Qinghai is a province where natural beauty and humanistic landscapes are intertwined, and boasts many desirable tourist attractions. Below are the top 10 attractions in Qinghai, summarized with information from multiple sources:
1. Qinghai Lake: As the largest inland saltwater lake in China, Qinghai Lake is not only a shining pearl on the grassland, but also an excellent place to view natural beauty. Erlangjian Scenic Area (also known as Base 151) is one of the best places to view the lake, while the sunrise view of the Heima River is equally mesmerizing. In addition, Fairy Bay Wetland and Gahai Lake are also unmissable attractions around Qinghai Lake.
2. Caka Salt Lake: Known as China's “Land of the Sky”, Caka Salt Lake looks like a huge mirror reflecting the beauty of the world under the blue sky and white clouds. The most beautiful season here is July-September, when the rainfall is strong and the lake surface has a certain depth, which is most suitable for taking photos.
3. Dachaidan Emerald Lake: Snowy mountains as a curtain, salt lake as a mirror, Dachaidan Emerald Lake is famous for its magnificent natural scenery and rich salt lake resources. The lake here is emerald green in color and is breathtakingly beautiful.
4. Yadan on the Water: a masterpiece of nature's ingenious craftsmanship, the Yadan mound and the azure lake blend with each other, forming an absolutely beautiful picture. It is not only a paradise for photographers, but also an excellent place to explore the beauty of nature.
5. Qilian Mountains: Known as the “Heavenly Qilian” and the “Little Switzerland of the East”, the Qilian Mountains are famous for their magnificent mountain landscapes and rich ecological resources. This is not only the ideal place for mountaineering enthusiasts, but also a good place to enjoy the plateau scenery.
6. Menyuan rapeseed sea: every July, Menyuan rapeseed sea in full bloom, forming a natural beauty of the oil painting. The golden-colored rapeseed sea and the blue sky, white clouds, green mountains and green water reflect each other beautifully.
7. Kumbum Monastery: As the center of Tibetan Buddhism activities in the northwest, Thar Monastery is not only rich in religious and cultural heritage, but also famous for its exquisite ghee flowers, pile embroidery and thangkas and other works of art. It is an important place to learn about Tibetan Buddhist culture.
8. Mogao Grottoes: Although located in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, the Mogao Grottoes are worth mentioning considering their importance on the Silk Road and their complementary role to tourism in Qinghai. Known as the “Louvre of the Orient”, the Mogao Caves are an important window into ancient Chinese culture and art, with their many exquisite murals and statues.
9. Qinghai Provincial Museum: As an important place to learn about the history and culture of Qinghai, the Qinghai Provincial Museum has a rich collection of cultural relics and artifacts. It is most characterized by colored pottery relics, showing the historical changes and cultural development of Qinghai from ancient times to modern times.
Tourists can make reasonable arrangements according to their own interests and time when planning their trips. At the same time, because Qinghai is located in the plateau area, the climate and transportation conditions are relatively special, tourists should pay attention to fully prepared and understand the relevant information before traveling.