[2025 Ulan Stay] Travel Guide for Jinhengji Hotel (Updated May)

🔥If it is your first time to Qinghai and Gansu and you don’t want to make your own travel guide, book a hotel, reserve tickets or find a car, it is recommended that you join a local tour group, which includes food, accommodation and tickets. It is comfortable and worry-free, and the cost-effectiveness is also quite high. 🧰Travel preparation ✅ Student ID, military ID, press ID and other preferential documents: Remember to bring your ID and related documents to enjoy discounts at attractions. 👕Clothing: There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening in the Northwest. It is recommended to bring a windbreaker or down jacket when traveling now. If the weather is warmer, you can just bring a coat. 📱Electrical appliances: drones, power banks, headphones, chargers and other essential items. 💊Medicine: cold medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, band-aid, etc. Others: sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrellas, disposable bed sheets, disposable toilet covers, etc. 🚙Qinghai Lake Dunhuang Zhangye Shuiyacharhan eight-day loop itinerary: Day 1: Xining ---- Sun Moon Mountain ---- Qinghai Lake (Heima River) ---- Chaka Salt Lake (stay overnight) Day 2: Chaka - Chaerhan Salt Lake - Golmud (overnight) Day 3: Golmud ---- U-shaped road ---- Dongtaijinaier Lake ---- Water Yadan ---- Dachaidan Emerald Lake (stay overnight) Day 4: Dachaidan ---- Heidu Mountain ---- Oil Town ---- Dunhuang City (stay overnight) Day 5: Dunhuang ---- Mogao Grottoes (tickets are recommended to be purchased around 9 am) ---- Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake ---- Dunhuang City (overnight) Day 6: Dunhuang ---- Yangguan ---- Yumenguan ---- Yadan World Geopark ---- Dunhuang (overnight) Day 7: Dunhuang City ---- Passing Jiayuguan (viewing from a distance) ---- Zhangye Colorful Danxia ---- Zhangye (stay overnight) Day 8: Zhangye ---- Qilian Grassland ---- Gangshika Snow Peak (view from a distance) ---- Xining (end) 🏖Highlights Qinghai Lake: China's largest inland saltwater lake, with clear blue water, is an excellent place to enjoy natural scenery and watch migratory birds. Chaka Salt Lake: Walking in it feels like being in a fantasy world. Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes: A world cultural heritage, it preserves a large number of exquisite murals and sculptures and is an important window for understanding ancient Buddhist art. Zhangye Danxia: colorful and intertwined, it looks like nature's palette has been overturned on the earth. The scene is spectacular and it is one of the classic attractions in Gansu. 🤳Play suggestions During the peak season, the number of visitors to Mogao Grottoes is limited every day. It is recommended to book tickets one month in advance, as it is difficult to enter the scenic area on the day. Tickets to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake are valid for three days. Friends who have plenty of time can enjoy the trip slowly and enjoy the sunrise and sunset. Be sure to bring a drone, the photos you take are outstanding and completely different from those taken with a cell phone. The salt content in Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake is high and corrosive, so be sure to wear waterproof shoe covers before entering the water. Many people travel to the Northwest during the peak season, so self-driving is not recommended for first-time visitors. 🔜Notes🔚 1️⃣Almost all hotels and restaurants along the Northwest Grand Loop accept Alipay payment, so there is no need to carry a lot of cash. 2️⃣The economic development of the Qinghai-Gansu Loop Line is relatively lagging, and hotel conditions along the way are limited. Friends who have high requirements for hotels need to be mentally prepared. 3️⃣ There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening in Qinghai, especially since Qinghai is at a high altitude and belongs to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, so be sure to bring warm clothes to prevent colds. 4️⃣Don’t go directly to the scenic spot to buy tickets. It is recommended to make an appointment online in advance.

