. It seems to be in a designated place in the scenic area. Friends who come here to play remember to stay for a night if you have time. We didn't ask about the reservation method, but you can call the scenic area to inquire.

The hotel scenic area is relatively mature, and the entire scenic area has a private tour style

The food we ordered at the restaurant tasted pretty good. It's not a rip-off in a scenic area and is acceptable. 2 dishes, 1 soup and rice cost 110 yuan. The buffet here is 66 per person.

The magical water-based Yadan, altitude: 2,800 meters, Yadan landform is considered to be a wonder of the world, and is common in arid areas, so there are many dryland Yadan landforms in northwest my country. In Dachaidan, Qinghai, the water-based Yadan in the hinterland of the Qaidam Basin: gentleness and loneliness coexist, "Gobi and lakes coexist, loneliness and gentleness coexist", there are many Yadan landforms in the northwest land, but the water-based Yadan is unique in the world, the water-based Yadan: the yellow Yadan landform is integrated with the blue lake, there is an incomparable desolate and magnificent beauty, no matter how many descriptions are less than one-tenth of what you see in front of you, the Yadan group has different shapes, like ships, like castles, like long trapezoids or hills, scattered and scattered, and the clear lake water sets off each other, magical and mysterious, extremely spectacular, shocking, and relatively rare in the world.

There are four stations from near to far when you enter the scenic area, namely Wanghaitai, Penglai Fairy Island, Western Fleet and Golden Beach. The sightseeing bus goes directly to the terminal station, Wanghaitai, and then goes back to the station in front, the Water Yadan, which is also a large one, so you still have to take the sightseeing bus.

The full name is Wusut Yadan Geopark. It is located in the northwest of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai. After tens of millions of years of geological movements and changes in time and space, it has nurtured and formed the world's largest and most spectacular Yadan community. The Yadans are spread throughout the lakes and are the earliest water-based Yadan landscape discovered in the world.

"Yardang" means "small hill with steep walls" in Uyghur, also known as "wind-eroded forest", which is a peculiar wind-eroded landform. The water-based Yadan is located in a blue lake and is known as the only water-based Yadan in the world. There was no water here originally. One year, a mountain torrent broke out and the Nalenggele River, which originated from the Kunlun Mountains, changed its course and flooded this area, forming the current Yahu Lake and the water-based Yadan landform. From a distance, the water-based Yadans in the lake are like thousands of ships sailing out to sea, mighty and majestic.

The scenic area mainly includes four major attractions: Wanghaitai, Penglai Fairy Island, Xihai Fleet, and Golden Beach. The ticket price is 60 yuan (children's ticket is half price, and seniors over 66 years old are free), and the round-trip sightseeing bus is 60 yuan. Take the sightseeing bus directly to the last stop, Wanghaitai.

Wusu Te Water Yadan, ticket price: 60+60 yuan

Play time: 3-4 hours

In addition to the water, another unique experience of the Yadan on the water is being able to climb the Yadan. Due to the fragility of the Yadan landform, most "devil city" scenic spots can only be visited along fixed routes and cannot be approached up close. The Yadan here is still in the early stage of weathering, so there are still many large pieces of "earth mountains", so the scenic spot also allows tourists to climb the mountain. Climbing up the earth mountain and looking into the distance, the water and Yadan blend together, which is indeed something that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

I went there in winter. The scenic area was closed, but there were gatekeepers who could let people in, and there were also sightseeing bus services. The lake was frozen, but it didn't look bad. The ice surface was very unique.

The Yadan on the Water is a geological park. You need to go to the visitor center for security check and ticket purchase. The epidemic prevention check is very strict. The ticket is 60 yuan, and the sightseeing bus ticket is 60 yuan. You need to buy tickets with your real name. You can take the sightseeing bus with your ticket. The ticket inspection is strict. There is a preferential policy for tickets. Those over 60 years old can get half price, and those over 65 years old can get free tickets.

