How to Get to Qinghai & Get around Qinghai 2025

In the whole Qinghai Province, there are 7 airports in total. Among them, the most frequently used airport for visitors is Xining Caojiabao International Airport (IATA: XNN) as it operates flights between most cities in China. It is also the only international airport in Qinghai that connects with some cities in other Asian countries such as Bangkok in Thailand, Tokyo in Japan, Seoul in South Korea, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia… Other airports such as Geermu Airport (IATA: GOQ), Yushu Batang Airport (IATA: YUS) and Huatugou Airport (IATA: HTT) only have flights within Qinghai and several flights between Beijing, Chengdu, Xian or Lhasa. Therefore, Xining is the first choice for travelers.

Note: If your city do not have flights to Xining, you can fly to bigger cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou first and then transfer to Xining.

Get to Xining by Flight

Taking a flight is the fastest and most comfortable way to get to Xining, which usually takes several hours only. Xining Caojiabao International Airport, about 28 km (40 minutes’ drive) east of the downtown Xining operates over 60 air lines with 48 cities at home and abroad, which means you can fly to Xining from lots of major tourist cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Lhasa, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Changsha, Dunhuang, Harbin, Hohhot, Kunming, Urumqi, Wuhan, Zhangjiajie, Yinchuan, etc. Besides, there are irregular flights to Xining from Kuala Lumpur and Nha Trang in Southeast Asia. The airport also operates regional flights from Xining to Golmud, Golog, Huatugou, Yushu and Qilian within Qinghai Province.

Get to Xining by Train

Xining is the rail transportation hub in Qinghai and a must railway pass to Tibet. Currently, Xining has three railway stations in service: Xining Railway Station, Datong West Railway Station and Huangyuan Railway Station. Xining Railway Station, the largest railway station in Qinghai and Tibet regions is the main train station used by train travelers.

You can get to Xining by bullet train from Xian (4-5h), Lanzhou (70min-2.5h), Zhangye (2h), Jiayuguan (3-3.5h), Dunhuang (6h), Turpan (8-9h), Urumqi (9-10h)… and by normal train from Lhasa (20-22h), Golmud (6.5-10h), Delingha (4-6h), Beijing (19-22.5h), Chengdu (12.5-15h), Chongqing (13.5h), Taiyuan (14.5-20h)...

☞ 7 Days Qinghai Lake Zhangye Danxia Badain Jaran Desert Wonders Tour

Travel around Xining

Visitors can travel Xining by taxi and bus to attractions in downtown such as Dongguan Mosque and Tibetan Medicine & Tibet Culture Museum. But if you are going to some remote attractions such as Kumbum Monastery or Qinghai Lake, chartering a car is more recommended. Please be kindly noted that there may be some language barriers as the local usually speak Mandarin and Tibetan, not many people can speak English or other foreign language. If you want a worry-free Xining tranfer, you can also contact us as we will provide you with reliable driver, professional guide and comfortable vehicle to make your trip enjoyable.

▶ Check more about Xining Transportation: How to Get to/around Xining >>

☞ 3 Days Xining Short Stay Tour including Qinghai Lake

Chaka Salt Lake is renowned as "Mirror of The Sky" for its crystal blue water. It is located in Chaka Town, Wulan County, about 300 km (4.5 hours by car) to Xining, 150 km to Qinghai Lake. As a remote lake from the downtown area, people usually travel from Xining to Chaka Salt Lake.

On ordinary days, Xining Passenger Station (next to Xining Railway Station) operates about 6 buses to Chaka town every day. When you arrive at the town, you need to walk 4 km or take a taxi to Chaka Salt Lake as no public transportation is available. In peak season, you can take Chaka Salt Lake Tourist Bus or "Sky Mirror" Tourist Train also at Xining Passenger Station. If you have any questions about the transportation or need transfer help, please feel free to contact us.

☞ 4 Days Qinghai Lake Chaka Lake Tour from Xining
☞ 6 Days Chaka Lake Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains Dramatic Tour

Tongren is about 160 km (2.5 hours' drive) to the southeast of Xining. It is a small county in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture with an average altitude of about 2500 m. Tongren is known for its Regong Art and the Tibetan Buddhist Temples such as Rongwo Temple. As the birthplace of Thangka Paintings and Thangka Embroidery, Tongren is praised as "the hometown of Regong Art".

Tongren has no airport or railway station. Therefore, from major cities to Tongren, you need to get to Xining first and then drive or take a bus to Tongren. Every day from 7:40 am to 6:30 pm, there are many buses from Xining Passenger Station to Tongren. If you want to have a worry-free and more comfortable trip, you can also contact us to arrange a Tongren trip for you.

☞ 4 Days Qinghai Lake Landscape Tour Plus Tongren Authentic Tibetan Culture and Art Exploration
☞ 5 Days Amdo Tibetan Culture Experience Tour

Yushu is about 790 km (10 hours' drive) to the southwest of Xining. Bordering Tibet in the south, with an altitude of 4493.4 m, Yushu has unique plateau natural landscape and Tibetan folk customs. Yushu has no railway station but has an airport connecting several cities in China. You can fly to Yushu directly or get to Xining first (Xining has more flights with major cities in China) and then take a flight or car to Yushu.

By flight: Yushu Batang Airport (IATA：YUS 玉树巴塘机场) is about 22 km, 30 minutes' drive from Yushu. It operates direct flights between Xining (1h20min), Beijing (4.5h), Chengdu (1h40min), Xian (3.5h) and Lhasa (1.5h). Airport shuttle bus is available and is scheduled according to the arrival time of the flights.

By bus: Xining Passenger Station operates over 10 daily buses to Yushu through national highway 214, which is in good road condition. But it is a very long journey of about 11.5 hours.

☞ 7 Days In-depth Discovery Tour of Qinghai Culture & Nature