Traveling to Northwest China without a plan? That’s a big no-no! ❌ Here’s a Northwest travel guide painstakingly crafted by a Qinghai local, shared for all internet family members! Make sure to save it! ⁉️ ------- ⭐⭐⭐ Essential Packing List 🔸 Important Documents: ID card, student ID (for discounts), driver’s license 🔸 Sun Protection: sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, sunblock spray, umbrella, sun-protective clothing 🔸 Toiletries: skincare products, shampoo + body wash, makeup remover 🔸 Electronics: chargers, power bank, Bluetooth earphones, selfie stick, camera, drone 🔸 Medications: allergy medicine, cold medicine, glucose, motion sickness pills, altitude sickness medicine, digestive medicine 🔸 Other Items: thermos, wet wipes, disposable underwear, slippers, mosquito repellent, face masks, eye mask ------------ 🔥🔥 Qinghai Lake-Dunhuang-Zhangye-Salt Lake-Yadan Landform 7-Day Grand Loop: Day 1: Xining ---- Riyue Mountain ---- Qinghai Lake (Heimahe) ---- Chaka Salt Lake (Overnight) Day 2: Chaka ---- Qarhan Salt Lake ---- Golmud (Overnight) Day 3: Golmud ---- U-shaped Highway ---- Dongtai Jinel Lake ---- Water Yadan ---- Dachaidan Emerald Lake (Overnight) Day 4: Dachaidan ---- Heidushan ---- Silk Road Heritage City ---- Dunhuang City (Overnight) Day 5: Dunhuang ---- Mogao Caves (best to book tickets for around 9 AM) ---- Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake ---- Shazhou Night Market ---- Dunhuang City (Overnight) Day 6: Dunhuang City ---- via Jiayuguan ---- Zhangye Rainbow Mountains ---- Zhangye (Overnight) Day 7: Zhangye ---- Biandukou ---- Qilian Mountain Grasslands ---- Gangshika Snow Peak (distant view) ---- Xining (End) ------------ 🩸🩸🩸 Highlights of Northwest Travel 🌴 Popular Attractions: grasslands, snow-capped mountains, forests, rainbow mountains, deserts, lakes, rapeseed fields 🌴 Cultural Heritage: Explore Mogao Caves and Ma Ti Temple to witness the splendid treasures of Chinese civilization 🌴 Highland Lakes: Visit Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, and Emerald Lake for stunning photo opportunities 🌴 Rare Landforms: Unique Yadan landforms, majestic and spectacular 🌴 Special Experiences: Horse riding at Qinghai Lake, camping at Crescent Moon Town, stargazing ------------------- 💁 Travel Tips 🟧 Upon arriving in Qinghai, ensure adequate rest, avoid strenuous activities, refrain from smoking and drinking, rest more, and drink plenty of water to adapt to the high-altitude environment 🟧 Drones are prohibited in the Rainbow Mountains Scenic Area due to hot air balloons, gliders, and helicopters operating there, as drones may interfere with their flights 🟧 Signal reception in Northwest China is poor; your phone may often have no signal. Traveling alone can be dangerous, so it’s recommended to travel in groups 🟧 In Tibetan areas, if you see cows and sheep adorned with red, yellow, and green cloth wandering in the wild, do not drive them away or harm them, as they are offerings to the gods by Tibetan locals 🟧 Qinghai’s scenic spots are vast, and you’ll often pass through uninhabited areas. Many places lack food options, so it’s advisable to bring plenty of snacks --------- 💣 Must-Read Tips to Avoid Pitfalls 🔺 Does this hit your concerns? Chaka Salt Lake Photos? 😭 Pitfall: Wearing a red dress and matching outfits with a 50-year-old aunt! Wind blowing like crazy, turning you into Mei Chaofeng! ✅ Survival Guide: Stay at a hotel within the scenic area! Rush in at 7 AM, wear a white long dress + wool shawl, and post your photos on social media to get flooded with questions! - Dunhuang Desert Nightmare? 😭 Pitfall: Camping base blankets full of sand! Waking up freezing in the middle of the night, wanting to curse! ✅ Hard-earned Advice: Choose luxury tents with private bathrooms! Enjoy the Milky Way 🌌 at night and a deserted desert in the morning—it’s worth every penny! ---------

