[2025 Mangya Attraction] Travel Guide for Cold Lake (Updated Jan)

I visited Qinghai in 2017 and 2020 At that time, the scenery of Qinghai already amazed me On May Day this year, I set foot on Qinghai for the third time. I didn’t expect that this land would shock me even more! This time I finally visited the gorgeous colors of Qinghai! Self-driving route DayShanghai Dunhuang-Lenghu Town Day Lenghu - Heidu Mountain - Oil Town - Oboliang Day Oboliang - Shuiyadan - Dongtai Jinair Lake Day Shuiyadan - U-shaped highway - Blood of the Earth - Chaerhan Salt Lake - Dachaidan Day Dachaidan Emerald Lake-Jinguang Pagoda-Delingha Shanghai This route is part of the Qinghai-Gansu Great Ring Road. It starts from Dunhuang to Delingha and spans the entire Qaidam Basin. On the way, it passes colorful salt lakes, various Yadan, and the ink paintings of Heidu Mountain, which is fascinating. Feel the miraculous craftsmanship of nature! Recommended attractions A must-see at Dachaidan Emerald Lake Located in Dachaidan Town, there are colorful salt lakes in the scenic area, which are particularly stunning on sunny days and the aerial photography is very photogenic. If you are pressed for time, Qarhan Salt Lake can be abandoned in Golmud City. It takes about an hour and a half to get there from Dachaidan. After arriving, you need to take a scenic bus for half an hour to enter, which takes a long time. It is characterized by the green apple-colored salt lake, which is easy to produce aerial photography~ Dongtai Jinair Lake is a must-see for free The salt lake located on the edge of Yadan on the water is called the Maldives of Qinghai. A sightseeing drive has now been built to reach the lake. The color is great, don’t miss it! Recommended by Shuiyadan The only Yadan Group on the water in the world is a rare spectacle, and it may dry up one day in the future. However, the accommodation conditions in the scenic area are average. Oboliang If you are short of time, you can give up. A must-go for starry sky lovers The Yadan Group, located deep in the Gobi Desert, looks like the surface of Mars. It is far away from human settlements, making it a holy place for starry sky photography. However, the road conditions are poor and the distance is long, and tickets to scenic spots are relatively expensive. If you are pressed for time, you may choose to give up. Heidu Mountain is free and a must-go The most popular attraction in Lenghu Town in recent years, drive to the parking lot and enter on foot. The black and gray mountain structure creates a stunning ink painting. The U-shaped road is free and a must-go A section of National Highway 315, you can just park on the side of the road, it’s very cinematic Blood of the Earth can be photographed aerially while passing by National Highway 315 is not so bright to the naked eye and requires aerial photography to see the complete picture. Aerial photography enthusiasts can take a photo when passing by. Free recommendations for oil towns The ruins of an oil town near Lenghu Town. You can stop by after leaving Heidu Mountain. Delingha Golden Light Tower Recommendation A solar power generation device located next to downtown Delingha has a very sci-fi feel!

Lenghu not only has oil relics, Heidushan, Eboliang Yardang, but also Mars Camp and an astronomical observatory. Take advantage of the Spring Festival holiday and bring your kids to experience it! Recommended itinerary: Four-day tour of Haixi Day 1: Golmud - Utumeiren Grassland - Mangya Emerald Lake - Mangya (overnight stay) Day 2: Mangya - Aiken Spring - Mars Highway No. 1 - Mars Camp - Eboliang Yardang Landform - Xitai Bicolor Lake - Wusute Water Yardang (overnight stay at Water Yardang or Xitai) Day 3: Wusute Water Yardang - 315 U-shaped Highway - Xiaoqaidam Lake - Daqaidam (overnight stay) Day 4: Daqaidam - Daqaidam Emerald Lake - Chaerhan Fantasy Salt Lake - Golmud (end)

Qinghai Lenghu Astronomical Observation Base is located in Saishiteng Mountain, Lenghu Town, Mangya City, with an average altitude of about 4000 meters. Qinghai Province and relevant departments are striving to build Lenghu into a world-class astronomical observation base, a first-class astronomical industry base, and an international tourist destination that hosts various large scientific installations from home and abroad. For astronomy enthusiasts and tourists, stargazing here offers an indescribable celestial phenomenon. Photo by colleague Gao Bo.

||| I visited Qinghai in 2017 and 2020 The scenery in Qinghai amazed me back then This May Day, I embarked on my third journey to Qinghai I was even more shocked by the impact this land had on me! This time, I finally explored the dazzling colors of Qinghai! 🚗 Self-Driving Route Day1️⃣ Shanghai ✈️ Dunhuang - Lenghu Town Day2️⃣ Lenghu - Heidushan - Petroleum Town - Eboliang Day3️⃣ Eboliang - Water Yadan - Dongtai Jinaier Lake Day4️⃣ Water Yadan - U-shaped Road - Blood of the Earth - Chaka Salt Lake - Dachaidan Day5️⃣ Dachaidan Emerald Lake - Golden Light Tower - Delingha ✈️ Shanghai This route is part of the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop, starting from Dunhuang to Delingha, crossing the entire Qaidam Basin, passing through colorful salt lakes, various Yadans, and the ink-wash painting-like Heidushan, making one marvel at the wonders of nature! Recommended Attractions 📍 Dachaidan Emerald Lake (Pics 9, 16, 17, 18) Must-Visit Located in Dachaidan Town, the scenic area has colorful salt lakes, especially stunning on sunny days, great for aerial photography. 📍 Chaka Salt Lake (Pics 1, 15) Can Skip if Time is Tight Located in Golmud City, it takes about one and a half hours from Dachaidan to reach, and another half-hour by scenic area bus to enter, which is time-consuming. Known for its green apple-colored salt lake, great for aerial shots. 📍 Dongtai Jinaier Lake (Pic 6) Free, Must-Visit Located next to Water Yadan, known as the Maldives of Qinghai. Now has a sightseeing road to the lake. The color is superb, not to be missed! 📍 Water Yadan (Pics 7, 13) Recommended The only water Yadan group in the world, a rare spectacle that might dry up someday. However, the accommodation conditions in the scenic area are average. 📍 Eboliang (Pics 8, 10) Can Skip if Time is Tight, Must-Visit for Star Lovers A Yadan group deep in the Gobi Desert, resembling the surface of Mars, far from human habitation, making it a paradise for star photography. However, the road conditions are poor, and the journey is long, with expensive tickets. Can be skipped if time is tight. 📍 Heidushan (Pic 5) Free, Must-Visit The most popular attraction in Lenghu Town in recent years, drive to the parking lot and walk in. The black and gray mountain structure creates a stunning ink-wash painting. 📍 U-shaped Road (Pic 2) Free, Must-Visit A section of National Highway 315, park by the roadside, very photogenic. 📍 Blood of the Earth (Pic 14) Can Be Aerial Photographed When Passing By National Highway 315, not very vivid to the naked eye and requires aerial photography to see the full picture. Aerial photography enthusiasts can take a quick shot when passing by. 📍 Petroleum Town (Pic 4) Free, Recommended An abandoned petroleum town near Lenghu Town, can be visited after Heidushan. 📍 Delingha Golden Light Tower (Pic 3) Recommended A solar power installation next to Delingha City, very sci-fi!