Top 12 Attractions in Qinghai | Things to Do in Qinghai 2024/2025

Type: Lakes, Islands, Nature & Parks

Best Travel Time: May ~ October especially in July ~ August when rape flower is in full blossom

Recommended Visiting Time: 1~2 days

Opening Hours: 24 hours

Special Experience: Cycling and Photography

Address: Gonghe County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China (共和县海南藏族自治州青海省), about 150 km (about 2.5 hours' drive) away from Xining City

Qinghai Lake is China's largest inland lake stretching 105 km at length and 63 km at width. The crystal plateau lake surrounded by grasslands, snowy mountains and spectacular dessert is recognized as the Most Beautiful Lake in China by Chinese National Geographic. In every summer (especially July and August), the lakeside golden sea of rape flowers gives visitors a great visual feast. Besides, it is also available to see many kinds of birds in Qinghai Lake.

Erlangjian Scenic Area is the essence of Qinghai Lake where a wonderful sight of Qinghai Lake and surrounding scenery can be admired, including beautiful lake view, vast stretches of grassland as well as snow mountains faraway. In Erlangjian, it is also available to take a boat to savor the moving painting-like scenery from another perspective. Both exciting high speed cruises and featured catamaran are accessible to offer two different journey. In addition to Erlangjian, Fairy Bay Area, a wetland with many flowers is also interesting to visit.

Qinghai Lake Cycling Experience: For travelers with desire to take a challenging trip along Qinghai Lake, cycling is strongly recommended. It is available to take a physically demanding trip from Jiayi Temple to Shinaihai Town, needing about 1.5 days and covering about 140 km totally. If you just want a short cycling experience, you can bike from Jiayi Temple to Erlangjian Scenic Area, taking about 2 hours totally.

Helpful Links: Qinghai Lake Weather | How to Get to Qinghai Lake | Qinghai Lake Maps | Where to Stay in Qinghai Lake

Type: Religious Sites, Historical & Cultural Sites, Landmarks

Best Travel Time: April ~ October

Recommended Visiting Time: 2 ~ 4 hours

Opening Hours: 07:30 ~ 18:30

Address: No.56, Jinta Road, Lushaer Town, Huangzhong District, Xining, Qinghai (青海省西宁市湟中区金塔路56号)

Kumbum Monastery, also known as Taer Monastery, is the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master - Tsongkhapa - the founder of Gelug (a sect of Buddhism). It is also famous as one of Six Monasteries of Gelug together with Sera Monastery (Lhasa), Drepung Monastery (Lhasa), Ganden Monastery (Lhasa), Tashilhunpo Monastery (Shigatse) and Labrang Lamasery (Xiahe), as well as the Buddhist center of northwestern Tibetan Region. It was originated from a pagoda group, then became a grand monastery of thousands buildings. As you enter the monastery, your eyes will be attracted by the noticeable eight pagodas named Pagodas of Buddha Shakyamuni. Many small Buddhist statues and sorts of Sutras and Buddhist objects are collected in the pagodas.

Visiting Kumbum Monastery, you cannot miss the three bests of it - murals, barbola and butter sculptures which show fantastic craftsmanship and the devout faith of workers. It is also interesting to watch Buddhist scriptures debating which is a typical way for monks to discuss and learn Buddhist knowledge. Besides, there are many Buddhist ceremonies and fairs organized in Kumbum Monastery to learn Buddhism, astronomy and medicine each year.

Starting & Terminal Station: Xining Railway Station - Lhasa Railway Station

Line Length:

1,956 km (1,215 mi): Xining-Golmud (814 km)+Golmud-Lhasa (1,142 km)

Type: National Class I Railroad

Sections: Xining - Delingha - Golmud - Amdo - Nagqu - Damxung - Lhasa

Train Stations: 85 (main stations: Xining-Delingha-Golmud-Amdo-Nagqu-Damxung-Lhasa)

Operation Date: 1984 (Xining-Golmud); 2006 (Golmud-Lhasa)

Operating Speed: 140 km/h (Xining-Golmud), 100 km/h (Golmud-Lhasa)

Qinghai Tibet Railway connecting Xining (capital of Qinghai) and Lhasa (capital of Tibet) is a world-famous high plateau railway. The construction of this railway takes about 6 years and the engineers have overcome three engineering technical problems including permafrost, extreme environment (cold and oxygen deficit) and fragile ecosystem to finish it. Amazingly, Qinghai Tibet Railway sets 9 remarkable world records, like the highest plateau railway, the longest plateau railway, the highest permafrost tunnel, etc.

But for travelers, it offers not only a convenient transfer way to Tibet, but also an enjoyable train journey with breathtaking sightseeing. Taking a train along Qinghai Tibet Railway, you will view Qinghai Lake at a distance, go by the desert mountains in Delingha, passes through the depopulated zone of Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, appreciate everlasting snow on Kunlun Mountains, meet rare animals like Tibetan antelopes…

All trains to Tibet from cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing and Guangzhou) in mainland China pass Qinghai Tibet Railway and offer a memorable train trip. Besides, all trains to Tibet are equipped with great facilities, like soft sleeper, oxygen supply, restaurants, etc. to offer a better experience. If you plan to travel to Tibet from Xining or other gateway cities, taking a train is strongly recommended.

