Qinghai Loop Trip Sharing and Guide (Part) in Early September

Just returned from Qinghai. This trip I purchased a free independent travel package from Ctrip, including car rental, accommodation, and entrance tickets to some scenic spots. Along the way, we made slight adjustments based on our preferences. The actual itinerary was: Xining - Qinghai Lake - Delingha (overnight) - U-shaped Highway - Water Yadan - Dachaidan (overnight) - Emerald Lake - Caka (overnight) - Caka Salt Lake - Qilian County (overnight) - Zhuora Mountain - Qilian Grassland - Xining. The driver was very accommodating and we were quite satisfied.

Now let me share the sights and experiences from each place, along with some photos.

Unlike major provincial capitals in the interior, Xining already feels a bit bleak in early September. Built amidst encircling mountains, the city undulates like Chongqing, with high-rises everywhere. Prices are indeed a bit high. According to a local Didi driver, most of the raw ingredients and fruits seen in Xining are transported from surrounding cities.

Remember to bring glucose oral solution, inosine oral solution, and fever-reducing tablets to alleviate altitude sickness—these have proven effective for us. As for Rhodiola and jiao sha (something like shark oil), just toss them—they're purely a placebo.

Qinghai Lake - Heima River

Beautiful. The beauty of all lakes in Qinghai depends on the weather; under strong sunlight reflecting off the lake, they are stunningly gorgeous. A few days later, after rain, we visited Caka Salt Lake, and it appeared yellowish.

A small city deep in the desert, with a population of 80,000. Known as the City of Romance because the poet Haizi once visited and wrote poems here. The Tui Gu Yak Meat (bone-out yak meat) opposite the city government is quite delicious. As a transit city, the Haizi Poetry Exhibition Hall is a must-visit. You can also take a stroll along the nearby Bayin River.

On the road from Delingha to Water Yadan, there are vast stretches of desolate Gobi and desert areas. On the Dongtai Jinai Lake section, there is no mobile signal for at least half an hour or more. It truly is a no-man's land. The scenery along the road is photogenic, but Water Yadan, set against the water, looks particularly distinctive. Worth a visit.

According to the driver, parking has been permanently banned there—any violation costs 3 demerit points and a 200 RMB fine. A bit regrettable, but I did record a video while passing through.

Just a few kilometers from our accommodation in Dachaidan, there are lakes in various colors that serve as perfect photo backdrops. However, my favorite is the vast white salt flats there—pure and ethereal like snow.

Zhuora Mountain & Qilian Grassland

My favorite part of the trip—vast, magnificent, second to none. I hope to live there for a while someday.

We arrived in Xining on August 31. Over a week on the loop, we experienced all four seasons in terms of clothing. We spent winter in Caka, autumn around Qinghai Lake, Qilian Mountains, and Emerald Lake, summer at Water Yadan, and early autumn in Delingha. Roughly like that.

There are food options near scenic spots, but for better value, ask the driver to take you to nearby towns to eat.

Before leaving Xining, stock up on various medications. In places like Dachaidan and Caka—small towns built around hotels and restaurants for nearby attractions—there are hardly two or three food delivery options (and no pharmacy delivery), let alone actual pharmacies.

Public security in Qinghai is quite good. We went out to find food every evening in various cities and towns. Although there weren’t many people on the streets, it felt very safe without any worries.

I’ll add more if I remember anything else.