Qinghai Travel Guide: How to Plan a 7-Day Loop? Locals Share Money-Saving Tips

7-Day Qinghai Loop Survival Guide: Insider Tips for Exploring Northwest China Day 1: Acclimatize in Xining Spend your first day adjusting to altitude. Visit Dongguan Mosque and Qinghai Provincial Museum. Stay in Chengxi District for 30% cheaper accommodation than scenic spots. Day 2: Budget-Friendly Qinghai Lake Skip the 151 Scenic Area (¥90 ticket) and use local herder paths (¥10-20). July-August offers stunning rapeseed flowers but doubles accommodation prices - book 1 month early. Day 3: Chaka Salt Lake Photography Tips Enter before 9am to avoid crowds. Wear bright colors for better photos. Skip the ¥50 one-way sightseeing train - it's just 20 minutes walk to main areas. Day 4: Highway 315 Safety Notes Be extremely careful when photographing the U-shaped road (best spot at 780km marker). Fuel stations are scarce - refuel in Delingha. Day 5: Watery Yadan Savings ¥60 ticket + ¥60 shuttle, but you can walk 3km to viewpoints. Bring snacks - food inside is overpriced. Day 6: Mogao Grottoes Must-Knows Book 30 days ahead in peak season. "Emergency tickets" only cover 4 caves. Visit after 4pm for fewer crowds and better lighting. Day 7: Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains Colors are most vibrant after rain. Enter at 4pm and stay until sunset. Viewpoint #4 offers best sunset views (bring windproof jacket). Money-Saving Tips: 1. Carpooling saves 40% vs private car (6 people ideal) 2. Book July-August stays early - September prices drop 50% 3. Carry student/guide IDs for discounts 4. Order "number of diners minus one" dishes - portions are huge Altitude Sickness Prevention: No hair washing/bathing on Day 1 Bring glucose oral solution Oxygen tanks cost ¥80 at sites (¥30 in city) Important Reminders: Wear shoe covers in all salt lakes Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours Carry ¥1000 emergency cash