If you don't want to go inside or take the sightseeing bus, you don't need to buy a sightseeing bus ticket. The sightseeing bus has 4 stops in total, from the starting point to the end point, which is the Wanghaitai Pier Station. You can play slowly from inside to outside. If you are tired, you can wave to stop the bus.

I must strongly recommend the unique Yadan on the water in the world. It is much more beautiful than Chaka Salt Lake. And there were not many people when we went there. The experience was very good. The transparent boat costs 50 yuan per person, and someone is responsible for taking photos.

You can also feed seagulls, ride a dune buggy, ride a camel, and take aerial photos. It's awesome!

Yadan is a hill-like landform formed by strong wind erosion, that is, a mound of earth left by the wind. In extremely arid areas, it is usually associated with words such as "devil". The devil in the sparkling water is still unbelievable even if it appears in front of you. It looks like a group of whales emerging from the water or thousands of ships setting off at the same time. No matter how deep you go, the true beauty of Yadan on the water can only be experienced from a God's perspective, otherwise it will be a waste of your trip.

Usut Yadan Geopark.

"Yadang" is Uyghur, meaning "a small hill with steep walls", also known as "wind-eroded forest", which is a peculiar wind-eroded landform.



Take the sightseeing bus to the terminal.

After getting off the bus, there is a large lake, and there are camels and off-road vehicles nearby.



There are rows of small sand dunes in the middle of the lake. The scenery is a bit like God placed a mountain-shaped aromatherapy rack on his glass table.

Blue sky, green water, and yellow Yadan landform

Combine different scenery

Deserts of the Northwest

Decorated with colors

Nature will not abandon any land that belongs to it.

PS: Special thanks to Captain Wu for the aerial photography~



Wusut Yadan is located among the Nanbaxian Yadan Group. The Yadan mounds in the area are 10-25 meters high, and the highest can reach 50 meters.

The Yadans are scattered throughout the lakes and are the earliest water-based Yadan landscape discovered in the world.

The so-called "Yadang" is Uyghur, meaning "a small hill with steep walls". It is also called "wind-eroded forest", which is a peculiar wind-eroded landform.

Due to billions of years of geological changes, the exposed tertiary strata that were uplifted by folds and broken by fractures have been eroded by external forces for a long time, forming various residual hills and trough-shaped lowlands. (Baidu)



1. Tickets: Tickets + sightseeing bus 120 yuan.

2. You can walk in the scenic area. We walked back from the last section to the next bus stop, which took about 20 minutes. The scenery along the way was great, and most importantly, there was no one.

3. To enter the Yadan Eye from the innermost scenic spot, you can take a sand motorcycle or a jeep. The jeep costs 600 yuan and can seat up to 5 people.

4. Recommended playing time: 3 hours.

To enter this scenic spot, you also need to buy two tickets, one for the scenic spot ticket and the other for the sightseeing bus ticket. The sightseeing bus will take us directly to the terminal station for sightseeing. It will not pick up or drop off passengers during the journey. It will pick up and drop off passengers at each small scenic spot on the return journey. Therefore, if we want to visit all the small scenic spots in this scenic area, we must not stay at the terminal scenic spot for too long and forget about other small scenic spots. The scenic spot at the terminal station will always have the most people, but it is not necessarily the most beautiful scenery.

We usually say that the Yadan landforms must be in the deserted Gobi Desert, because the Yadan is formed by years of weathering. Who would have thought that the Yadan can exist on the water? It is indeed a wonder.

Wusut Yadan Geopark, also known as the Water Yadan, is located in Xitai District, Daxiadan Administrative Committee, Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It is 340 kilometers east of Delingha, the capital of Haixi Prefecture, and 240 kilometers east of Daxiadan Administrative Committee. It is 350 kilometers south of Golmud City, 350 kilometers west of Mangya Town, and 500 kilometers north of Dunhuang. It is close to National Highway 315. Wusut Yadan Geopark is the earliest water Yadan scenic spot in the world.

Wusut Yadan Geopark is one of the few places in Qingxi that requires admission.

