Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop

The following is a detailed description of the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop: Route Overview • Loop route: Starting from Lanzhou, crossing the Hexi Corridor, passing through Qinghai Yadan, Daxiadan, Chaka Salt Lake, Qinghai Lake, Xining and other places, all the way back to Lanzhou, the whole journey is about 4,000 kilometers. • Self-driving duration: The tour usually takes 8-10 days. Main attractions • Qinghai Lake: Known as “a blue tear on the earth”, it is one of Qinghai’s iconic attractions. The lake water is azure blue, and the lakeside grassland is vast. In July and August, you can also see large areas of rapeseed flowers. • Chaka Salt Lake: Known as the “Mirror of the Sky”, the lake surface is like a mirror, reflecting the sky and clouds clearly, like a dreamland. • Colorful Danxia: Located in Zhangye City, it is the only highly complex area of ​​colorful hills and Danxia landforms in China. It is colorful like a natural oil painting. • Jiayu Pass: Known as the "most majestic pass in the world", it is the westernmost pass of the Ming Great Wall. Historically, it was called the throat of Hexi. It has magnificent buildings and dangerous terrain. • Crescent Moon Lake in Mingsha Mountain: Located five kilometers south of Dunhuang City, it has been famous for thousands of years for the desert wonders of mountain springs, sand and water coexisting together, and is known as one of the most beautiful scenery outside the Great Wall. • Mogao Grottoes: Located 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City, it is a famous treasure house of Chinese grotto art, with numerous exquisite murals and sculptures, showing the cultural prosperity and artistic achievements of the ancient Silk Road. Best time to travel • May to September: The climate is relatively mild, with plenty of sunshine during the day and cool and pleasant nights, suitable for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Among them, in July and August, the grasslands around Qinghai Lake are lush and the rape flowers in Menyuan are in full bloom; in September, the vegetation is colorful and the autumn scenery is charming. • April to May: Attractions along the Grand Loop begin to gradually open, but the climate is relatively cold, so it is recommended to bring warm clothing. Precautions • The Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Route is a long journey, so self-driving tourists are advised to plan their routes in advance and make adequate preparations. • Some attractions along the way require tickets, so it is recommended to purchase them in advance. • Self-driving tourists should pay attention to road safety and abide by traffic regulations. • Some attractions along the way require tickets, so it is recommended to purchase them in advance.