Kekexili Autumn Special: Explore the Wild Animal Kingdom with Kids, This Nature Class

Hi~ I’m Keke’s Mom! Autumn in Kekexili has no summer crowds but is the golden season for wildlife watching! We took our 5-year-old on the Qinghai-Tibet route and saw Tibetan antelopes, wild donkeys, and meerkats. The kid came home and made an “Animal Diary”! Sharing a 4-day, 3-night itinerary👇

🚗 Itinerary: Enter and exit from Golmud, gradual altitude adaptation

Day 1: Gather in Golmud (altitude 2800m)

• Buy oxygen tanks and snacks, take the kid to visit General’s Tower Park to learn about the history of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway.

• Recommended stay: “Golmud Jinling Hotel,” which has oxygen rooms.

Day 2: Golmud → Budongquan (280km, 5h)

• Stop along the way: Kunlun Pass (4768m), short break to take photos of the snow-capped mountains, bring portable oxygen.

• Hidden activity: Budongquan Protection Station, listen to rangers’ stories about rescuing Tibetan antelopes.

Day 3: Budongquan → Sonam Dargye Station → Golmud

• Morning patrol with the protection station vehicle (reservation required), use binoculars to spot Tibetan antelope herds (their yellow-brown autumn fur blends with the grassland).

• Afternoon return trip stop at Wuji Longfeng Palace, kid feeds the fearless wild sheep.

Day 4: Return from Golmud or head to Dunhuang

🐐 Parent-Child Wildlife Watching Guide

Observation times: Animals are active from 8-10 AM and 5-7 PM; mostly hiding at noon.

Gear: Binoculars (8x or higher), telephoto lens (200mm+), animal identification cards.

Safe distance: Observe from at least 100 meters away; wild donkeys are very alert, do not approach.

👶 Thoughtful Arrangements for Young Kids

• Split driving time: daily driving ≤5 hours, with 2-3 rest stops along the way.

• Food assurance: self-heating rice meals + fruit; children’s food can be replenished in Golmud.

• Altitude sickness plan: doctor’s phone on standby, blood oxygen monitor for real-time checks.

🌟 Inspiring Education

• At the Sonam Dargye Memorial, read the story of protecting Tibetan antelopes to the kid, planting the seed of environmental awareness.

• Bring back a Tibetan antelope plush toy; the kid said, “We must protect their home.”

Autumn in Kekexili is vast and precious. See you next at Qinghai Lake! ✨