Beijing Hotels     Beijing Train     Beijing Flight     Community     Blog     Home

Your Reliable Gateway Travel to Beijing China
200+ things to do in Beijing China. Book ahead - save time and money!
10 reasons to use a local travel Agency !

Home → Beijing Tours → China Tour → Qinghai Tour

Qinghai Tour

Located on the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai is a province in China surrounded by Gansu Province on the north and east, Xinjiang Province on the west, Tibet on the south and Sichuan on the southeast. It is named after Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake in China.

Qinghai is relatively unknown to foreign travelers. This huge area is home to many Tibetan monasteries, vast grasslands, the headwaters of the three of Asia largest rivers - the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and Mekong River. It also boasts of a mosaic of ethnic groups, including Tibetan, Mongols, Tu, Goloks and Hui with a vibrant religious life.

For foreign travelers, Qinghai is one of the frontiers of adventure travel in China, a springboard for China' wildest travel for Lhasa by rail, Yushu by road, Gansu and Labrang Monastery by road, and further westward the ancient silk road to Xinjiang.

Many of the easy tourist attractions are located in and around Xining, the capital city of Qinghai. Qinghai Lake is the most tourist attraction in Qinghai as well as Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery), which is considered one of the six great monasteries of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism.

Summer is the best time to visit Qinghai due to the fact that this is when the road to Yushu, Golmud, Xinjiang, Tibet, Gansu and Sichuan is open, and its climate is mild and friendliest to its visitors. The climate of Xining in July and August is quite mild and comfortable, making the city an ideal summer retreat.

Qinghai Travel Route Map

Xining 3 Day Tour  from US$220 p/p	Tour Code: QHPT-01
Tour Code: QHPT-01 Xining: Qinghai Lake, on the way, Mt. Sun and Moon, Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai Provincial Museum Way of Travel: Private transfer + private car or van + hotel + private local tour guide + entrance fees + Meals as listed Departure Date: Daily Customizable: Yes!

Xining Lhasa 7 Days Train Tour from US$580 p/p	Tour Code: CRPT-03
Overview: Xining: Qinhghai Lake, Ta'er Monastery Lhasa: The Potala Palace, The Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Norbulingka,Tibet Museum, Sera Monastery Way of Travel: Private transfer + private city tours + hotels + air-conditioned car or coach + private tour guides + Entrance fees + Meals as listed + Inter-city train tickets Departure Date: Daily Customizable: Yes!

Qinghai Tibet Mysterious Plateau Discovery 10 Day Tour	Tour Code: QHPT-02
Destinations: Xining, Qinghi Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, Kunlun Mounains, Tuo Tuo River, Naqu, Lhasa Way of Travel: Private transfer + private vehicle + hotel + private local tour guide + entrance fees + Meals as listed Departure Date: Daily Customizable: Yes!

Qinghai Gansu Sichuan Jiuzhaigou 9 Day Tour	Tour Code: QHPT-03
Destinations: Xining, Tongren, Xiahe, Songpan, Jiuzhaigou and Chengdu Way of Travel: Private transfer + private vehicle + hotel + private local tour guide + entrance fees + Meals as listed Departure Date: Daily Customizable: Yes!

Qinghai Ningxia 7 Day Tour	Tour Code: QHPT-04
Destinations: Xining, Qinghai Lake, Zhongwei, Yinchuan  Way of Travel: Private transfer + private vehicle + hotel + private local tour guide + entrance fees + Meals as listed Departure Date: Daily Customizable: Yes

Qinghai Gansu Xinjiang 11 Days Tour	Tour Code: QHPT-05
Destinations: Xining, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan and Urumqi  Way of Travel: Private transfer + private vehicle + hotel + private local tour guide + entrance fees + Meals as listed Departure Date: Daily Customizable: Yes!

Qinghai Travel Tips:

Choose the best time to visit Qinghai, mainly in terms of the two aspects - the local climate and festivals. The climate of Qinghai is a typical seasonal tourist destination. The average temperature below zero degrees Celsius in the region takes up almost half year in Qinghai.

Qinghai's Winter is cold and windy. Especially in Southern Qinghai, with the threat of high-altitude hypoxia, it is absolutely not suitable for travel in winter. A digital camera and GPS under 35 degrees below zero won't work. For Qaidam Basin (Chaidamu basin) is sandy both in winter and spring, travelers should not visit during these two seasons.

The local major activities and events in Ginghai include flower festivals Fahui, will, Nadun Festival as well as the theme tourism activities organized by local tourism bureaus. Annual flowers will usually fall on June and July, the most beautiful season in Qinghai.

In summary, the short summer is the best time to visit Qinghai ranging from the May to September. In mid-May or so, the grasslands are gradually turning greengradually. All kinds of migratory birds gradually flock to Qinghai Lake. With high snow mountains melting, the plateau enter into the vibrant period.

July is the hottest month in Qinghai, the Qaidam Basin Chaerhan area reaches the temperature of over thirty degrees Celsius, while the eastern part of Qinghai is cool and moist, ideal for summertime. But if you go to the southern areas in Qinghai, such as Yushu or Tanggula other places, still pay special attention to the cold prevention.

When summer is the best time to travel in Qinghai. You still prep up for the possibility of worse road conditions caused by the intense rainy season landslides, floods and other problems blocking your roads. Aside from the cold weather and rainy season, you should also consoder other aspects like the poor visual effects of scenic attractions, the unstability of buses, poor tourism service facilities and other weak factors.

By the way, at the end of July and early August, you can have the chance to see Qinghai Lake International Road Cycling Race held here every year!

In short, before you make your your decision to visit Qinghai, you should search for more information on the destinations you are going to explore.

Questions & Answers: