Gangcha Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

In the Fairy Bay, greet a grand lakeside sunset Xiaguang covered the lake, the lake is not shocked. The clouds in the sky present a variety of colors, golden, flaming, and white... The layers are distinct and interactive, and in just ten minutes, the stunning beauty of light and shadow is staged! However, in the endless deep blue sea of Qinghai, such beautiful scenery will be staged in almost every rainless evening. Without comparison, there is no harm. Think about the environment we live in today. There is no blue sky and white clouds, and there is no fear of smog. There is no happiness in the life of a fish gull living in Qinghai Lake.

How beautiful is Fairy Bay? is like a paradise on the plateau, no pollution, no trace of industrialization, no one... tall and pure white sacrifice platform, beautiful totem, 990 steps extending into Qinghai Lake, the most beautiful but at dusk . Fairy Bay is just such a place that can bring spirituality to people cloud reflection is also very good-looking. Little Red House is the place to eat. Is it the feeling of Nordic?

You know, Tsangyang Gyatso, who wrote so many love poems, finally met his girl in Fairy Bay, and then disappeared here, so beautiful. There are several large and small Mani stone piles in the fairy lake. The Tibetan people in order to preserve and carry forward the Buddhist classics.

Speaking of Fairy Bay, this is the most amazing place in the trip. My initial understanding of it is about religious and ritual activities. Just talk about the Tibetan tradition of the Tibetans. The sea sacrifice held by Tibetan herders is not only a folk activity with a strong religious color, but also a cultural phenomenon, which contains many folk customs and philosophies about nature reflecting people and nature. Long-term coexistence, a desire for harmonious balance. The Tibetan peoples sea sacrifice activities on Qinghai Lake have lasted for thousands of years. The local people prayed for the sea to pray for the gods and animals to pray for good weather.

Biggest salt water lake in China

Qinghai Lake, nestled in China's Qinghai Province, is the largest saltwater lake in East Asia, covering approximately 4,600 square kilometers. Its beauty lies in its serene, azure waters and the surrounding Tibetan Plateau's majestic landscapes. At an elevation of 3,205 meters, the lake is a vital ecological hotspot, home to diverse avian species and unique aquatic life. The lake holds cultural significance for Tibetans and the local Tibetan-Qiang people. It's a site for various religious ceremonies and festivals. However, environmental concerns, like shrinking water levels due to climate change and pollution, pose significant challenges to its preservation. Conservation efforts are underway to safeguard this remarkable natural treasure. #timetotravel #China #nature

Turquoise Eye of Qinghai Province

Tibetan plateau AKA "Roof of the World" is the highest in the world and Qinghai lake (青海湖) is the largest saltwater lake in China. 🌊Have you noticed that we're speaking in superlatives? It's not a coincidence. Qinghai lake (青海湖) definitely deserves to be be called the sea of the West due to its size, vastness, and the fact that it resembles a sea in certain aspects. It's a saline waters boasts incredible variety of wildlife at an altitude of 3205m. "On the plateau's crest, a jewel so grand, Qinghai Lake's waters stretch across the land. Azure skies embrace its tranquil face, A mirror of nature's serene embrace." 😍 Tips and tricks: If you want to visit Qinghai lake without any tour operators or rental cars you can easily get there from the Xining bus station (西宁汽车客运中心站). Several buses go to Qinghaihu (hu = lake) every day starting from 8AM. 🚌The drop off location is called 青海湖国家重点风景名胜区. That's the closest scenic area to the Xining city. One way ticket costs 60RMB. 💸The bus will wait for the passengers at the scenic area's parking lot for around 3 hours before heading back to the Xining bus station. To make sure you have a seat you can buy round way tickets at the Xining bus station. Total cost will be 120RMB per person. 🙃 #summerbreak #SpinTheWorld #qinghailake #xining #summervacation

