Things to do in Xinghai

During the off-season, there are few tourists at the scenic area, and many facilities are not in operation. The scenery is not at its best, but because there are few people, experiencing a solo walk around the salt lake is still quite enjoyable.

It's definitely worth a visit; it's truly breathtaking. Every detail is meticulously crafted, completely contrary to online claims of shoddy workmanship. The 600-meter-long mural is said to have taken 27 years to paint. I didn't spend the entire fourth-floor Tibetan cultural mural exhibition, but I saw the other exhibits. The guided tours all use headphones, but the volume is extremely low, making it difficult to hear the explanations. If you're just rushing through, don't bother renting a guided tour. However, if you want to take your time and spend an afternoon at each exhibit, it's well worth it.

As the birthplace and memorial monastery of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, this historical and cultural site, over 600 years old, is a must-see. Photography of the stupa at the entrance is permitted, but not of the Buddha statues inside. The monastery currently houses over 1000 monks and more than a dozen Living Buddhas. While the throngs of worshippers are bustling, the atmosphere is peaceful and serene (perhaps the burning of large incense sticks is not part of the ritual). Many areas allow you to light lamps for blessings (20 yuan per person, depending on your conscience), and there are places to exchange change for prayers. Best of all, there are Chinese-language guided tours, and the guides are very professional; I learned more about Tibetan Buddhism than I did during my previous trip to Lhasa!

A trip to Qinghai will definitely include Qinghai Lake in the itinerary. The lake is vast, with a loop of over 300 kilometers. There's an annual cycling race around the lake, so the ecological environment and water quality are well-preserved. The officially developed area is Erlangjian, where there are many accommodations. The cliffs and Fairy Bay are on the opposite side. Heimahe is famous for its sunrise views. While passing by, I saw many new guesthouses still under construction; the accommodations there were previously quite basic. Due to weather conditions, our original itinerary for the lake loop was changed. We'll save the cliffs for another time. It's relatively close to Xining. The weather improved slightly when we arrived at Erlangjian. I took a peek at the lake from the viewing platform.

Buy tickets for the 9:00 AM bus from Xining Bus Station to Qinghai Lake. You can buy tickets through the Xining Bus Station's WeChat mini-program! The journey takes about 2.5 hours, with a stop at a service station for restroom use. Arrive around 11:30 AM. (There will be grasslands along the way; you can see them from the window.) The tour guide will assist with buying tickets on the bus, or you can buy them at the ticket center. Upon arrival, take a fast cruise to the island, then either the cruise ship to the island or a small train or bus to the lake. On the island, you can play in the sand and see seagulls and yaks. Plan your itinerary carefully; less than 4 hours for sightseeing will feel rushed.

The Plateau Wildlife Park is excellent. The snow leopards are adorable, and the giant pandas are also worth seeing. There are many different kinds of animals, and many of them are well cared for. The environment is beautiful, built on a mountain, and there is also a botanical garden to visit. The prices are very reasonable.

The grassland along the road is beautiful, but the road is under construction, so it is difficult to walk on.

Scenery: It's worth going to Riyue Mountain just for the scenery in picture 1. It's on the main loop and the scenery is truly unique. The rocks at the base have Tibetan characters written on them; although I can't understand them, they still feel very sacred and auspicious. Impressions: Overall, besides picture 1, there's not much else to see. The surrounding environment is similar to picture 4. The wind there is really strong. If you go in winter, be sure to wear a mask, hat, sunglasses, and gloves.

Welcome to Lianbaoyeze in Aba Prefecture! In Tibetan, it means "Dignified Jade Peak," and it's commonly known as "Stone Mountain." While other parts of western Sichuan take a gentler approach, it's rugged, majestic, and magical, like stepping onto the set of *The Lord of the Rings*. The core of the experience: Experience the stone world from a different perspective—effortlessly witness its breathtaking beauty, explore hidden gems, and make sure your stomach and camera are never empty. 🏔️ Stone Mountain with a "Magical Filter": Millions of years of glacial erosion and frost weathering have sculpted a granite peak forest, with an average altitude of over 4000 meters and a maximum of 5141 meters. Strange peaks and rocks stand in rows, some resembling meditating Buddhas, others like high-altitude guardians—a natural stone sanctuary. Glacial lakes bring the stone world to life: The star attraction, Zhagar Tso, the largest glacial lake in the scenic area, sits at an altitude of approximately 4200 meters. Its waters are an incredibly blue, surrounded by stone peaks on three sides. On a windless morning, the reflections are absolutely stunning, enough to make any camera applaud. There's also the legendary Zhumu Tso, said to be the dressing lake of King Gesar's queen, and Baixiang Hai, named for the fragrance of high-altitude cypress trees. 📜 Sacred Mountains with Stories Lianbaoye is one of the ten sacred mountains in the Tibetan region, said to be the site of King Gesar's ancient battlefields. You might encounter pilgrims circumambulating the mountain along the boardwalk; the Tibetan Year of the Monkey is the mountain god's "birth year," a cycle of twelve years. Mani stones, prayer flags, and "goat horn flowers" on the rock walls add warmth to the austere landscape. 🥾 How to Experience: First, take a bird's-eye view, then stroll slowly along the lake. The Zhagar Tso loop is easy to navigate, with a gentle wooden boardwalk and gravel path, taking about 40 minutes to 1 hour for a complete loop. If you have extra energy, head to the viewing platform on the east side of the lake for a panoramic view, then take the path on the west side to find unnamed lakes and mani stones—fewer people and calmer. For a bird's-eye view, head to the 4520-meter viewing platform: Take the shuttle bus from the Heyuan Service Station or Panyangping (approximately 15 RMB per person) for a 360° panoramic view of thousands of peaks and lakes, and the winding road, with the "stone castle" stretching to the horizon. Efficient combination: ascend to the 4520-meter platform for the entire panorama, then descend to Zhagar Tso for a level view. 📸 Best Photo Spots · Prayer flags on the west side of Zhagar Tso Lake: Low-angle shot, capturing the stone pillars, prayer flags, and lake surface in the same frame. · Before 9 AM: Soft light, the lake water is at its most vibrant blue-green. · Luoxia Lake: Sunset spot, with the sunset reflection and the white pagoda and grassy area as a foreground. · S-curve of the mountain road: Great for highway shots. · Small stream to the right rear of the Panyangping parking lot: Less crowded, easier, family-friendly. • Outfit: Dark earth tones like black, khaki, and deep red create a striking contrast with the gray-black stone peaks; a bright-colored windbreaker with a 4520 jacket adds a touch of wasteland style. 🍲 Food: Feed yourself in the county town before heading into the mountains. Restaurants are limited in the scenic area, so Aba County town serves as a culinary buffer. Eat well before setting off and bring your own food. Inside the scenic area, there's the Meet Zhumu Restaurant (next to Lanzhuocuo): yak hand-pulled meat with Tibetan chili sauce, Tibetan yogurt to cut the richness, and barley cakes for a satisfying lunch; the coffee shop next to the viewing platform offers yak yogurt coffee while gazing at the snow-capped mountains. In the county town, Tibetan cuisine is the main attraction: yak hot pot costs approximately 80-150 yuan per person; hand-pulled mutton is slowly boiled in water with only salt and pepper, dipped in chive blossom sauce or salt and pepper; yak butter tea is salty and warming, try sweet tea if you don't like it; tsampa is a high-altitude energy source. For black barley, try "Qulawojia" milk tea and barley crisps as souvenirs; Tibetan blood sausage and bracken pork are mostly found in Tibetan-style restaurants; and the "Monk's Buns" on the street, with their thin-skinned beef filling, are incredibly comforting for just over ten yuan per person.

I was fortunate enough to encounter autumn snow in Qilian County, and the mountains of Zhuoer Mountain were blanketed in silver. Shepherds grazed their sheep on the mountaintop meadows, and the view from the observation deck was exceptionally magnificent. Transportation: Take a bus from Xining to Qilian County, then a taxi to Zhuoer Mountain Scenic Area. During the off-season, the scenic area shuttle bus is not running; you can ask the driver to take you directly to the visitor center. There are sightseeing buses within the scenic area that go directly to the summit platform. Dining: Limited options during the off-season; you'll need to find your own food. Delivery services are limited and do not deliver to guesthouses near the scenic area. Seeing the snow-capped mountains, forests, meadows, and Danxia landforms made the trip worthwhile!