Qilian Mountains Self-Driving Guide for Kids: Average 2h Driving per Day, Encounter the Fairy Tale Road of Snowy Mountains and Golden Forests

Dear ones! If you love self-driving, please keep this Qilian Mountains "Most Beautiful Autumn Road" guide! We drove an SUV with the kids through grasslands, canyons, and rivers, with only 2-3 hours of driving each day, stopping anytime along the way to have fun, and the kids didn’t cry or fuss the whole time!

🛣️ Self-driving route: Xining → Menyuan → Qilian → Gangcha

Day 1: Xining → Menyuan (150km, 3h)

• Pass by Dabanshan Viewing Platform, overlooking the snow-capped Qilian Mountains, with golden rapeseed fields interspersed below the mountains.

• Stay in the evening at Menyuan "Longsheng International Hotel," which has heated floors and children's rooms.

Day 2: Menyuan → Qilian (200km, 4h)

• Key section: Ebao Valley, stop by the river for a picnic, with thick white birch leaves carpeting the ground!

• Hidden spot: Behind the temple on the mountain of the Arou Tribe, free to climb to the top for a panoramic view of the grasslands.

Day 3: Qilian Loop Tour (80km, 2h)

• Morning at Zhuo'er Mountain: Drive to the back mountain’s free pasture and take photos with the yak herd.

• Afternoon at Binggou Forest Sea: Drive through pine forests, sunlight filtering through golden leaves creating beautiful light spots, perfect for stunning road photos.

Day 4: Qilian → Gangcha (180km, 3.5h)

• Along the way, the autumn colors of Muer Grassland are in full bloom, occasionally encountering marmots storing food, kids screaming at the car window!

🚙 Self-driving essentials

• Vehicle: SUV preferred (some gravel roads), check antifreeze in advance, prepare snow chains (possible snowfall after October).

• Supplies: Car inflatable bed (for kids’ naps), children’s snack box, walkie-talkies (no signal in some areas).

📸 Photo spots

• Zhuo'er Mountain Beacon Tower: Soft light at 4 PM, great for family silhouettes.

• Binggou River Reflection: Take symmetrical forest photos on the water surface early in the morning when there is no wind.

• Pasture Mongolian Yurt: Red Tibetan costumes with golden meadows, full of folk atmosphere.

💡 Safety tips

• Grassland roads speed limit 60 km/h, watch out for suddenly crossing cattle and sheep.

• Download offline maps (Qinghai Traffic Radio FM89.3 for road conditions).

Autumn in Qilian stretches beneath the wheels, next time unlocking Qinghai Lake guide!💛