The unique romance of the Northwest: "Send You a Little Red Flower" Qinghai filming location tour
Qinghai "Send You a Little Red Flower" Emerald Lake & Salt Lake Filming Location Travel Guide
📅 Recommended itinerary: 3-4 days (suitable for weekend trips)
🚗 Transportation advice: Qinghai is vast and sparsely populated, so it is recommended to charter a car/drive yourself (it is convenient to rent a car in Xining), as public transportation is limited.
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📍 Check in at the core filming locations
1. Dachaidan Emerald Lake (the main filming location of the movie)
- 🎬 Movie scene: Wei Yihang dreams of the lake view and sky mirror in the "parallel world".
- 📌 Address: Daxiadan Administrative District, Haixi Prefecture (about 12 kilometers from Daxiadan Town).
- 🎫 Ticket price: 50 yuan (including sightseeing bus).
- ✨ Features:
- The lake water appears emerald green, Tiffany blue, and amber yellow due to minerals, and it is absolutely beautiful in aerial photos.
- It is recommended to shoot in the early morning or evening when the light is soft and the reflections are clear.
- ⚠️ Note:
- The salt lake is highly corrosive, so do not walk barefoot and wear waterproof shoe covers.
- The altitude is about 3,100 meters. Avoid strenuous exercise to prevent altitude sickness.
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2. Chaka Salt Lake ("Sky Mirror" Internet-famous lake)
- 🎬 Movie connection: Although it is not a direct filming location, the style is similar and it is suitable for checking in along the way.
- 📌 Address: Chaka Town, Ulan County, Haixi Prefecture (about 300 kilometers from Xining).
- 🎫 Ticket: 60 yuan, one-way train 50 yuan.
- ✨ How to play:
- Take the train to the center of the lake and take photos of the mirror reflections.
- Wear bright colored long skirts (red/yellow) to take better photos.
- ⏳ Best time: June to September (the mirror effect is best on sunny and windless days).
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3. Dongtaijinaier Lake (Tiffany Blue Lake)
- 📌 Address: Golmud City, Haixi Prefecture (about 200 kilometers from Daxiadan).
- ✨ Features: The lake water is a dreamy Tiffany blue, suitable for aerial photography.
- ⚠️ Current situation: The landscape may be affected due to the drop in water levels after 2023, so please check the latest guide before visiting.
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🚗 Recommended itinerary (3-day version)
Day 1: Xining → Chaka Salt Lake → Delingha (stay overnight)
- Morning: Depart from Xining, drive 4 hours to Chaka Salt Lake, and play for 3-4 hours.
- Evening: Drive 2 hours to Delingha for overnight stay (Starry Sky Camp is recommended for stargazing at night).
Day 2: Delingha → Emerald Lake in Dachaidan → U-shaped road → Water Yadan (stay overnight)
- Morning: Delingha → Da Qaidam Emerald Lake (2.5 hours drive), 3 hours of in-depth play.
- afternoon:
- Check in at the U-shaped road of G315 National Highway (be careful and do not take photos on the road).
- Drive to the Water Yadan (the only water Yadan landform in the world, ticket price is 60 yuan).
- Overnight: In the Water Yadan Scenic Area or return to Dachaidan Town.
Day 3: Yadan on the water → West Taijinaier Lake → Golmud/return
- Morning: Visit Xitaijinaier Lake (two-color lake, the road passes through the lake).
- Afternoon: Return to Golmud (by plane/train) or drive back to Xining (about 8 hours).
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📌 4-day in-depth tour extension
- Added Mangya Emerald Lake: less crowded than Daxiadan, and the lake water is greener (need to continue west from Shuishang Yadan for 4 hours).
- Aiken Spring (Devil's Eye): The aerial perspective is stunning, but the road conditions are poor (suitable for off-road vehicles).
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⚠️ Travel tips
1. Altitude sickness:
- At an altitude of 3000 meters+, avoid strenuous exercise and prepare oxygen cylinders and Rhodiola rosea.
2. Climate and clothing:
- The temperature difference between day and night is large, so protect yourself from the sun during the day (sunglasses, hat, SPF50+ sunscreen) and keep warm at night (jacket).
3. Traffic safety:
- There is no signal on some roads, so download offline maps in advance.
- The road on the salt lake is slippery, so drive carefully.
4. Environmental protection:
- The salt lake ecosystem is fragile. Please do not litter or step on the crystallized area on the lake shore.
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🍽️ Qinghai food recommendations
- Must-try: Hand-pulled lamb, yak yogurt, kang-cooked lamb chops, and sweet mash.
- Supplies along the way: There are restaurants in Daxiadan Town and Delingha. Bring your own dry food for the long journey.
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🏨 Accommodation suggestions
- Dachaidan Town: Light and Shadow City Wild Luxury Tent Hotel (near Emerald Lake, starry sky room).
- Yadan on the Water: RV campsite in the scenic area (convenient for stargazing, reservation is required in advance).
- Golmud: Qinghai Golmud Hotel (comfortable, suitable for rest on the return journey).
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✈️ Traffic guide
- Plane: Xining Caojiabao Airport (direct flights to many cities across the country), transfer to Qinghai Lake/Dachaidan.
- Train: Xining → Golmud (night train, arrives early the next day, suitable for those with plenty of time).
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📸 Photography Tips
- Emerald Lake: Use a drone to shoot the "God's eye view" and wear solid-colored clothes (white/red).
- Chaka Salt Lake: Avoid the strong sunlight at noon, and take photos in the morning and evening for the best mirror effect.
Follow the movie to visit the secret place of Qinghai and enjoy the beautiful salt lake and healing scenery! 🌊✨