Resignation Letter Enclosed: 9-Day Self-Drive Tour on the Gansu-Qinghai Grand Loop

Before you know it, summer vacation has started again. Come out and play—since you're not making money anyway! Driving the Gansu-Qinghai Grand Loop in summer, circling the vast northwest—isn't that more fun than going to work? I'll give you nine days to roam the great northwest and appreciate the wonders of nature. The diverse geological landforms of the northwest are almost all here.

Every time I visit Gansu and Qinghai, I get to experience different beautiful sceneries. The seasons change, clouds roll and unfold, tourists come and go, but what remains unchanged is the sincerity and directness of this land. The beauty of the Gansu-Qinghai Grand Loop can only be truly appreciated by those who have been here!

As a die-hard self-drive travel enthusiast, I have eight must-visit spots on the Gansu-Qinghai Grand Loop in my heart. Starting from Xining, let's chat as we go.

**Stop 1: Macrolink Tongmeng Paradise (Stay at Xining city hotel)**

The 9-day self-drive tour begins in Xining. Self-driving is a physical activity. After arriving in Xining, check into the hotel, taste local delicacies, and visit Macrolink Tongmeng Paradise. This is the correct way to start the loop tour. As the first large-scale cultural tourism complex in Qinghai Province, Macrolink Tongmeng Paradise boasts the world's highest-altitude comprehensive aquarium, integrating aquatic and terrestrial animal displays, science education, and visitor entertainment. It is the only aquarium in the world featuring the display of the highland species, the sturgeon. This is the ultimate family vacation destination in the northwest.

Not only can you bring children to play, but you can also let loose with friends and relive the childhood memories. Now let's highlight! In addition to the educational aquarium, the park also has thrilling water rides, such as the Big Horn, and the Ferris wheel, the Eye of Qinghai, which offers a panoramic view of Xining. Macrolink Tongmeng Paradise is not just a theme park; it is also a window for Qinghai to showcase its folk customs to the world. Various rich parade performances feature strong ethnic characteristics, allowing you to truly feel the depth and boldness of this land on the first day. After playing, go enjoy the food around the scenic area, eat and drink your fill, and then continue the self-drive tour.

TIPS: Macrolink Tongmeng Paradise is open from 10:00 to 18:00 (full day). Last entry: 17:00. Ticket prices: 238 RMB/adult, 178 RMB/child, student, senior, 338 RMB/family ticket (one adult + one child).

**Stop 2: Qinghai Lake (Camping at Qinghai Lake)**

That's right, the second stop of the self-drive tour is the famous Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake and endorheic lake in China. In 2011, Qinghai Lake Scenic Area was awarded the title of "National 5A Tourist Attraction." After seeing so many beautiful pictures online, I always wondered if the real scene would disappoint. But when I arrived at Qinghai Lake, I realized that no photo can compare to the shock and emotion of seeing it with your own eyes. The azure blue water looks exceptionally clear against the sky, a highly saturated blue I had never seen before, completely captivating my eyes. A surge of inexplicable excitement and awe churned inside me—this is the charm of nature!

In the distance, the Buddhist pagoda stands quietly by the lake, exuding solemnity and reverence. How many devout believers has this millennium-old pure land nurtured, that everyone who passes here seeks spiritual redemption? At this moment, I truly felt I had arrived in Qinghai, this city full of cultural charm. That night I stayed here, deeply moved by the warm hospitality of the Tibetan compatriots by the lake. Their simple and unpretentious reception gave me a great sense of security. Embracing the night at Qinghai Lake, I slept soundly.

TIPS: July and August are the best seasons to visit Qinghai Lake. Ticket price: 100 RMB/person (half price during low season).

**Stop 3: Chaka Salt Lake (Chaka Salt Lake Hotel)**

About two hours' drive from Qinghai Lake, you reach Chaka Salt Lake, a national AAAA scenic area. Although much smaller than Qinghai Lake, it is a must-visit for everyone traveling the Gansu-Qinghai route! This bright, mirror-like salt lake, nestled between the Qilian Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains, attracts countless people who travel great distances just to witness the visual feast of the "Mirror of the Sky."

It's surreal, like a painting within a painting. Chaka Salt Lake also holds an important place in the Belt and Road Initiative. It's a great spot for photos, so you might stay a bit longer. Spend the night at the Chaka Salt Lake Hotel, fall asleep with the reflection of the salt lake, and let your soul be purified.

TIPS: Chaka Salt Lake stops admitting visitors after 6:00 PM daily, so plan your time accordingly to avoid a wasted trip.

**Stop 4: Ushui Wateryardang Geopark (Wateryardang Hotel)**

Ushui Yardang Geopark is located in the northwestern part of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai. After millions of years of geological movements and temporal changes, it has formed the largest and most spectacular yardang community in the world, covering an area of about 21,000 square kilometers.

Surrounded by endless Gobi desert, the wateryardang appears like a natural work of art, varied in form, beautiful and mysterious. The purpose of setting out is probably to unveil the veil of this mysterious treasure.

