Qinghai is stunning, but I honestly don’t recommend going in August because...........

In-depth Qinghai Travel Guide: Explore the "Plateau Sapphire" with a budget of 3,000 RMB per person, experiencing lakes, salt lakes, grasslands, and starry skies Qinghai, the "Plateau Pearl" of Northwest China, is famous for natural wonders like Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, and Qilian Grassland. Here you’ll find the purity of the "Mirror of the Sky," the mystery of Tibetan Buddhism, and the desolation of no-man’s-land highways. Below is a practical guide covering transportation, accommodation, food, and off-the-beaten-path experiences to help you efficiently explore the "Great Beauty of Qinghai." 1. Before You Go: Budget and Best Time to Visit Best Seasons: Summer (June-August): Temperatures 10-25°C, green grasslands, blooming rapeseed flowers (around Qinghai Lake in July), peak tourist season. Autumn (September-October): Clear weather, fewer tourists, Qilian Mountains covered in colorful forests, perfect for photography. Avoid: Winter (November-March): Temperatures can drop to -20°C, Chaka Salt Lake closes, some roads icy, only for hardcore travelers. May Day/National Day Holidays: Qinghai Lake and Chaka are overcrowded, accommodation prices double, recommend avoiding peak times. Budget Reference (7 days, 6 nights circular trip): Transportation: 1,500-2,500 RMB (car rental/shared car + high-speed train/flight) Accommodation: 1,000-1,800 RMB (hostels/economy hotels/unique homestays) Food: 800-1,200 RMB (halal cuisine + plateau specialties) Tickets: 600-800 RMB (Qinghai Lake, Chaka, Ta’er Monastery, etc.) Others: 300-500 RMB (oxygen tanks, sunscreen, etc.) Total: About 4,200-5,800 RMB per person (shared car + hostel can reduce to under 3,000 RMB). 2. Transportation Guide: How to Get to Qinghai and Travel the Loop Major Transport: Flight: Xining Caojiabao Airport: direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, etc., off-season tickets as low as 500 RMB. Airport → City: Airport shuttle bus 21 RMB (50 minutes), taxi about 80 RMB. High-speed train/train: Xining Station: Lanzhou → Xining high-speed train 1.5 hours (58 RMB), Xi’an → Xining 6 hours (232 RMB). Qinghai Loop Transport: Car rental (recommended): 5-seater sedan: 600-800 RMB/day (includes driver + fuel), suitable for 4 people sharing. 7-seater business van: 1,000-1,200 RMB/day, suitable for 6-person groups. Shared car: Hostels/travel agencies offer group rides, about 150-200 RMB/day per person (includes car + some tickets). Public transport: Xining → Qinghai Lake: bus 35 RMB (2.5 hours), but cannot reach Erlangjian Scenic Area directly. Disadvantages: Few departures, long travel times, difficult to transfer between attractions, not recommended for independent travel. 3. Accommodation Recommendations: Full Range from Xining to No-Man’s Land Xining (start/end point): Budget: Hanting Hotel (200 RMB/night, near Mojia Street food street). Unique stay: Geometry Bookstore Homestay (300 RMB/night, industrial design, popular bookstore downstairs). Around Qinghai Lake: Lake view room: Qinghai Lake Muge View Hotel (400 RMB/night, floor-to-ceiling windows facing the holy lake). Hostel: Heimahe International Youth Hostel (80 RMB/bed, convenient for sunrise viewing). Chaka Town (near Chaka Salt Lake): Recommended: Chaka Xingmengtu View Hotel (300 RMB/night, rooftop terrace for star photography). Qilian County (grassland scenery): Cost-effective: Qilian Dingrui Holiday Hotel (250 RMB/night, Tibetan style, near Zhuo’er Mountain). Dachaidan (around Emerald Lake): Limited conditions: Dachaidan Pixel Hotel (200 RMB/night, clean but simple facilities). Money-saving tips: Book one month in advance during peak season (July-August), hostel beds as low as 60 RMB/night. Choose lake view rooms above the 2nd floor to avoid tree obstruction. 4. Must-Visit Attractions and Ticket Prices 1. Qinghai Lake (China’s largest inland lake) Ticket: Erlangjian Scenic Area: 90 RMB (ride white yak for photos, 20 RMB/time). Hidden gem: Pastoral trail on the west side of the lake: 10-20 RMB/person, leads directly to the lakeshore, fewer people and beautiful scenery. Heimahe sunrise: Around 6:30 in summer, free but need to get up early to secure a spot. 2. Chaka Salt Lake (Mirror of the Sky) Ticket: Chaka Salt Lake: 60 RMB, small train one-way 50 RMB (recommend walking in, train out). Photo tips: Wear bright-colored long dresses (red is best), bring slippers (salt crusts hurt feet). Best time: Before 10 AM or after 4 PM, soft light and no wind. 3. Ta’er Monastery (Tibetan Buddhist holy site) Ticket: 70 RMB, guide 50 RMB/group (must hire to understand the "Three Artistic Wonders": butter sculptures, murals, and embroidery). Taboos: No photos inside the halls, spin prayer wheels clockwise. 