Qinghai-Gansu Family Travel Guide

Taking the kids to play on the Qinghai-Gansu Loop Line is a great experience! But the attractions are far away and the routes are complicated, driving by yourself is too tiring and joining a tour group is too rushed? Try chartering a car! It's worry-free and you can take your time to explore. The following is a 7-day parent-child strategy, save it quickly!

📌 Must-read before chartering a car (summary of experience with children!)
❗Sunscreen! The ultraviolet rays on the plateau are strong and the baby's skin is tender, so apply SPF50+ children's sunscreen several times and prepare sun hats, sun protection sleeves, and children's sunglasses!
❗Keep warm! The temperature difference between day and night in Qinghai is large, so please bring windproof jackets and thin down liners for your children. When going to the lake or the pass, bring a small scarf to avoid catching cold.
❗Moisturize! The air in the northwest is dry, and babies' lips and faces are prone to chapped. Carry children's lip balm and non-irritating facial cream with you, and urge your children to drink more water.
❗Prevent altitude sickness! The altitude of the trip is not high, but don't let your children run or jump violently. Prepare some glucose and children's gastrointestinal medicine. If necessary, you can ask the chartered car driver for help.

🏜 7 days and 6 nights in Northwest China detailed route
🔸DAY1: Lanzhou / Xining - Ta'er Temple - Erlang Sword of Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake - Chaka Town
🔸DAY2: Chaka Town - Chaka Salt Lake - 315U Highway - Water Yadan - Dachaidan Emerald Lake - Dachaidan
🔸DAY3: Da Qaidam - Boluo Zhuanjing - Silk Road Cultural Heritage City - Dunhuang
🔸DAY4: Dunhuang - Yangguan - Yumenguan - Yadan National Geopark - Dunhuang
🔸DAY5: Dunhuang - Mogao Grottoes - Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake - Dunhuang
🔸DAY6: Dunhuang - Jiayuguan Pass - Colorful Danxia - Zhangye
🔸DAY7: Zhangye - Qilian Mountain Prairie - Gangshika Snow Peak - Menyuan Rapeseed Flowers - Xining

Suggestions for attractions
Erlangjian, Qinghai Lake: Wear seat belts when taking a boat trip. You can fly kites on the surrounding grass. Prepare some snacks to prevent children from getting upset.
Chaka Salt Lake: Take the kids there in the morning, the light is perfect for taking photos. Wear waterproof shoe covers to prevent brine from getting your shoes wet.
315U-type highway: You can take photos on the roadside, but don’t go to the middle of the road as there are too many cars and it is dangerous!
Yadan on the Water: The sunset view is charming. Bring your children early to grab a good seat and prepare a small blanket to sit and enjoy the view.
Daxiadan Emerald Lake: The lake surface is like a gem. Hold your children tightly and walk slowly to avoid running around.
Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes: Children can make an appointment for children's guided tours. Children enjoy listening to storytelling more. Flash photography is prohibited in the caves.
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake: Choose a docile camel, have your child wear a sand-proof face towel, and climb the sand hill in the evening to watch the sunset.
Jiayuguan Pass: Renting ancient costumes for children to play "time travel" and taking photos is very memorable.
Colorful Danxia: Follow the instructions to the observation deck. Platform 4 is suitable for watching the sunset. Take your children and walk slowly.
Qilian Mountain Grassland: Feed the lambs with your children, pay attention to their horns, and feel the vastness of the grassland.
Gangshika Snow Peak: You can admire the snow-capped mountains from a distance. Don’t get close to them when it’s cold. Take some photos with your children.
Menyuan rapeseed flowers: The path along the sea of flowers is great for taking photos. Let your children wear bright-colored clothes to avoid damaging the flower fields.

🚗Travel options
✅Self-driving: The attractions are far away, and you need to worry about the road conditions and itinerary when taking children. It is not recommended unless you are an experienced driver.
✅Group tour: The itinerary is tight, time is tight, children get tired easily, and they don’t enjoy the trip to their heart’s content.
✅ Charter a car: Flexible time, stop whenever you want, find a reliable travel agency, children can rest at any time when they are tired, and the whole family can travel the northwest easily.

👗Qinggan parent-child outfit tips (photogenic and comfortable!)
🔷Qinghai Lake / Chaka Salt Lake / Emerald Lake: Don’t forget to dress your children in bright red, white and yellow jackets, hooded sweatshirts, thick coats and shoe covers!
🔷U-shaped road / Yadan / Oil town: overalls, denim suits, paired with children's Martin boots and small sunglasses, both handsome and windproof!
🔷Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake: Lightweight Western-style jumpsuit, children's sand-proof hat, photogenic red and black color combination, and sand-proof shoe covers are a must!
🔸Qilian Grassland/Rapeseed Field: A fresh floral skirt, a cartoon T-shirt, a small straw hat, and soft-soled sneakers for running and jumping.
🔸Colorful Danxia: A simple solid-color pullover to avoid being similar in color to the terrain, and sweatpants that are convenient for movement and very practical.
Things to bring along throughout the trip: children's jackets/thin down liner (large temperature difference between day and night!), children's sun protection clothing, comfortable sports shoes/hiking shoes, and spare socks.

Precautions
Documents: Bring your family’s ID cards, your child’s household registration booklet, and also bring your student ID and parent-child annual pass. Some attractions offer discounts.
Diet: Northwestern food has a heavy flavor, so prepare children's tableware, bring your children's favorite snacks and fruit purees, and have them drink plenty of warm water.
Consumption: Negotiate the price before riding a camel or buying souvenirs in the scenic area to avoid disputes and choose safe activities.
Environmental protection: Teach your children to throw garbage into the trash can and protect the beautiful scenery of the Northwest together.
Communication: Download offline maps, save the phone number of the chartered driver, and give your children a positioning bracelet to keep track of their location at all times.
Health: Carry common medicines for children (antipyretics, cold medicines, gastrointestinal medicines), pay attention to your child’s mental state every day, and let him rest if he feels uncomfortable.