Qinghai Lake 7-Day Travel Guide
7 days and 6 nights self-driving tour of Qinghai Lake, have a blast in Northwest China for 10,000 RMB❗
Dear friends, if you long for a self-driving trip surrounded by breathtaking scenery, then the 7 days and 6 nights self-driving tour of Qinghai Lake is definitely your "dream trip"😍! The best travel season is from June to August, when the rapeseed flowers around Qinghai Lake are in full bloom, colorful and vibrant, and the temperature is very comfortable, perfect for traveling. Now, follow me to start this dreamy Qinghai Lake journey with a budget of 10,000 RMB, allowing you to have a fun and comfortable trip👏!
💰Budget Breakdown
● Accommodation: About 3,000 RMB. Choose hotels and homestays of different grades along the way, averaging about 500 RMB per night.
● Food: About 2,000 RMB. Taste local specialties such as hand-pulled mutton and yak yogurt.
● Transportation: About 2,000 RMB. Including car rental fees, fuel costs, tolls, etc.
● Tickets: About 1,000 RMB. Covering entrance fees for various attractions.
● Others: About 2,000 RMB. For shopping, emergencies, and other expenses.
🏨Accommodation Recommendations
● Xining: Recommended to stay in the western district of the city, convenient transportation, and well-equipped facilities nearby. You can choose Xining Sofitel Grand New Century Hotel, Xining Limeng Haiyi Hotel, etc.
● Heimahe Township: Close to Qinghai Lake, offering beautiful lake views and sunrises. Recommended hotels include Heimahe Tianlu Holiday Hotel and Qinghai Lake Pastoral Style Garden.
● Chaka Town: Convenient for visiting Chaka Salt Lake, with options like Chaka Sky No.1 Resort Hotel and Chaka Salt Cube Hotel.
🚗 Vehicle Choice
It is recommended to choose an SUV model, which has strong power and good off-road capability to better handle different road conditions. When renting a car, choose a reputable rental company, check the vehicle condition, and ensure driving safety.
🗺️ Itinerary
🌟Day 1: Gather in Xining, a first glimpse of Northwest charm
● Morning: Arrive in Xining, pick up the rental car, and check the vehicle’s performance. Then check into the hotel, rest a bit to relieve travel fatigue.
● Noon: Taste Qinghai specialties in a restaurant in downtown Xining, such as niangpi (cold skin noodles) and sweet fermented barley.
● Afternoon: Visit Ta'er Monastery (ticket about 70 RMB), one of the six great Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in China, with magnificent architecture, rich treasures, and profound cultural heritage. Here, you can feel the strong religious atmosphere and admire exquisite murals, embroidery, and butter sculptures.
● Evening: Return to downtown Xining, enjoy various snacks on Moji Street, and experience the night market culture of Xining.
🌟Day 2: Drive to Qinghai Lake, encounter the dreamy blue lake
● Morning: Depart from Xining, head to Qinghai Lake via Jingzang Expressway and West Daoyi First-Class Road. On the way, pass by Riyue Mountain (ticket about 40 RMB) and Daotang River (ticket about 25 RMB). Riyue Mountain is the boundary between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and Daotang River is named for its westward flowing water.
● Noon: Dine at a restaurant near Qinghai Lake, try Qinghai Lake Huangyu fish (note that Huangyu is a protected species; only some legally farmed fish are edible) and Qinghai old yogurt.
● Afternoon: Arrive at Erlangjian Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake (ticket about 90 RMB), the main scenic spot of Qinghai Lake. You can enjoy the beautiful lake view, take a boat tour on Qinghai Lake, and take photos with yaks, horses, and other animals.
● Evening: Stay at a hotel in Heimahe Township, prepare for the sunrise viewing the next day.
🌟Day 3: Qinghai Lake sunrise, rendezvous at Chaka Salt Lake
● Morning: Get up early to watch the sunrise by Qinghai Lake. As the sun slowly rises, golden sunlight shines on the lake surface, creating a breathtaking scene. Then return to the hotel for breakfast and set off for Chaka Salt Lake (ticket about 60 RMB, small train one-way 50 RMB).
● Noon: Have lunch in Chaka Town, taste local specialties like mutton soup and kangguo mutton (pot-cooked mutton).
● Afternoon: Enter Chaka Salt Lake Scenic Area, known as the "Mirror of the Sky." The lake water is clear and reflects the sky and surrounding scenery vividly. You can wear bright clothes and take photos on the salt lake to leave beautiful memories.
● Evening: Stay at a hotel in Chaka Town and rest well.
🌟Day 4: Cross the Qaidam Basin, explore the Yadan landforms
● Morning: Depart from Chaka Town, drive along National Highway 315 towards Dachaidan. Enjoy the desolate beauty of the Qaidam Basin and feel the wonders of nature.
● Noon: Have lunch in a small town along the way, try Northwest-style noodles such as hand-pulled noodles and noodle slices.
● Afternoon: Arrive at Wusute Yadan Geological Park (ticket about 60 RMB, sightseeing vehicle 60 RMB), the only water Yadan landform in the world. The unique Yadan landforms and lake water complement each other, forming a distinctive landscape. You can take a sightseeing vehicle to tour the park and admire the magnificent Yadan scenery.
● Evening: Stay at a hotel in Dachaidan Town.
🌟Day 5: Dreamy Emerald Lake, first glimpse of Qilian scenery
● Morning: Head to Dachaidan Emerald Lake (free), where the lake water shows different colors of green and blue, like emeralds embedded in the earth. You can stroll by the lake, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and take photos.
● Noon: Have lunch in Dachaidan Town, taste local specialties.
● Afternoon: Depart for Qilian County, enjoy the magnificent views of the Qilian Mountains along the way.
● Evening: Stay at a hotel in Qilian County, taste Qilian hand-pulled mutton and other delicacies.
🌟Day 6: Qilian beauty, visit Zhuo'er Mountain and Niuxin Mountain
● Morning: Visit Zhuo'er Mountain (ticket about 60 RMB, sightseeing vehicle 20 RMB), a viewing platform in the Qilian Mountains. From the top, you can overlook Qilian County and the surrounding pastoral scenery. The majestic Niuxin Mountain opposite echoes with Zhuo'er Mountain.
● Noon: Have lunch in Qilian County, try local snacks.
● Afternoon: Continue exploring around Qilian County, experience the natural scenery and ethnic customs of Qilian.
● Evening: Return to the hotel in Qilian County to rest.
🌟Day 7: Return to Xining, savor the Northwest journey
● Morning: Depart from Qilian County, return to Xining. Stop at suitable places along the way to enjoy the scenery again.
● Noon: Have lunch in downtown Xining, taste Qinghai specialties to conclude this trip perfectly.
● Afternoon: Return the rental car, then head to the airport or train station, ending the pleasant Qinghai Lake journey.
⚠️Notes
● Qinghai has a high altitude; be mindful of altitude sickness, avoid strenuous exercise, and prepare medication for altitude sickness in advance.
● UV rays are strong; take sun protection measures, bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun hats.
● Respect local religious beliefs and customs; follow regulations in temples and other religious sites.
Friends, isn’t this 7 days and 6 nights self-driving tour of Qinghai Lake super attractive😎? Act quickly and start your dreamy Northwest journey! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment🤗!