Northwest Grand Loop 7-Day Tour｜Chaka Emerald Lake + Mingsha Mountain + Zhangye Danxia

【Itinerary】
Day 1: Qinghai Lake
Horse riding at the lakeside pasture, circle around West Ring Road, watch the sunrise
Day 2: Chaka Salt Lake
📍Address: No.9, Yanhu Road, Chaka Town, Wulan County, Haixi Prefecture
⏰Opening Hours: July-August 07:00-21:30｜September-December 07:30-19:00
💰Ticket: 60 RMB
✨The Mirror of the Sky is breathtaking! Don’t forget to bring a red dress for the perfect photo!
Day 3:
🌊Dachaidan Emerald Lake (Dachaidan Administrative District, Haixi Prefecture)
⏰08:30-19:00 💰50 RMB
🏜️Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring (Mingsha Road, Dunhuang City)
⏰06:00-19:30 💰110 RMB
✨Tiffany blue Emerald Lake by day, sunset at Crescent Spring by evening, two must-sees in one day!
Day 4:
🕍Mogao Caves (Yangguan Avenue, Dunhuang City)
⏰Peak season 8:00-18:00｜Off-season 9:00-17:00
👶Son of the Earth (County Road 270, Guazhou County) Free all day
🎨Millennium murals that move your soul, giant sculptures perfect for photos!
Day 5:
🏯Jiayuguan Fortress
🌈Zhangye Danxia
✨Meet the rainbow mountains at the Gobi fortress, remember to fully charge your camera!
Day 6:
🦄Mati Temple
✨A sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism on the snowland, stunning snow mountains and grasslands!
🏨【Accommodation Recommendations】
Chaka Town: Salt Lake Inn (walking distance to the scenic area)
Dachaidan: Snow Mountain View Hotel
Dunhuang: Very convenient near Shazhou Night Market
Zhangye: Danxia Mouth Homestay (5 minutes to the scenic area)
🍴【Food Recommendations】
☕Dunhuang Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles (night market stalls)
🍵Jiayuguan Barbecue Street
🍜Zhangye Cuo Fish Noodles (local favorite)
🍖Must-try hand-pulled lamb!

📌【Useful Tips】
1. Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen! UV rays are max in the Northwest+
2. Rent shoe covers on-site at Chaka Salt Lake
3. Book Mogao Caves tickets one month in advance
4. Big temperature difference between morning and night, layering down jacket + short sleeves is the way to go
5. Remember to register your drone in advance～