4. Qilian Grassland (Little Switzerland of the East) Activities: Zhuo’er Mountain: 80 RMB (includes electric cart), climb to the top for views of Danxia landforms and grasslands. Arou Monastery: 20 RMB, a quiet Tibetan Buddhist temple with few tourists. 5. Dachaidan Emerald Lake (Tears of God) Ticket: 50 RMB, sightseeing car 20 RMB (30-minute walk to core area). Photo spot: Drone aerial photography (rental 100 RMB/time) is best to show the "emerald inlaid desert" wonder. 6. Water Yadan (World’s Only) Ticket: 120 RMB (includes sightseeing car), recommend staying at the scenic area RV campsite (400 RMB/night), watch the Yadan sunset in the evening. 7. Menyuan Rapeseed Flowers (July only) Ticket: Free (viewing platform 30 RMB), hundreds of miles of rapeseed flowers with snow-capped mountains in the background, great for aerial photography. 5. Food Guide: From Halal Beef & Lamb to Plateau Specialties Must-try dishes: Hand-grabbed lamb: Recommended "Yixin Lamb Hand-grab Restaurant" (Xining, about 80 RMB per person), served with salt & pepper and raw garlic, rich but not greasy. Kang pot lamb ribs: "Marsha Beef Offal" (Xining, 30 RMB/bowl), lamb ribs stewed until falling off the bone, with potato noodles soaking up the broth. Qinghai yogurt: Street stalls 5 RMB/bowl, with a yellow milk skin on top, eaten with sugar. Night markets: Xining Mojia Street: Mazhong Restaurant (stuffed skin 8 RMB/portion), Delu yogurt (6 RMB/bowl). Chaka Town night market: Grilled yak meat skewers (3 RMB/skewer), paired with highland barley wine (15 RMB/bottle). Tibetan dining experience: Qilian County: Zhuo’er Mountain Tibetan Restaurant (about 70 RMB per person): recommended yak meat hotpot, butter tea (sweeter version easier to accept). Souvenir recommendations: Black goji berries: 100 RMB/250g (specialty of Dachaidan, turns purple when soaked). Yak jerky: 80 RMB/jin (choose vacuum packaging for easy carrying). 6. Pitfall Avoidance and Practical Tips Warnings: Qinghai Lake horseback riding: herders quote 50 RMB/lap, may take longer routes, negotiate price in advance. Chaka Salt Lake shoe covers: rent at the scenic area for 10 RMB/pair, poor quality, better to bring your own (5 RMB with free shipping on Pinduoduo). Plateau oxygen tanks: 15 RMB/bottle at Xining pharmacies, 30 RMB at scenic spots, buy in advance. Essentials: Sun protection kit: sunglasses, SPF50+ sunscreen, face mask (UV rays are very strong). Moisturizers: lip balm, hand cream, humidifier (dry air can cause nosebleeds). Clothing: windbreaker + thin down jacket (big temperature difference between day and night, possible snow above 4,000 meters). Health & Safety: Altitude sickness prevention: drink Rhodiola 7 days before (more psychological effect), avoid strenuous exercise after arrival. Vehicle check: some loop sections have no signal, confirm driver knows the route (e.g., G315 U-shaped highway). Cultural respect: Do not point at Buddha statues in Tibetan temples, spin prayer wheels clockwise. Ask permission before photographing Tibetans, usually charge 5-10 RMB. 7. Classic 7-day 6-night Loop Itinerary (3,000 RMB per person version) Day 1: Xining → Ta’er Monastery (70 RMB) → Laji Mountain (free) → Qinghai Lake (pastoral trail 20 RMB) → stay in Heimahe (hostel 80 RMB) Day 2: Heimahe sunrise → Chaka Salt Lake (60 RMB) → Delingha (lunch) → stay in Dachaidan (hotel 200 RMB) Day 3: Dachaidan → Emerald Lake (50 RMB) → U-shaped highway (free) → Water Yadan (120 RMB) → stay in Golmud (hotel 150 RMB) Day 4: Golmud → Chaerhan Salt Lake (free) → Wan Zhang Salt Bridge (free) → stay in Delingha (hotel 180 RMB) Day 5: Delingha → Qilian Grassland → Zhuo’er Mountain (80 RMB) → stay in Qilian County (homestay 200 RMB) Day 6: Qilian → Arou Monastery (20 RMB) → Menyuan rapeseed flowers (July) → stay in Xining (hotel 200 RMB) Day 7: Xining → Mojia Street food → return trip Total cost: Tickets 580 + Transport 1,200 (shared car) + Accommodation 1,010 + Food 800 = about 3,590 RMB (off-season accommodation discounts reduce to about 3,000 RMB). 8. Summary: The Right Way to Experience Qinghai Qinghai’s beauty lies in its vastness and purity: the blue of Qinghai Lake, the white of Chaka, the green of Qilian, the yellow of Yadan... here there are no crowded attractions, only the freedom of heading west. Tips: If you have more time, connect with Gansu (Qinghai → Zhangye → Dunhuang, 7-day big loop) to experience the historical richness of the Hexi Corridor. Qinghai has large temperature differences between day and night; even in summer, bring a down jacket. Respect nature’s rules to enjoy your trip fully. Final reminder: Qinghai people are straightforward, prices are clearly marked when trading, and when asking for directions, address locals as "Shifu" (driver/master) or "A Jie" (sister) — this is the simplicity and warmth of the plateau.