TIPS: Ushui Yardang Geopark is open year-round from 08:30 to 18:00. Tickets start at 118 RMB. It is recommended to bring plenty of water and dry food.

**Stop 5: Dunhuang Grand Ceremony (Dunhuang Desert Camping)**

Speaking of Dunhuang, it's not something that can be summed up in a few words. Mingsha Mountain, Mogao Caves, Crescent Spring, and the most famous desert show, Dunhuang Grand Ceremony, are all unmissable. The desert live performance "Dunhuang Grand Ceremony" uses cutting-edge modern stage technologies such as naked-eye 3D and holographic imaging, combined with the real scenery of Mingsha Mountain and Dunhuang Villa, to recreate the history, culture, and humanistic features of the important ancient Silk Road town of Dunhuang.

Audiences can wear flying celestial costumes and immerse themselves in the stories of Dunhuang.

One of China's top ten night markets, the Dunhuang Night Market, the largest in the northwest desert, is a must-visit. The gathering place for Silk Road specialty foods and crafts is also called Shazhou Food Post. It is a collection of Silk Road cuisine and handicrafts, and due to its distinct local characteristics and rich folk customs, it is known as Dunhuang's "Night Scene" and "Customs Painting." There is a lot of delicious food and bright lights, making it a must-visit in Dunhuang.

Recommended night market foods: Shallot beef pie and apricot peel tea.

TIPS: There are many attractions in Dunhuang, so it is recommended to stay for two days.

**Stop 6: Jiayuguan Pass (Dunhuang City Hotel)**

As a national key cultural relic protection unit, Jiayuguan Pass has a long history and was a strategic passage on the ancient Silk Road. Major attractions include Jiayuguan Fortress, Hanging Great Wall, First Mound of the Great Wall, Heishan Rock Carvings, Mulan City, and the "July 1" Glacier. Before going, I always imagined the grandeur of Jiayuguan Pass, but when I actually arrived, I realized how inadequate my imagination was. The overwhelming sense of pressure made me instantly silent; Jiayuguan Pass stands like a proud hero on the Gobi desert.

Entering Jiayuguan Pass, it feels as if you can see the spectacular scene of sand flying on the battlefield, and you become a warrior clad in armor, blood boiling. This is the meaning of Jiayuguan Pass! History has faded, but the traces of history remain forever!

TIPS: Ticket price: 110 RMB (peak season), 90 RMB (off-season). Opening hours: 8:00-17:30.

**Stop 7: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (Zhangye City Hotel)**

Continuing from Jiayuguan, it takes a little over three hours to reach my dream destination—Danxia Landform. If you stayed at a hotel in Zhangye city the previous night, you can drive on National Highway 213 and reach it in just over an hour.

The vast northwest, the desolate Hexi Corridor, was the passage to the Western Regions on the ancient Silk Road. The unique shapes of the Danxia landform and the complex geographical conditions have always fascinated me. If it's your first time seeing this landform, most people will be deeply shocked. If these landscapes were man-made, it would be one thing, but since they are naturally formed, you can't help but marvel at the wonders of nature.

It's like a rainbow falling from the sky onto the earth. Some describe it as God's palette falling to the world, but I think that's not quite accurate; it should be the rainbow from heaven descending to earth. Of course, don't be fooled by some online photos—you must see this stunning scenery with your own eyes.

TIPS: The ways to visit Zhangye Danxia Scenic Area vary in price and gradient; you can choose according to your preference. Regular tour fare: 74 RMB/person (54 RMB ticket + 20 RMB shuttle). Pure personal visit without professional vehicle and guide. Comfort tour fare: 188 RMB/person for groups of 3–5; 168 RMB/person for groups of 6 or more. Includes professional vehicle and guide. Deep tour fare: 368 RMB/person, minimum 3 persons; 328 RMB/person for groups of 10 or more.

**Stop 8: Mars Base 1 (Zhangye City Hotel)**

The last stop of the self-drive tour is China's only Mars-themed survival base, Mars Base 1, located in the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor, covering an area of 62 square kilometers. Gobi terrain, meteorite craters, and red rock formations set off the Mars base, giving you the feeling of actually being on Mars.

Inside the base, there is a Mars simulation survival experience hall, a Mars exploration experience center, and various Mars-themed diversified experience projects and play facilities. This place realistically recreates the scenes and equipment of the Mars base, and also has professional interpreters to explain the knowledge, making it a great place for youth science education.

TIPS: Adult ticket: 80 RMB/person. Reservations must be made in advance! Daily visiting hours: 9:00-11:30 AM, 2:00-5:30 PM. The Gobi has high temperatures and strong sunlight, so bring plenty of water and sun protection.

And thus, the 9-day, 8-night self-drive tour around the northwest grand loop comes to an end. Currently the hottest travel route in the northwest, it not only allows you to appreciate the unique landforms and scenery of the northwest, but also to feel the profound history and culture that has lasted for millennia. A perfect combination of natural beauty and human history—this is the top choice for northwest travel.