Traveling to Qinghai Lake with Kids! Unlock New Ways to Enjoy Family Fun and Check-in Spots

📚Qinghai Lake Family Travel Guide
🚙Itinerary
Starting from Xining, the first stop is Jinsha Bay, where the desert activities are perfect for parent-child interaction! Team up with your kids to slide down the sand dunes, competing to see who slides faster and steadier; the loser has to give the other a little hug. You can also ride a tandem camel with your child, slowly wandering through the desert while telling desert stories, letting your child experience the magic of the desert up close.

Next, head to Haiyan Bay, find a flat grassy area by the lake shore, spread out a picnic mat, and take out some snacks prepared in advance. Enjoy eating while admiring the beautiful lakeside scenery with your child. As the wind ripples the lake surface, your child won’t be able to resist reaching out to touch the cool water.

At Sand Island, explore the unique sand dune landscape with your child. Build sandcastles together using small shovels and buckets to create your own "desert castle." You can also look for birds with your child; when you see a bird land on the dunes, gently approach together to observe, cultivating your child’s observation skills.

Then visit Fairy Bay, a gathering place for migratory birds. Prepare binoculars for your child in advance so they can observe the distant migratory birds. Teach your child the names and characteristics of different migratory birds, then take a photo together with the birds in the frame to capture the beautiful moment.

Afterwards, go to Quanjixiang Fish Viewing Platform to watch the spectacular migration of naked carp in Qinghai Lake. Let your child count how many fish are swimming upstream, explain the carp’s habits and the significance of their migration, allowing your child to learn while playing.

Next, visit the cliff. Hold your child’s hand and slowly walk to the edge of the cliff (always pay attention to safety and your child’s movements). Together, overlook the deep blue lake and let your child loudly express their feelings about Qinghai Lake. Record your child’s innocent words and take a creative photo together, such as “holding up” the lake water with your hands.

Then go to Cormorant Island to watch cormorants resting on the island from a distance. Encourage your child to imitate the cormorants’ movements, making them laugh out loud. You can also have your child draw a picture of the cormorants resting, fostering their interest in drawing.

Next, visit Garila Monastery with your child for a quiet tour. Introduce the monastery’s architectural style and cultural background, letting your child experience different cultural charms and teaching them to respect different beliefs.

Then go to Donggeer Viewing Platform. Let your child stand at a high point to overlook the entire Qinghai Lake, point out the spots you’ve visited before, and help your child recall the travel experiences to deepen their travel memories.

Finally, pass through Heima River and Jiangxi Valley, arriving at Erlangjian, Swan Lake, and Jiayi Village. At Erlangjian, take your child on a boat ride (choose a child-friendly boat) to experience the vastness of Qinghai Lake up close. At Swan Lake, watch the swans swim gracefully and tell your child stories about swans. In Jiayi Village, let your child experience local folk activities, such as learning local dances to feel the folk customs.

🏨Accommodation Guide
For family trips to Qinghai Lake, we recommend staying at a nearby top luxury wild hotel — a high-end wild luxury hotel at Qinghai Lake (book in advance to choose a family package). The hotel boasts stunning lake views, with each room featuring large viewing windows. Wake up in the morning and enjoy the sunrise over Qinghai Lake with your child — super romantic. The family rooms are decorated with child-friendly touches, including bunk beds, cartoon dolls, and children’s picture books, making kids very happy as soon as they enter. The hotel also offers exclusive family services, including professional childcare staff (reservation required), allowing parents to relax occasionally; there are also family kitchen activities where you can make simple Qinghai specialty snacks with your child, enhancing family bonding. The hotel surroundings are quiet and peaceful; in the evening, you can take a walk with your child around the hotel to breathe fresh air and feel the tranquility of the plateau.

🍰Food Recommendations
🥘Hand-pulled lamb: Choose tender lamb ribs, cook and tear into small pieces for easy chewing by kids. Dip in a little pepper salt for a delicious taste that kids will want more of, replenishing energy spent during play😋.
🍜Qinghai local hot pot: Rich and diverse ingredients including meats, vegetables, and tofu products. After stewing, the flavors are soft and rich. Serve your child a warm bowl of hot pot soup with their favorite ingredients for balanced nutrition, perfect for sharing with kids🥢.
🥟Dog Urine Cake: Crispy texture with a faint wheat and oil aroma. Cut into small pieces for kids to hold and eat. Pair with some side dishes to add layers of flavor. Kids will find it novel and enjoy it very much😃.
🍵Butter Tea: Ask the shop to use less salt in advance to suit kids’ tastes. Warm butter tea helps relieve altitude sickness and warms the body. Drinking a cup during breaks keeps kids in good condition🥤.
🍧Yogurt: Local specialty yogurt with a rich taste. Add a little honey for flavor; sweet and sour, it helps stimulate appetite and is perfect as a dessert.

💰Cost Details
🎫Tickets: Some Qinghai Lake attractions charge admission, such as Erlangjian Scenic Area. Children under 1.2 meters are free, children 1.2 - 1.4 meters pay half price, adult tickets are about 150 RMB each. Family tickets (two adults and one child) cost around 300 RMB🎫.
🍱Food: Eating local food with kids, considering their taste and nutrition, costs about 120 - 160 RMB per person per day. For 4 days of travel, expect 480 - 640 RMB.
🚗Transportation: For family travel, chartering a car is preferred for convenience with strollers and luggage. Chartering around the lake costs about 500 RMB per person; for a family (three adults or two adults and one child), transportation costs about 1500 RMB. Public transport is cheaper but requires more attention to child safety🚌.
🏨Accommodation: Top luxury wild hotel family rooms cost about 900 - 1300 RMB per person per night. For 3 nights, a family (two adults and one child) pays about 2700 - 3900 RMB.
Total cost per person is about 1800 - 2600 RMB (excluding round-trip major transportation).

🕳️Avoidance Tips
⚠️When playing by the lake with kids, always hold their hands and do not let them approach the lake alone. Do not enter herders’ pastures casually to avoid accidents or disputes. If entry is necessary, communicate with herders in advance and pay fees💰.
⚠️When buying local specialties for kids, such as yak jerky or Tibetan ornaments, buy from reputable stores. Check product ingredients and expiration dates carefully to avoid poor-quality products. Avoid buying very small ornaments to prevent choking hazards🛍.
⚠️Qinghai Lake has strong UV rays. Use children’s high SPF sunscreen (SPF50+, PA+++ or above), reapply every 2-3 hours. Also, have kids wear wide-brimmed hats, children’s sunglasses, and breathable long sleeves and pants for full sun protection🧴.
⚠️In the plateau area, prepare common medicines for kids, such as fever reducers, stomach medicine, and altitude sickness medicine. Avoid letting kids run or jump for too long, avoid strenuous exercise, and ensure adequate rest.

✌️Scenic Photo Spots
📸Cliff: Sit with your child on the grass near the cliff edge (ensure a safe distance). Use the deep blue lake and cliff as the background. Let your child hold a small toy to interact with, creating photos full of childlike fun and atmosphere.
📸Fairy Bay: With many migratory birds, have your child stand on the lakeside boardwalk with arms wide open. Parents take photos from the side, capturing your child with birds and lake scenery in one frame — healing and warm.
📸Erlangjian: Stand with your child on the lakeside viewing platform. Let your child point to the distant lake while parents shoot from behind, capturing both the vastness of Qinghai Lake and moments of parent-child interaction.
📸Swan Lake: Sit with your child by the lake and wait for swans to swim over. When a swan approaches, quickly snap a photo of your child and the swan making eye contact — super adorable.