The Thousand-Year Legend of Princess Wencheng's Mirror-Throwing Mountain

📍Detailed Address: Located 40 kilometers southwest of Huangyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province, at the junction of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau. It's an important node on the ancient Tang-Tibet Road and the Silk Road, historically known as the "Screen of the Western Sea" and the "Gateway to the Grasslands." 🚗Transportation Guide: 1. Self-driving/Private car: • From Xining, take the Beijing-Tibet Expressway to Huangyuan County, then transfer to the Riyue Line directly to the scenic area, about 1.5 hours by car. • Free parking lot is available in the scenic area, suitable for tourists on the Qinghai-Gansu loop (such as Xining-Qinghai Lake-Chaka Salt Lake loop). 2. Public transportation: • Bus: Take a bus to Huangyuan County from Xining Xinning Road Bus Station, then transfer to Huangyuan Bus Route 708 to Riyue Township, and finally take a local car to the scenic area. • group tour: Qinghai-Gansu small/large loop tours departing from Xining usually include Riyue Mountain, with pick-up and drop-off services. 3. Itinerary routes: • One-day tour: Xining → Riyue Mountain → Daotang River → Erlangjian at Qinghai Lake, suitable for visitors with limited time. • Two-day tour: Xining → Riyue Mountain → West Route around Qinghai Lake → Chaka Salt Lake, for an in-depth highland experience. 🌟Must-do activities: 1. Riyue Pavilion cultural experience: • Sun and Moon Pavilions: Located on both sides of the 3,520-meter-high mountain pass, displaying Tubo culture murals and Han culture reliefs respectively. From the pavilions, you can overlook the landscape boundary between the eastern farming area and the western grassland pastoral area. • Princess Wencheng statue: A large sculpture at the entrance of the scenic area, recreating the historical moment when the princess threw her mirror westward. With prayer flags as the background, it's ideal for taking photos in Han or Tibetan costumes. 2. Natural landscape photo spots: • Prayer flag tunnel: A 100-meter-long array of colorful prayer flags that form dynamic vortexes when blown by the wind. Recommended to shoot with a wide-angle lens from below. • Qinghai-Tibet boundary marker: Standing at the mountain pass, marking the geographical boundary between the "agricultural zone" and the "pastoral zone," a landmark photo spot. 3. Folk interactive experiences: • Tibetan costume photography: The scenic area offers Princess Wencheng costume rentals (about 20 yuan/time), with opportunities to take photos with yaks and Tibetan mastiffs. • Mountain circumambulation for blessings: Walk clockwise along the path to participate in the traditional Tibetan mountain circumambulation ceremony. Prayer flags can be hung at the mountain-top square for blessings. 💰Average cost per person: • Admission: 50 yuan in peak season, 40 yuan in off-season; half-price or free for children/students/seniors with valid ID. • Transportation: • Self-driving: Fuel + toll fees approximately 150 yuan/car (round trip). • Private car: Small groups of 4-8 people about 100-150 yuan/person (one-way from Xining to Riyue Mountain). • Dining: Simple meals in the scenic area about 30-50 yuan/person, recommended to bring your own snacks. • Others: Tibetan costume photography 20 yuan, prayer flags 10-30 yuan, oxygen cylinder 30 yuan/can. 📌Tips: 1. Altitude sickness prevention: • Take rhodiola in advance, avoid strenuous exercise, and carry chocolate for energy. • Oxygen cylinders are available for rent at the entrance of the scenic area (about 30 yuan/can). 2. Best photography times: • Sunrise: 7:00-7:30, when morning mist shrouds the mountain pass and prayer flags show golden silhouettes against the backlight. • Sunset: 18:00-18:30, when the setting sun gilds the mountains, creating atmospheric silhouettes of the Sun and Moon Pavilions.