Qinghai lake - the biggest in China

Only taking into consideration that it's the biggest, it's worth visiting. Yet I think Scenic area tickets are overpriced. There's not much to do in the area apart from taking pictures, riding a boat (3 types, start from 100yuan) and feeding seagulls. Still it's worth visiting, though it feels much much better if you drive a car in Qinghai (we took a shared taxi from Xining to Qinghai lake) and overall had pretty much headache with transportation in this province. Almost all the wild areas around are privately owned and you need to pay to enter (or, say, ride a horse, 200yuan per 3km round-trip to the lake🙄). This numerous fences and herds of tourists made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the beauty of the lake and surrounding landscapes (I just ran into the mountains 😂) . Also it was pretty hard to find a hotel accommodating foreigners (beginning of August). Only Chinese food (quite pricey) Still it was a great trip, I'd like to come back driving a car😁 #qinghai #qinghailake

The Beautiful Qinghai Lake

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we first saw Qinghai Lake. We were cycling down from the main road, through fields of grass and bright yellow rapeseed flowers when we first caught a glimpse of the blue water. For a split second, we forgot where we were and thought we had somehow made it to the sea! #mytripvlog

Qinghai Small Loop

🚗🚗🚗Travel Route: Day1: Caojiabao Airport→Ta'er Monastery→Riyue Mountain Day2: Qinghai Lake Erlang Sword Scenic Area→Chaka Salt Lake→Gangcha Fan Domain Tibetan City Linka Hotel Day3: Binggou Forest Sea→Zhuoer Mountain Day4: Qilian Grassland→Gangshika Snow Peak→Gangshika Rainbow Icefall→Caojiabao Airport Transportation: 4 days to walk the small loop is enough, we see the scenery during the day, rush the road from 7-11 pm, the road conditions in Qinghai are quite good, but most of them are two-way two-lane, many large vehicles, sometimes need to overtake. After dark, 80% of the road sections have no street lights, all rely on car headlights for lighting. Fortunately, both of our cars have a driving age of over 15 years, and we have some experience in off-road and night driving. It is not recommended for babies with a driving age of less than 10 years. In addition, it is recommended to use turbocharged vehicles in the plateau area, because the oxygen is thin, the naturally aspirated engine will be underpowered, and the performance of climbing and overtaking is not good. Mid-September weather: around 4-15, the daytime temperature is around 12, the temperature is similar to the early winter in Shenzhen, storm jacket, knitwear, and thin down jacket, jeans, storm pants Environment: The average altitude of Qinghai Province is above 3000, and the altitude of the passing points is Ta'er Monastery 2600-Riyue Mountain 3520-Qinghai Lake 3200-Chaka Salt Lake 3061-Zhuoer Mountain 3100-Gangshika Rainbow Ice Glacier Waterfall 4100-Qilian Grassland 3200, you must do what you can when you are active on the plateau, do not do vigorous exercise, do not run and jump, if you have chest tightness, headache, you must speak up in time. Religion: Qinghai is the main settlement of Tibetans, Mongolians, and Hui people. All temples can be photographed outside, but not inside. Some exhibition halls can, pay attention to on-site prompts. Tibetan compatriots can peek at the long heads, do not stare or confront, and the prayer wheels are pushed in a clockwise direction. In short, maintain national unity, full of courtesy, I have the world haha. Travel is the experience of life, not the punch card of sightseeing. Come, let me show you the highlights of each scenic spot. Ta'er Monastery: One person, three unique, eight towers One person (the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism), three unique (butter flowers, murals, pile embroidery), eight towers (record the important events of Buddha's life). Riyue Mountain: Princess, mirror, dividing line Princess (the last stop of Princess Wencheng's marriage to Tibet in the Tang Dynasty), mirror (the origin of Riyue Mountain, the mirror in Princess Wencheng's arms was broken into two pieces), dividing line (it is the dividing line between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the dividing line between farming and nomadic). Qinghai Lake: Saltwater lake, Huang fish, Cangyang Gyatso Saltwater lake (the largest inland saltwater lake), Huang fish (the Huang fish of Qinghai Lake from June to October every year, desperately return to the freshwater river to spawn), Cangyang Gyatso (the end point of the sixth Dalai Lama in the world, one version is 23 years old He died of illness by Qinghai Lake, and another version disappeared by Qinghai Lake and died in his hometown at the age of 62). Chaka Salt Lake: The smallest, salt sculpture, mirror of the sky The smallest (Chaka Salt Lake is the smallest of the four major salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin), salt sculpture (there are large outdoor salt sculptures next to the salt lake, which is very shocking), the mirror of the sky (because the white salt is the bottom and the water surface is the mirror, it can perfectly reflect the snow mountain white cloud). Zhuoer Mountain: Queen, lover Queen (because the mountain is a Danxia landform showing bright red, Zhuoer Mountain is also called the Red Queen), lover (the Qilian Mountain Mountain God Ami Dongso-Niu Xinshan across the river from Zhuoer Mountain, it is said to be the original form of the Dragon God Princess of Zhuoer Mountain Lover, because of parental opposition, the princess finally turned into Zhuoer Mountain to wait for her lover). Gangshika Snow Peak: Icefall, Snow Peak Icefall (After snowing, icefalls will form on the slope. Due to the different colors of the gravel on the mountain, different colors will be presented. Unfortunately, it cannot be seen in September, probably after November), Snow Peak (It is said to be one of the filming locations of 'The Climber', at an altitude of 3806 meters. You can clearly see the looming snow cap).

