Seven Days in Qinghai and Gansu: Listening to the Heartbeat of the Plateau

Seven-day, six-night travel itinerary:

Day 1: Xining - Laji Mountain - Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake

- Morning: Depart from Xining and head to Laji Mountain, a famous sacred mountain in the Tibetan area with an altitude of about 3820 meters at the pass. Enjoy the magnificent plateau scenery and Tibetan prayer flags.

- Afternoon: Arrive at Qinghai Lake. You can choose to enter through the herders' paths by the lake to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery, or visit the Erlangjian Scenic Area. In the evening, head to Chaka Salt Lake and stay in Chaka Town.

Day 2: Chaka - Qaidam Basin Gobi Desert - Emerald Lake - Dachaidan

- Morning: Depart from Chaka and cross the Qaidam Basin Gobi Desert, enjoying the vast desert and Gobi scenery along the way.

- Afternoon: Arrive at Emerald Lake, where the water is as green as jade and looks stunning in the evening light. After visiting, head to Dachaidan for accommodation.

Day 3: Dachaidan - 315 U-shaped Highway - Water Yadan - Dachaidan

- Morning: Head to the 315 U-shaped Highway for photo opportunities, but be cautious and do not stay in the middle of the road.

- Afternoon: Arrive at Water Yadan, take a sightseeing bus to explore and admire the unique water Yadan landforms. Return to Dachaidan in the evening.

Day 4: Dachaidan - Heidushan - Silk Road Ruins - Dunhuang

- Morning: Head to Heidushan, where the landscape resembles the surface of Mars, making it perfect for photography.

- Afternoon: Pass by the Silk Road Ruins and feel the historical significance. Then head to Dunhuang and visit the Dunhuang Night Market upon arrival.

Day 5: Dunhuang - Mogao Caves - Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake

- Morning: Visit the Mogao Caves. Book tickets in advance and follow the guide to admire the exquisite murals and statues.

- Afternoon: Head to Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake. You can choose to ride a camel up the mountain to enjoy the desert scenery and the beauty of Crescent Lake. Watch the sunset in the desert in the evening.

Day 6: Dunhuang - Guazhou Earth Son - Zhangye Danxia

- Morning: Depart from Dunhuang and head to Guazhou to visit the Earth Son, a large sculpture that is very impressive.

- Afternoon: Arrive at Zhangye Danxia and admire the colorful Danxia landforms at sunset. Stay in Zhangye city.

Day 7: Zhangye - Qilian Grassland - Menyuan - Xining

- Morning: Head to Qilian Grassland to enjoy the grassland scenery and experience activities such as horseback riding.

- Afternoon: Pass by Menyuan, where you can see vast fields of rapeseed flowers in July and August. Then return to Xining, ending the trip.

Notes:

- Prepare sunscreen, warm clothing, and medication for altitude sickness in advance.

- It is recommended to book tickets for attractions such as Mogao Caves and Chaka Salt Lake in advance.

- Be cautious when taking photos on the 315 U-shaped Highway and do not stay on the road for too long.

- The climate in some areas of the itinerary is dry, so pay attention to moisturizing and staying hydrated.