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The annual spring travel season is about to begin. This time, we chose the Northwest as our travel destination, specifically the highly recommended Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Tour by netizens. After searching online for a long time, we were still unsure how many days to plan, which essential attractions are must-visits along this route, and what the average costs would be. Ideally, we wanted a recommendation for a well-regarded local tour guide in Qinghai.

At that time, I traveled to the Northwest with my good friend Ajun. I've summarized our experiences and insights below, hoping it helps you. We took a 9-day itinerary covering Menyuan Rapeseed Flower Sea, Zhangye Colorful Danxia Geopark, Jiayuguan, Mogao Caves, Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring, Dunhuang, Dongtai Jiner Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, and Qinghai Lake — all essential highlights included! It was an all-inclusive package with no additional charges! The beauty of the Northwest truly captivated me. The current travel market is chaotic, so finding a reliable person is crucial. Our hotel accommodations and meals were arranged by a local Qinghai trip planner named Brother Da'ge, who was very patient. I have to give him a thumbs-up — if you want to go, definitely contact him.

The Northwest is a vast region: Zhangye Colorful Danxia Geopark, Mogao Caves, Dongtai Jiner Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, and Qinghai Lake are all located in different provinces and cities. Most of these attractions are over 200 kilometers apart, so the route must be planned in advance to avoid exhaustion and unnecessary detours. The Northwest travel planner, Brother Da'ge, made our trip enjoyable — effortless and authentic. To find a tour guide, just search online for 'Qinghai Tour Guide Da'ge.' Emerald Lake is absolutely stunning — a must-visit. Zhangye Colorful Danxia Geopark is also excellent! During peak season, tickets and accommodations are hard to secure — that's my experience-based advice for your reference.

Our 9-day, 8-night itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Xining, Qinghai, stay overnight in Xining. Upon arrival, Brother Da'ge arranged a butler to pick us up and check into the hotel. Then we had free time.

Day 2: Xining — Riyue Mountain — Daotang River — Qinghai Lake — Rubber Mountain — Chaka Salt Lake — Chaka Town

Day 3: Chaka Salt Lake — Cross Qaidam Basin — Keketuohai Lake — Emerald Lake — Dachaidan — Dachaidan

Day 4: Dachaidan — National Highway 315 — Water Yadan — Dongtai Jiner Lake — Qinghai Yadan Landform — Dachaidan

Day 5: Dachaidan — Dangjin Mountain — Oil Town — Aksai — Yangguan Pass — Dunhuang

Day 6: Dunhuang departure — Mogao Caves — Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring — Dunhuang City (overnight)

Day 7: Dunhuang departure — Guazhou — Jiayuguan — Zhangye Colorful Danxia Geopark — Zhangye

Day 8: Zhangye departure — Qilian Prairie — Gangshika Snow Peak (distant view) — Menyuan Hundred-Mile Rapeseed Flower Sea (seasonal only) — Daban Mountain — Xining

Day 9: Depart Xining, end of the joyful trip.

Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop essential attractions:

Wusute Yadan Geopark, also known as Water Yadan, is located in the Xitai area of Dachaidan Administrative Committee, Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It is 340 km east of Delingha (Haixi prefecture seat), 240 km east of Dachaidan Administrative Committee, 350 km south of Golmud, 350 km west of Mangya Town, and 500 km north of Dunhuang, adjacent to National Highway 315, occupying a key node on the loop route: Xining — Qinghai Lake — Chaka Salt Lake — Water Yadan — Dunhuang — Jiayuguan — Zhangye.

Dachaidan Emerald Lake: In Mongolian, Dachaidan is called "Ike Qaidam," meaning "big salt lake." It is the "north gate" of the Qaidam Basin, with an altitude of about 3148 meters and an area of about 240 square kilometers. Purer than the sky, more surreal than a dream, the surrounding salt flats and mineral-rich water create a mirror-like space.

Jiayuguan's city walls on both sides cross the desert and Gobi, connecting to the Heishan Hanging Wall Great Wall in the north and the First Mound Under Heaven in the south. It is the westernmost pass of the Ming Great Wall, historically known as the "throat of Hexi," with a strategic terrain and magnificent architecture. It is known as the "First Fortress Under Heaven" and the "Key to the Border Pass." Jiayuguan was a vital hub on the ancient Silk Road and is regarded as one of the three great wonders of the Great Wall in China.

Zhangye Danxia scenic area mainly includes Binggou Danxia and Colorful Danxia, separated by about 12 km. The Zhangye Danxia Geopark covers an area of about 536 square kilometers, with the Colorful Danxia area about 200+ square kilometers and the Binggou Danxia area about 300+ square kilometers.

Mogao Caves, together with Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan, and Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi, are known as China's three major grottoes; later, Maijishan Grottoes was added to make four. On August 31, 2019, the large documentary "Dialogue between Mogao Caves and Angkor Wat," co-produced by the Dunhuang Academy and other units, premiered at the Dunhuang International Convention Center.

Crescent Moon Spring is surrounded by the Singing Sand Dunes. Throughout history, it has been renowned for its wondrous landscape of "mountain and spring coexisting, sand and water symbiosis," praised as "the unique scenery beyond the Great Wall." The Singing Sand Dunes, Crescent Moon Spring, and the Mogao Caves blend together artistically, forming the "two wonders" connected south of Dunhuang city, making it a tourist destination sought after by people in China and worldwide. The Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring Scenic Area mainly features Crescent Moon Spring and Singing Sand Dunes. Crescent Moon Spring is embraced by the Singing Sand Dunes, and its shape resembles a crescent moon, hence its name. Singing Sand Dunes is located 5 km south of Dunhuang city, named for the sound produced when the sand moves. The dunes are formed by shifting sands in five colors: red, yellow, green, white, and black.