Helpful Links: Xining Lhasa Train | Beijing to Lhasa Train | Chengdu Lhasa Train

Type: Lakes, Nature & Parks

Best Seasons: May ~ October especially in July ~ August

Recommended Visiting Time: 1 day

Opening Hours: 6:00 - 20:00 (Peak Season) 7:30 - 19:00 (Off Season)

Address: Yanhu Road, Chaka Town, Ulan County, Qinghai Province, China (青海省乌兰县茶卡镇盐湖路)

Chaka Salt Lake, only about 150 km to Qinghai Lake, is a beautiful lake famous as the mirror of the sky for its reflective salt lake bed. In fact, it once was a part of the ocean and then the ground rose to form the highest plateau after crustal movement. The seawater was left and became Chaka Salt Lake. Many travelers and photographers are attracted here to enjoy the poetic beauty as the blue sky and floating clouds are reflected in the lake. There are several delicately designed platforms in the scenic area to offer travelers a wonderful site to admire this splendid scenery, including Sightseeing Tower from which you are able to overlook the core area of Chaka Salt Lake. There are three most recommended ways to enjoy Chaka Salt Lake, namely sightseeing car, sightseeing train and sightseeing yacht.

The best time to visit Chaka Salt Lake is June to August because of the comfortable weather. However, lots of domestic travelers will flood into the scenic area during summer vocation (July and August). It is available to take Sky No.1 Scenic Area which enjoys similar scenery of Chaka Salt Lake as a substitution. It is about 10 km away from Chaka Lake. Lots of activities are available, like sightseeing train, boats, salt spas, etc.

Type: Religious Sites, Historical & Cultural Sites, Landmarks

Best Seasons: April ~ October

Recommended Visiting Time:  1-2 hours

Opening Hours: 8:00~18:00

Address: Rongwo Town, Tongren County, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai(青海省黄南藏族自治州同仁县同仁镇), about 170 km (2.5 hours' drive) from Xining

Rongwo Monastery (Longwu Monastery) is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist monastery with a history of over 700 years. Rongwo Monastery play a very important role during the history of Tibetan Buddhism in northwestern China. Many famous Buddhist masters, scholars lived and studied Buddhism here. Till now, it is one of the three influential Buddhist monasteries in Amdo Tibetan Region together with Labrang Temple in Gansu and Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai.

The architecture of Rongwo Monastery combines the Tibetan and traditional Chinese style. The 11 meters tall statue of Tsongkhapa is a big highlight of this monastery. Many pilgrims prostrate and pray in front of him. Famous Regong art, the traditional folk art including Thangka, murals, embroidery, religious sculpture and many other kinds of painting arts, is originated in Rongwo Monastery. In the Main Assembly Hall, you can enjoy a glorious mural of all the mountain gods that Regong people believe. It is also available to watch scripture-debating in the monastery in the afternoon. If you visit in some special festivals or big days, many grand religious activities can be enjoyed as well, like the New Year Prayer Fair.

Type: Parks, Forests, Lakes, Religious Sites

Best Seasons: May ~ October, especially July and August

Recommended Visiting Time: 0.5 ~ 1 Day

Opening Hours: 8:00 ~ 18:00

Address: Kanbula Town, Jianzha County, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province (青海黄南藏族自治州尖扎县坎布拉镇)

Kanbula National Forest Park is a huge scenic area attractive with stunning natural scenery, including virgin forests, deep canyons, emerald rivers as well as Danxia landform with colorful earth landscape. The park has 18 named peaks with various postures, looking like castles, pagodas, pillars, as well as figures of human and animals. In addition to Danxia landform, the river is also a highlight of Kanbula National Forest Park. Visiting Lijiaxia Reservoir, you will amazingly find that the Yellow River is not yellow but green and yellow. Park bus is available to take you to various small attractions in the park and you will get some free time for sightseeing and photography. No matter you stand in the viewing-deck or walk along the zigzagging trails, you will get an incredible view of the mountains and waters. Besides, cruising on the peaceful river is also recommended if you want an enjoyable experience.

Important News: Kanbula National Forest Park now is under reconstruction to offer visitors a better travel experience. Feel free to contact us for the latest information or browse Qinghai Tour Packages for other wonderful experiences in Qinghai.

Type: Parks, Forests, Lakes, Religious Sites

Best Seasons: April ~ October

Recommended Visiting Time: 2 hours

Opening Hours: 09:00-18:00 (Monday ~ Thursday & Saturday ~ Sunday); 09:00-17:00

Address: No.36, Jinger Road, Shengwu Keji Chanyeyuan District, Xining, Qinghai (青海省西宁市城北区生物科技产业园区经二路36号)

Tibetan Medicine & Tibet Culture Museum is the world's only museum themed in Tibetan medicine and the only national first-class museum collecting, protecting, displaying, researching and inheriting Tibetan culture. The whole museum is divided into Southern Hall and Norther Hall.

In the Southern Hall (Tibetan Culture Museum), you can explore rich Tibet culture including colored paintings of Chinese Tibetan culture and art, the Silk Road and Qinghai Tibetan High Plateau civilization, Tibetan architecture, Tibetan calligraphy, etc. What you can't miss is a 618-meter-long and 2.5-meter-wide huge Thangka that is recorded in Guinness World and painted with precious pigments such as gold powder, jade, coral, etc.

In the Northern Hall (Tibetan Medicine Museum), there are exhibitions about Tibet medicine, such as the history of Tibetan medicine, old medical books, Tibetan medicine specimen as well as palace of Medicine Buddhas. In the various exhibitions, there are numerous collections showing great metal technology, textile technology and craft of the wood carver.