Planning a trip to the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop? Check out this comprehensive guide to avoid common pitfalls! It includes travel sequence, detailed attractions, accommodation tips, and food recommendations—all covered! 🌟 Essential Documents for Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop ✔ Basic documents: ID card, student/teacher ID, driver’s license, vehicle registration ✔ Electronics: Power bank (must-have daily!), camera/drone (perfect for capturing Danxia and salt lakes), phone tripod (ideal for road trip selfies) ✔ Daily essentials: Sunscreen (SPF50+), sunglasses, sun hat (UV rays in the northwest are intense!), windbreaker (temperature difference of 20°C+ between day and night), comfortable hiking shoes, bright long dresses (must-have for photos at Chaka Salt Lake), lip balm, hydrating face masks, thermos, trash bags 🚗 Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop 7-Day Itinerary 🔵 Day 1: Xining—Sun and Moon Mountain—Qinghai Lake—Chaka Salt Lake—Chaka (overnight) 🔵 Day 2: Chaka—Chahann Salt Lake—Emerald Lake—Dachaidan (overnight) 🔵 Day 3: Dachaidan—315 U-shaped Road—Water Yadan—Dongtai Jinel Lake (distant view)—Dachaidan (overnight) 🔵 Day 4: Dachaidan—Black Mountain—Dunhuang (overnight) 🔵 Day 5: Dunhuang—Mogao Caves—Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake—Shazhou Night Market—Dunhuang (overnight) 🔵 Day 6: Dunhuang—Son of the Earth—Jiayuguan—Zhangye Rainbow Danxia—Zhangye (overnight) 🔵 Day 7: Zhangye—Qilian Grassland—Gangshika Snow Peak (distant view)—Menyuan Rapeseed Flowers (seasonal)—Xining 🌄 Must-Visit Attractions Recommended Qinghai Attractions: Xining: Ta’er Monastery (a sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism; remember to remove hats and avoid photography), Dongguan Mosque Qinghai Lake: Erlangjian Scenic Area (stunning rapeseed flowers from June to August), Heimahe Township (best spot for sunrise) Chaka Salt Lake: "Mirror of the Sky"—wear a red dress for photos! Don’t forget shoe covers (salt crystals can hurt your feet) Qilian Mountains: Zhuo’er Mountain (Danxia and grasslands in one frame), Menyuan Flower Sea (rapeseed flowers covering the slopes in July) Recommended Gansu Attractions: Zhangye: Rainbow Danxia (best colors at sunset! Observation Deck 4 is less crowded and great for photos) Dunhuang: Mogao Caves, Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake (ride camels to watch the sunset; avoid getting sand in your camera!) Jiayuguan: The First Pass Under Heaven (climb the tower for a panoramic view of the desert; ancient costume photos are stunning) 🍜 Northwest Food Guide ✔ Must-Try Dishes: Qinghai: Hand-grabbed lamb (perfect with garlic), Qinghai old-style yogurt (yellow millet at the bottom is fragrant), stuffed noodles (chewier than cold noodles) Gansu: Lanzhou beef noodles (clear broth, white radish, red chili oil, green cilantro—start your day with it!), lamb stew with rolled noodles (lamb flavor + noodles soaking up the juice), fish-shaped noodles (shaped like small fish, chewy texture) ✔ Local Snacks: Sweet fermented barley drink (a refreshing drink to cut through grease), gray bean soup (a night market staple in Lanzhou), apricot peel water (a hit in Dunhuang, sweet and sour for summer) Grilled buns (crispy skin, juicy filling; 10 RMB for 3 at roadside stalls), desert onion (a desert plant, delicious in salads or stir-fried) 📝 Summary Tips 1. Best Seasons: June-August for salt lakes/grasslands, September-October for golden Danxia/poplar trees; May/September for fewer crowds and lower costs 2. Essentials: Sunglasses, sun-protective clothing, power bank; waterproof shoe covers for salt lakes, old sneakers for deserts 3. Altitude Sickness: Avoid washing hair or intense exercise upon arrival in the northwest!