The ice ditch forest sea is very close to where I live. Although it is bright and sunny, the air is cool and pleasant, the original jungle is lush, without any artificial traces. The sliced Qinghai pine and shrub grass surround the Binggou River/ Hh/forest shades the sun, clear springs, if you like quiet, the ice ditch forest is the perfect place to escape the crowd ice gully turbulence, the forest is strange. The ice ditch scenic area is like a piece of emerald, embedded in the mountains.

Qinghai Small Loop

🚗🚗🚗Travel Route: Day1: Caojiabao Airport→Ta'er Monastery→Riyue Mountain Day2: Qinghai Lake Erlang Sword Scenic Area→Chaka Salt Lake→Gangcha Fan Domain Tibetan City Linka Hotel Day3: Binggou Forest Sea→Zhuoer Mountain Day4: Qilian Grassland→Gangshika Snow Peak→Gangshika Rainbow Icefall→Caojiabao Airport Transportation: 4 days to walk the small loop is enough, we see the scenery during the day, rush the road from 7-11 pm, the road conditions in Qinghai are quite good, but most of them are two-way two-lane, many large vehicles, sometimes need to overtake. After dark, 80% of the road sections have no street lights, all rely on car headlights for lighting. Fortunately, both of our cars have a driving age of over 15 years, and we have some experience in off-road and night driving. It is not recommended for babies with a driving age of less than 10 years. In addition, it is recommended to use turbocharged vehicles in the plateau area, because the oxygen is thin, the naturally aspirated engine will be underpowered, and the performance of climbing and overtaking is not good. Mid-September weather: around 4-15, the daytime temperature is around 12, the temperature is similar to the early winter in Shenzhen, storm jacket, knitwear, and thin down jacket, jeans, storm pants Environment: The average altitude of Qinghai Province is above 3000, and the altitude of the passing points is Ta'er Monastery 2600-Riyue Mountain 3520-Qinghai Lake 3200-Chaka Salt Lake 3061-Zhuoer Mountain 3100-Gangshika Rainbow Ice Glacier Waterfall 4100-Qilian Grassland 3200, you must do what you can when you are active on the plateau, do not do vigorous exercise, do not run and jump, if you have chest tightness, headache, you must speak up in time. Religion: Qinghai is the main settlement of Tibetans, Mongolians, and Hui people. All temples can be photographed outside, but not inside. Some exhibition halls can, pay attention to on-site prompts. Tibetan compatriots can peek at the long heads, do not stare or confront, and the prayer wheels are pushed in a clockwise direction. In short, maintain national unity, full of courtesy, I have the world haha. Travel is the experience of life, not the punch card of sightseeing. Come, let me show you the highlights of each scenic spot. Ta'er Monastery: One person, three unique, eight towers One person (the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism), three unique (butter flowers, murals, pile embroidery), eight towers (record the important events of Buddha's life). Riyue Mountain: Princess, mirror, dividing line Princess (the last stop of Princess Wencheng's marriage to Tibet in the Tang Dynasty), mirror (the origin of Riyue Mountain, the mirror in Princess Wencheng's arms was broken into two pieces), dividing line (it is the dividing line between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the dividing line