Most of the Yadan landforms discovered in the world are found in extremely arid areas. However, on the edge of the Qaidam Basin in northwest Qinghai, my country, there is a unique and little-known "water Yadan"! Even the locals know relatively little about it.

There are only a few large-scale water-based Yadan landscapes in the world. The Usut Yadan Geopark is currently the world's largest water-based Yadan landform.

At noon we arrived at the Water Yadan, also known as Duck Lake.

On the way here, we passed hundreds of miles of Yadan Group, which marked the characteristics of no-man's land, desolate

But because of the backflow of water, the lake began to flood the Yadan Group.

It becomes a landscape like the archipelago we see. Some of the Yadans where land and water meet can be climbed to see the lonely Yadans from a high place.

Wusut (Water) Yadan Geopark is located in Dachaidan Town, very close to Dongtaijinaier Lake, and can be planned as a one-day itinerary.

When visiting during the peak season, be prepared to queue up to enter the scenic area.

The scenic spot ticket + sightseeing bus ticket is 120 yuan in total, which can also be purchased separately. If you don't have your ID card with you, you can scan the QR code on the door to buy tickets, and the price is the same

The sightseeing bus departs from the entrance and stops at the end. However, there are three stops on the return trip. You can get on the bus when there are seats available.

The park is very large, and at the last stop of the sightseeing bus, there are additional charges for driving motorcycles, riding gliders and riding camels.

In fact, the free part of the park has exceeded my expectations, it is very shocking

The scenery on the east and west sides is completely different. The Yadan on the west side is all standing upright in the water, while the Yadan on the east side seems to have grown out of the desert.

Finally, a reminder: try not to step on the Yadan to take pictures on it, and protect our common property.

The Wusut Water Yadan was formed due to the rise of the Dongtaijinaier Lake, which gradually submerged the Yadan group on the northern edge, forming a unique water Yadan. This is also the only water Yadan landform in the world.

Yadan on the water 120 (60 tickets and 60 sightseeing bus)

Although there are many Yadan landforms in the northwest, the one on the water is still very different, and it becomes more vivid with the blue-green lake water. The sightseeing bus directly sent us to the last point, and passed several points on the way back.

I have seen many Yadan landforms in recent years, but this is the first time I have seen one on water. Especially for us who have just left the desolate and dry Mars Highway 1, this large area of water is really refreshing. Using a drone to take a bird's-eye view, we can see the whole picture of the Yadan on water more comprehensively. It is indeed very spectacular. From a distance, it looks like warships docked on the shore ready to go.

The full name of the Water Yadan is Wusut Water Yadan Geological Park. Finally, we arrived at a formal scenic spot. There is a pretty good hotel in the scenic spot called: Wusut Yadan Hotel (also called Water Yadan RV Camp). There are hotel rooms and RVs. I booked a standard room in the hotel more than a month in advance. The environment is very ok. After all, it is expensive, and there are not many people living in this area. It is very good to live here.



The ticket for the water-based Yadan is 60 yuan, and the sightseeing bus ticket is 60 yuan, a total of 120 yuan per person. Both are must-buy items when entering the scenic area. In fact, you can see the water-based Yadan as soon as you enter the scenic area. The sightseeing bus route is about four or five kilometers. It will go to places where Yadans are more densely populated and will pass through several stations on the way. After we got to the terminal, we were originally planning to walk back while taking pictures, but the wind was too strong and the dust and sand that blew up hit our bodies and it was a bit painful... so we only walked around for a short while.



The formation of the water-based Yadan is due to the rising water level of Xitaijinaier Lake, which submerged the Yadan group of this generation. This generation of Yadan is also a whaleback Yadan, which is as spectacular as a group of whales in the water.



As the sun sets, the color of the sky becomes softer, and watching the sunset at the Water Yadan is a must-see.

Wusut Water Yadan Geopark is the only water Yadan landform in the world. As the surface of Jinaier Lake rises, it gradually submerges the Yadan group on the northern edge, forming a unique water Yadan, like a "vast ocean" emerging from the endless desert. The lake water is slightly salty, and the aquatic plants in the lake are lush, attracting a large number of water birds and yellow ducks, so the locals also call it Duck Lake. Duck Lake is located between the East and West Taijinaier Lakes in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The aquatic plants in the lake are lush, attracting a large number of water birds, especially red-crested ducks (yellow ducks), so it is called Duck Lake. Because of the wonders of the water Yadan, it is also called Qaidam Thousand Birds and Hundred Islands Lake. It is one of the ten most beautiful Yadan landforms in China and a paradise for photographers.

Wusute (water-based) Yadan is a kind of beauty that is isolated from the world. For more beautiful photography tips and self-driving travel tips, please see my travel notes: Looking up and down the world, sightseeing and relaxing - Northwest (Gansu and Qinghai) Grand Loop Self-driving Travel Notes http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/17224417.html

The scenic area is not very big, so I think the 60 yuan battery car is really a rip-off. The characteristic of the scenic area is the "Yardang Islands" in Dongtaijinaier Lake. In my impression, Yadans always exist in extremely dry places, but the close contact between Yadans and lake water here is a great wonder. Looking down at the Yadans on the water with a drone, it is like a large fleet of ships riding the wind and waves in the sea.

The only water-based Yadan in the world discovered in Haixi, Qinghai, is located in the southwest of the Wutumeiren Grassland and in the north of the Beiqiu Natural Area. It is surrounded by an endless desert with no human habitation. In this desolate place, it shows an incomparable and stunning beauty. The water-based Yadan, ducks calling and geese crying, the water sparkling, the morning glow, the golden Yadan reflecting the waves, the beautiful scenery.

It has been enclosed and turned into a scenic spot. The ticket fees are very high. I don't recommend going in. I think it has been transformed too much. There are similar landforms nearby. There is no need to go in.

There is only one Yadan on the water, right? Don’t hesitate, come and visit!

Very beautiful scenic spot, leaving a deep impression.

This attraction is amazing, you must go and experience it. If you have time, take a boat ride. The scenery inside cannot be seen on the shore.

It feels like the Phang Nga Bay in Thailand, with the Yadan landform on the emerald green lake, a rare wonder.

The scenery is indescribable and cannot be missed. But it depends on whether God will give face. If the weather is bad, it is estimated that it will not be beautiful.

The Yadan on the water is one of the few on earth. It looks like a fleet on the vast ocean. It is very spectacular.

Great, great scenery. You can get on and off the sightseeing bus at each stop. You can arrange your own time to enjoy every beautiful scenery slowly.

The Usut (Water) Yadan Geopark is composed of Yadan landform and Yahu Lake, which originates from the Nalinggele River Valley in the western section of Kunlun Mountains.

The unique Yadan landform on water. A large area of Yadan floats on the water like a majestic fleet.

The scenic area is too big and there are too few facilities inside. There are too few places to stay around and the price is too expensive. The scenery is very beautiful

Great, great, even though I ran more than 300 kilometers, it was worth it

It is a must-see attraction in Northwest China. You can experience the Gobi scenery and see the wonders of Yadan in the water. Experience our RV campsite.

The view is endless, the wonders of nature, and it feels like being free. It's so beautiful! It's worth a visit.

Tickets are 90, the journey is long... nothing to see

Asia's largest water-based Yadan landform: extremely beautiful

The Yadan on the water in Qinghai is a place worth visiting. The ocean that appears in the vast Gobi Desert is fascinating.

Tickets have been required here since a certain month in 2018, and the price is 120 yuan. For more details, you can read my travel notes. I suggest you stay one night to take pictures of the starry sky. It is quite beautiful, and you can also see shooting stars. It is worth coming!

A very unique scenic spot, which started charging admission in June 2018. It is located in a remote area, but the scenic spots along the way are good. Accommodation in the scenic area is tight and very expensive during the peak season. There are restaurants that provide buffets. It is still worth visiting.