I visited Qinghai three times and was amazed every time! Here is a complete guide

I visited Qinghai in 2017 and 2020
At that time, the scenery of Qinghai already amazed me
On May Day this year, I set foot on Qinghai for the third time. I didn’t expect that this land would shock me even more!
This time I finally visited the gorgeous colors of Qinghai!
Self-driving route
DayShanghai Dunhuang-Lenghu Town
Day Lenghu - Heidu Mountain - Oil Town - Oboliang Day Oboliang - Shuiyadan - Dongtai Jinair Lake Day Shuiyadan - U-shaped highway - Blood of the Earth - Chaerhan Salt Lake - Dachaidan
Day Dachaidan Emerald Lake-Jinguang Pagoda-Delingha Shanghai
This route is part of the Qinghai-Gansu Great Ring Road. It starts from Dunhuang to Delingha and spans the entire Qaidam Basin. On the way, it passes colorful salt lakes, various Yadan, and the ink paintings of Heidu Mountain, which is fascinating. Feel the miraculous craftsmanship of nature!
Recommended attractions
A must-see at Dachaidan Emerald Lake
Located in Dachaidan Town, there are colorful salt lakes in the scenic area, which are particularly stunning on sunny days and the aerial photography is very photogenic.
If you are pressed for time, Qarhan Salt Lake can be abandoned in Golmud City. It takes about an hour and a half to get there from Dachaidan. After arriving, you need to take a scenic bus for half an hour to enter, which takes a long time. It is characterized by the green apple-colored salt lake, which is easy to produce aerial photography~
Dongtai Jinair Lake is a must-see for free
The salt lake located on the edge of Yadan on the water is called the Maldives of Qinghai. A sightseeing drive has now been built to reach the lake. The color is great, don’t miss it!
Recommended by Shuiyadan
The only Yadan Group on the water in the world is a rare spectacle, and it may dry up one day in the future. However, the accommodation conditions in the scenic area are average.
Oboliang
If you are short of time, you can give up. A must-go for starry sky lovers
The Yadan Group, located deep in the Gobi Desert, looks like the surface of Mars. It is far away from human settlements, making it a holy place for starry sky photography. However, the road conditions are poor and the distance is long, and tickets to scenic spots are relatively expensive. If you are pressed for time, you may choose to give up.
Heidu Mountain is free and a must-go
The most popular attraction in Lenghu Town in recent years, drive to the parking lot and enter on foot. The black and gray mountain structure creates a stunning ink painting.
The U-shaped road is free and a must-go
A section of National Highway 315, you can just park on the side of the road, it’s very cinematic
Blood of the Earth can be photographed aerially while passing by
National Highway 315 is not so bright to the naked eye and requires aerial photography to see the complete picture. Aerial photography enthusiasts can take a photo when passing by.
Free recommendations for oil towns
The ruins of an oil town near Lenghu Town. You can stop by after leaving Heidu Mountain.
Delingha Golden Light Tower Recommendation
A solar power generation device located next to downtown Delingha has a very sci-fi feel!