Brief Introduction
A lush meadow with yellow rapeseed flowers, behind the green and yellow, there is an endless blue lake, that is Qinghai Lake. The Tibetan name of Qinghai Lake is "Tsowunbu" (meaning "blue sea").
Qinghai Lake is 105 kilometers long, and 63 kilometers wide, with an altitude of 3,196 meters and an area of 4,952 square kilometers. It is the largest inland lake and saltwater lake in China. It is located in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, northwest of Xining City, and across Haiyan, Gangca, and Gonghe counties of Haibei and Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.The overall outline of the basin is elliptical and slopes from northwest to southeast. It is a closed inland basin with a plateau continental climate. The annual runoff recharge is mainly from the Buha River, Shaliu River, Uhaalan River, and Hargai River.
Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve and its surrounding areas are rich in wild animal resources. According to surveys, there are 189 species of birds, 41 species of beasts, 5 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 8 species of fish. The animal fauna in the reserve is mainly the typical wild animals of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Qinghai Lake is a Tibetan cultural area. It not only has the common characteristics of Tibetan cultural areas but also has the common ethnic customs and cultural origins of Tibetan cultural areas. At the same time, it also has its unique water culture characteristics, including cultural customs with a long history such as offering sacrifices to the sea and turning lakes, as well as Kunlun culture, West Queen Mother culture, etc., forming the unique cultural atmosphere of Qinghai Lake.
The most beautiful lake: the crystal clear plateau lake, combined with Qinghai Lake and its surrounding characteristic islands, vast grasslands, and snow-capped mountains, constitutes a charming Qinghai Lake Scenic Area. Qinghai Lake has beautiful scenery and was rated as "the most beautiful lake in China" by China National Geographic. There are flocks of fish and seabirds nest here, so it is known as a "bird paradise".
Buddhist Pilgrimage Holy lake: Qinghai Lake is a Buddhist pilgrimage holy lake. Many Buddhists will go around Qinghai Lake, believing that this will help to live a safe and happy life.
Golden Sea of Rapeseed Flowers: Rapeseed flowers grow around Qinghai Lake in summer. If you come in July and August, you can enjoy the gorgeous golden ocean.
Scenic Areas in Qinghai Lake
Erlangjian Scenic Area
Erlangjian Scenic Area is located on the south bank of Qinghai Lake. Walking on the long pier, you can enjoy magnificent views of snowy peaks, calm water, vast grasslands, large flocks of birds, etc., and if the weather is clear, see the sand islands on the far shore of the huge dunes. To better enjoy the scenery of Qinghai Lake, there are small areas such as Bird Watching Terrace, Hirschgarten, Lake Watching Bridge, Lake Watching Pavilion, and so on.
Erlangjian Scenic Area not only has amazing natural scenery but also some interesting experience activities. If you are interested in cycling, you can ride from Jiayi Temple to Erlang Sword Scenic Area for about 2 hours.
In addition, you can also take a boat in the Erlangjian Scenic Area to enjoy the Qinghai Lake, as well as enjoy large-scale folk songs and dances, and Tibetan folk customs. What's more, you can try to play water games such as water scooters, water bikes, and self-driving yachts.
Heimahe Town
Heimahe Town is located in the southwest corner of Qinghai Lake. It is the starting point of Huanhu West Road, an important supply station for cyclists, and a transfer station for passengers from Qinghai Lake to Chaka Salt Lake. It is an excellent place to watch and photograph the sunrise in the Qinghai Lake area.
When the sun rises over Qinghai Lake, the sky, lakes, mountains, etc. are painted in hues of yellow, orange and red. When the sky is completely illuminated, you can clearly see the colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind and the seagulls flapping their wings.
In fact, the Sunrise Observatory is about 2 km from the city. Many visitors choose to stay in town and then drive to the platform to watch the sunrise.
Bird Island Scenic Area
Bird Island is located in the east of Qinghai Lake and is composed of Qinghai Lake Island Group. This is a nature reserve, with more than 160,000 birds such as seagulls, wild geese, swans, cormorants, and rare black-necked cranes during the breeding season. Bird Island, a breeding ground for migratory birds, has long been a major attraction for visitors to the Lake District. Most of the birds in Qinghai Lake inhabit two islands.
Birds migrate from the south to Bird Island and start nesting in March and April. In May and June, eggs and small birds appear everywhere, which is the time when the number of birds is the highest. In July and August, birds are flying under the blue sky, which is spectacular.
