Qinghai + Gansu 7-Day Grand Loop Guide

The super popular 7-day Grand Loop tour covering Qinghai Lake, Water Yadan, Dunhuang, and Zhangye is here! Grab this practical guide and get ready to go! - 🎒【Essential Packing List】 🔖Documents: ID card (must-have for travel), student ID (secret for ticket discounts), driver’s license (for self-driving enthusiasts) 😎Sun protection: SPF50+ sunscreen, sunglasses🕶️, sun hat🧢, cooling sleeves (great for sun protection) 👗Clothing: Windbreaker (for temperature changes), bright dresses👗 (perfect for photos), comfortable hiking shoes 🔋Others: Power bank (to ensure battery life), moisturizing skincare products, cash (for areas with poor signal) - 🚗【7 Days and 6 Nights Itinerary】 🪁DAY1: Xining — Riyue Mountain — Qinghai Lake (Heimahe Scenic Area) — Chaka Salt Lake — Chaka Town (overnight) 🪁DAY2: Chaka Town — (crossing) Qaidam Basin — Dachaidan Emerald Lake — Dachaidan Town (overnight) 🪁DAY3: Dachaidan Town — National Highway 315 (U-shaped road) — Dongtai Jinel Lake — Water Yadan — Dachaidan Town (overnight) 🪁DAY4: Dachaidan Town — Heidushan — Aksay Oil Town — Dunhuang (overnight) 🪁DAY5: Dunhuang — Mogao Caves (choose the 9 AM ticket slot) — Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake — Shazhou Night Market — Dunhuang (overnight) 🪁DAY6: Dunhuang — (passing) Jiayuguan Fortress — Zhangye Danxia Landform — Zhangye (overnight) 🪁DAY7: Zhangye — Biandukou — Qilian Grassland — Gangshika Snow Peak (distant view) — Xining (end) - 🌄【Popular Attractions Guide】 Qinghai Lake: A beautiful saltwater lake, Heimahe Scenic Area offers stunning views, and the summer rapeseed flower fields are worth a stop🌼 Chaka Salt Lake: Known as the "Mirror of the Sky," with clouds and snow-capped mountains reflected clearly on the lake✨ Emerald Lake: The green salt lake in Dachaidan, aerial shots resemble scattered emeralds💚 Water Yadan: Unique water landforms in the desert, full of distinctive vibes! Mogao Caves: A UNESCO World Heritage site, a thousand-year-old Buddhist art destination, perfect for culture enthusiasts! Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake: An oasis in the desert, the sunset camel caravan scene is incredibly atmospheric🌅 Jiayuguan Fortress: The western end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall Zhangye Danxia Landform: Colorful landforms resembling a painter’s palette🎨 - 📅【Best Travel Time】 ✨May - June: Fewer tourists, great scenery, good value, grasslands turn green while snow-capped mountains remain 🌼July - August: Peak tourist season! Rapeseed flowers bloom, but there are more tourists and higher accommodation prices 🍂September - October: Beautiful autumn scenery, golden poplar forests perfect for photography ❌Avoid: November - April, some attractions are closed, and the weather is colder - 🍜【Food Recommendations for Foodies】 Hand-grabbed mutton, Lanzhou beef noodles, donkey meat yellow noodles, Qinghai old yogurt, Poplar stewed pancake, sweet fermented grain - 💡【Tips for Food Lovers】 🍽️Portion reminder: Northwestern dishes are generous, recommended for 2-3 people to share 🌶️Flavor note: Lots of beef and mutton dishes, prepare digestive tablets; if you don’t eat spicy food, say "no spice" in advance 🍢Hidden combo: Zhangye lamb offal iron plate barbecue with naan, a great night snack pairing! - ❗Practical Notes Avoid strenuous activities upon arrival, prepare glucose for altitude sickness Take sun protection seriously: bring hats, masks, and sunscreen Respect local customs, avoid wearing short skirts in temples Northwestern staple foods are mostly noodles; if you’re not used to it, bring snacks and stay hydrated