Qinghai Lake: A Masterpiece of Nature

Qinghai Lake is so beautiful, it made me cry 😭. Here's a nanny-level guide‼️ | Enjoy the Sky Mirror for an average of CNY 2k+ ✨
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📅Best time to visit: Mid-June to early July (when the rapeseed flowers are just beginning to bloom + migratory bird season)
🚗Transportation recommendations: Rent a car (average of CNY 250 per day) or charter a carpool (average of CNY 500 per person/3 days)
🧳Must-have items: Sunscreen, sunglasses, moisturizing face masks, and your ID card (for frequent checks along the way).
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📝[4 Days and 3 Nights Itinerary]
Day 1⃣: Xining → Qinghai Lake (stay in Hei Ma He)
▪Morning: Rent a car at Xining Airport → Riyue Mountain Scenic Area (CNY 40 entrance ticket) → Daotang River (free viewing platform)
▪Afternoon: Erlangjian Scenic Area (CNY 90 entrance ticket, it is recommended to take a boat to the Peninsula Pier) → Cycling around the Huanhu West Road (CNY 30/hour rental)
▪Dinner: "Mumin Renjia" in Hei Ma He Town, try the wok-braised lamb chops + yak yogurt
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Day 2⃣: Hei Ma He → Chaka Salt Lake → Gangcha (stay in a lakeside tent)
▪5:30: Watch the sunrise in Hei Ma He
▪Morning: Chaka Salt Lake (CNY 60 entrance ticket + CNY 50 for a one-way small train ride) → Sky No. 1 Scenic Area
▪Lunch: "Yanhugushi" in Chaka Town, try the highland barley cake with buttered tea
▪Afternoon: Horse riding on the Gangcha Grassland → Huangyu migration observation point (free)
▪Accommodation: Qinghai Lake herdsmen's yurt (CNY 150 per person, including breakfast and dinner)
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Day 3⃣: In-depth tour of the Northern Ring Road
▪Morning: Bird Island free bird watching platform → Take photos at Sand Island (no need to enter the scenic area)
▪Lunch: "Gaoyuanxian" in Gangcha County, try the Qinghai local hot pot
▪Afternoon: Jin Yin Tan Grassland (free) → Atomic City Museum (closed on Mondays)
▪Dinner: Xining Mojia Street Night Market
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Day 4⃣: Xining cultural experience
▪Morning: Ta'er Monastery (CNY 70 entrance ticket) → Tibetan clothing experience
▪Lunch: "Mazhong Restaurant" in Shuijing Lane, try the Niangpi + sweet fermented flour
▪Afternoon: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park (see snow leopards! CNY 30 entrance ticket)
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🍜[Must-Eat Food List] 👀
✅Hand-grabbed mutton 🥩: "Caoyuanqing" in Hei Ma He Town, CNY 88/0.5 kg (amazing with garlic slices)
✅Yak yogurt 🥛: Homemade by herdsmen, CNY 5/bowl (with golden milk skin on the surface)
✅Gou Giao Niao You Bing 🫓: Mojia Street, CNY 3/piece (the bean flour is super fragrant)
✅Sweet fermented flour: Highland barley fermented drink, CNY 6/cup 🥛 (a summer heat reliever)
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⚠️[Tips to Avoid Pitfalls] 🧭
1⃣Bird Island/Sand Island is closed, go to the free viewing platform; bargain with herdsmen on small paths to enter the lakeside for CNY 10/person
2⃣Xining → Qinghai Lake, take the G109 National Highway, which is 10 times more beautiful than the expressway
3⃣Chaka Salt Lake is highly corrosive, buy waterproof shoe covers online in advance (the ones rented in the scenic area are easy to break)
4⃣Qinghai Lake is 3,200m above sea level, prepare oral glucose solution + ibuprofen
5⃣Choose a Hei Ma He tent camp that is 500m away from the lake (half the price), book a room 15 days in advance 🏠
Go Go Go, let's go!‼️