Sand Island Scenic Area
Sand Island is located in the northeast of Qinghai Lake, mainly composed of Jinsha Bay and Yinsha Bay, scattered with Sand Island Lake, Moon Lake, Sun Lake, and so on. The beautiful dunes in the Sand Island area have different shapes and bright colors, making them an ideal place for sightseeing, sand skiing, sand motoring, and sand sculpture. At the same time, it is also the best resort for viewing Qinghai Lake and wetland scenery.
Fairy Bay Scenic Area
Fairy Bay Scenic Area is located on the north shore of Qinghai Lake. It is an important wetland in Qinghai Lake and the home of swans. With the plateau meadow wetland and Tibetan cultural customs, it has become a tourist attraction integrating the plateau wetland ecological experience and sea sacrifice culture. Every June to October, in addition to all kinds of birds, there are also all kinds of flowers in full bloom here. With its magical legends and stunning landscapes, locals regard it as a sacred place and hold some solemn ceremonies.
Things to Do
Cycle Around Qinghai Lake
There are bicycle lanes in Qinghai Lake Scenic Area, and the road conditions are good and safe. If you are a cycling enthusiast and want to fully appreciate the beautiful scenery of Qinghai Lake, cycling is an activity you cannot miss. After cycling around the lake, you will feel the unspeakable exhaustion of your body, but the joy of your heart is unparalleled. For visitors who only want a short cycling experience, we recommend cycling from Jiayi Temple to Erlangjian Scenic Area. It won't be too difficult or take too much time.
Take a Cruise on Qinghai Lake
Do you want to see the beautiful lake from another angle? Lake cruises are your best bet. In the Erlangjian Scenic Area, you can try the Qinghai Lake cruise experience. You'll feel like you're standing in the water as the cruise boat enters the azure lake, with the breeze blowing gently across your face and seabirds flying. The cruise ship has complete facilities, including restaurants, cafes, and VIP rooms, so that you can get a relaxing rest while resting.
Watch Local Ceremonies
Since ancient times, Tibetan people in the surrounding areas of Qinghai Lake have begun to worship Qinghai Lake. Sacrifice to Qinghai Lake is a grand ceremony in Qinghai, where you can feel the sacred atmosphere. It is not only a religious ritual, but also a folk cultural phenomenon that expresses people's desire to live in harmony with nature. Every year, June 15th of the lunar calendar is the Lake Sacrifice Festival. On that day, the surrounding monks and herdsmen will gather in the Erlangjian area to preach the Dharma. After the ceremony, a stage performance of "Lake Worship Culture" will kick off.
Features
Chinese Name: Qing Hai Hu（青海湖）
Climate: plateau continental climate
Location: Junction of Gangcha County, Gonghe County, and Haiyan County
Altitude: 3196m
Scenic Spot Level: National 5A Level Scenic Spot
Special Local Product: Kunlun Jade, silverweed cinquefoil root, Rhodiola rosea, Cordyceps sinensis, Tibetan rug
Travel Information
Opening Time: The opening hours of each scenic spot are different.
Erlangjian Scenic Area, Bird Island Scenic Area: 8:30-17:30
Fairy Bay Scenic Area: 8:30-19:00
Tickets Price: Ticket prices vary for different attractions
Erlangjian Scenic Area, Bird Island Scenic Area: off-season 50CNY, peak-season 100CNY
Fairy Bay Scenic Area: off-season 35CNY, peak-season 70CNY
Sand Island Scenic Area: off-season 30CMY, peak-season 60CNY
Best Time to Travel: May to August
Traffic in Scenic Spot:
1. Electromobile: Working time: 8:00-18:00
Price: 20 yuan per person
2. Tourist Ship: Working Time: 8:00-18:00
Price: 180 yuan per person
It runs from the ticket office near the scenic spot to Erlangjian Peninsula and takes about 50 minutes.
Travel Tips
1.Places with barbed wire fences on the roadside belong to private areas and cannot be entered without permission.
2.Many tourists will have varying degrees of altitude sickness, please pay attention to avoid intense exercise, and ensure sleep.
3.Qinghai Lake has a large temperature difference between day and night in summer, so it is necessary to prepare clothes that can adapt to multiple seasons. In addition, the sun is strong during the day, you can prepare sunglasses, turbans, and other items, and pay attention to sun protection.
