Summer Vacation Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop 6-Day 5-Night Pure Fun Guide

🌈Six days and five nights Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop tour!! Get a meaningful trip with less money 😭 This practical guide was painstakingly compiled by a local Northwesterner for you‼️ Save it now for future reference 💁‍♀️
🏯Itinerary Overview:
🔆Day 1: Xining → Riyue Mountain → Qinghai Lake → Chaka Salt Lake → Delingha (overnight)
🔆Day 2: Delingha → 315 U-shaped Highway → Watery Yadan → Dachaidan (overnight)
🔆Day 3: Dachaidan → Emerald Lake → Silk Road Heritage City → Dunhuang (overnight)
🔆Day 4: Dunhuang → Mogao Caves → Singing Sand Mountain/Crescent Moon Spring → Dunhuang (overnight)
🔆Day 5: Dunhuang → "Child of the Earth" → Jiayuguan Pass → Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains → Zhangye (overnight)
🔆Day 6: Zhangye → Qilian Mountain Grassland → Distant View of Gangshika Snow Peak → Xining

🌈Popular Attractions in the Northwest:
Qinghai Lake: Majestic scenery of a highland lake.
Chaka Salt Lake: A salt lake resembling a mirror of the sky.
Chaerhan Salt Lake: An apple-green salt lake of breathtaking beauty.
Watery Yadan: Unique groups of Yadan landforms on water.
Mogao Caves: An artistic treasure trove of thousand-year-old Buddhist caves.
Zhangye Danxia: A visual feast of colorful Danxia landforms.
Jiayuguan Pass: The historical grandeur of the "First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven."
Singing Sand Mountain & Crescent Moon Spring: A desert wonder of sand and spring coexisting.

🍲Must-Try Foods:
✅Hand-grabbed Mutton: Made from highland lamb, boiled until tender, with no gamey taste. Enjoy with salt, pepper, or chili oil. Pair with sweet fermented barley wine for a refreshing taste.
✅Qinghai Hot Pot: A copper pot with charcoal fire stewing yak meat, lamb offal, potatoes, etc. The rich broth pairs well with yogurt for added flavor.
✅Liangpi: Thick black liangpi served with mustard chili oil, offering a spicy and sour taste. Best enjoyed with sweet fermented barley milk tea.
✅Yak Yogurt: Golden milk skin on top, creamy and tangy, highly nutritious.
✅Kangguo Lamb: Iron-pan roasted lamb with potatoes and wide noodles, crispy and aromatic.
✅"Dog-Pee" Oil Cake: Fried dough cake drizzled with oil until crispy, served with sugar or stuffed with lamb.
✅Sweet Fermented Barley: A sweet fermented barley drink, refreshing when chilled.
✅Dunhuang Donkey Meat Noodles: Chewy yellow noodles topped with donkey meat sauce, garlic, and chili oil—a premium lunch for Dunhuang locals.
✅Lanzhou Beef Noodles: Clear broth with chewy noodles, featuring "one clear, two white, three red, four green" toppings. The first pot of broth in the morning is the freshest.
✅Jiayuguan BBQ: Lamb skewers grilled on red willow branches, infused with a smoky aroma.
✅Zhangye Specialties: Beef vendors, saozi noodles, rolled chicken, and stir-fried bolar.

‼️Travel Tips for the Northwest:
🍒Large temperature differences between day and night—bring warm clothes.
🍒High altitude—guard against altitude sickness.
🍒Dry climate—drink plenty of water.
🍒Strong UV rays—use sunscreen.
🍒Respect local customs and traditions.
🍒Desert winds carry sand—protect your eyes.
🍒Dietary differences—bring stomach medicine.

⚠️Important Notes for Northwest Travel:
🎖Prevent Altitude Sickness: Some areas in Qinghai exceed 3,000 meters (e.g., Qinghai Lake at 3,200 meters). Avoid strenuous activity upon arrival. Take Rhodiola supplements 1-2 weeks in advance and carry oxygen bottles and glucose oral solution.
🎖Summer nights can drop below 10°C—dress warmly. The temperature difference is significant, especially around Qinghai Lake and Qilian Mountain. Bring a windproof jacket or lightweight down coat.
🎖Sun Protection & Moisturizing: Extreme UV rays require SPF 50+ sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat. Reapply every 2 hours. The dry climate calls for lip balm and hydrating masks.
🎖Stay Hydrated: Drink warm water frequently in high-altitude areas. Avoid alcohol and late nights.
🎖Choose Reliable Transport: Ensure drivers are familiar with the routes. Prioritize local experienced guides or travel agencies.
🎖Desert Safety: Hold tight to the saddle when riding camels to prevent falls. Wear high-top shoes and sandproof covers for desert hikes.

@Gan-Qing Local Guide Chen Zhilan
Qinghai Lake · Qinghai
Chaka Salt Lake
Dachaidan Emerald Lake Scenic Area
Mogao Caves
Singing Sand Mountain & Crescent Moon Spring
Jiayuguan Pass
Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains Scenic Area
Qilian Mountain Grassland
Menyuan Hundred-Mile Rapeseed Flower Sea
Chaerhan Salt Lake