Xining, Qinghai

Xining is the biggest city in Qinghai province. An easy step to get to the famous Qinghai Lake, but the city itself is worth visiting too. Fly in, or take a train like I did from nearby Lanzhou. When you're in Xining, you're at the outer edge of the Tibetan Plateau. You can find a glimpse of Tibetan life all around, but nowhere as clear as at the Tibetan Medicine Museum. It's one of the most interesting museums I've been to in China. Of course you can find all kinds of statues as well as plenty of other historic relics. The star of the show, however, is an amazing tangka painting that's about 600 meters long. You can see it all stretched. Better bring your walking shoes. In the city center there are dozens of big shopping malls. You'll easily find a place to eat here. But I suggest going a little outside of the city center towards Wanda Plaza and Sofitel. Around there are plenty of nice little restaurants and bars, such as an Indian restaurant. #culturalattraction