between farming and nomadic). Qinghai Lake: Saltwater lake, Huang fish, Cangyang Gyatso Saltwater lake (the largest inland saltwater lake), Huang fish (the Huang fish of Qinghai Lake from June to October every year, desperately return to the freshwater river to spawn), Cangyang Gyatso (the end point of the sixth Dalai Lama in the world, one version is 23 years old He died of illness by Qinghai Lake, and another version disappeared by Qinghai Lake and died in his hometown at the age of 62). Chaka Salt Lake: The smallest, salt sculpture, mirror of the sky The smallest (Chaka Salt Lake is the smallest of the four major salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin), salt sculpture (there are large outdoor salt sculptures next to the salt lake, which is very shocking), the mirror of the sky (because the white salt is the bottom and the water surface is the mirror, it can perfectly reflect the snow mountain white cloud). Zhuoer Mountain: Queen, lover Queen (because the mountain is a Danxia landform showing bright red, Zhuoer Mountain is also called the Red Queen), lover (the Qilian Mountain Mountain God Ami Dongso-Niu Xinshan across the river from Zhuoer Mountain, it is said to be the original form of the Dragon God Princess of Zhuoer Mountain Lover, because of parental opposition, the princess finally turned into Zhuoer Mountain to wait for her lover). Gangshika Snow Peak: Icefall, Snow Peak Icefall (After snowing, icefalls will form on the slope. Due to the different colors of the gravel on the mountain, different colors will be presented. Unfortunately, it cannot be seen in September, probably after November), Snow Peak (It is said to be one of the filming locations of 'The Climber', at an altitude of 3806 meters. You can clearly see the looming snow cap).

Gongcha Prairie China's northwestern region, there are too many vast expanses of grassland. Guanshan grassland, Maqu grassland, Ganjia grassland, etc., but I want to introduce to you a grassland that you certainly don't know - just check the grassland. Driving off-road Jeep, came to the Gangcha grassland in Qinghai Province, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and the northern shore of Qinghai Lake. Here the green grass is boundless, the vast and innocent grassland is covered with golden tulle, the distant mountains are shrouded in a silence, the infinite road is green and the sheep is grazing, and the horse is full of green oil. One piece, this is the most beautiful grassland in the northwest. Half of the is overcast, half is sunny on the day of the trip, the dean I really have a good luck, just looking at the grassland days, "half is a dark cloud, half is the sun", light and shadow collide, there is one The feeling of "yin and yang cuts fainting" gives a powerful visual and spiritual shock, and the beauty is heartbreaking. Like a rose flower in the bottom of my heart, this is the first shock that the ingenious grassland brought me. Just inspect the grassland, the fertile land is thousands of miles, green and dripping. The sheep are free and free to run on this green grass. Niu Er is head down, grazing intently, leisurely and enjoyable. The green grass, let the dean, I am happy, lingering. In the "Folk Song and Ballad", the famous saying "The sky is green, the wild, the wind blows the grass and sees the cattle and sheep", the dean I saw today in real life.