Things to do in Haixi Prefecture

The scenery at Chaka Salt Lake is quite nice for taking photos. The scenery is very weather-dependent. After playing for a while, I learned how to take pictures of reflections. Riding the little train can save a lot of energy. Wearing red boots and walking around the salt lake is quite eye-catching.

It was a bit cloudy the day I went. It's the largest of the three salt lakes, and the apple-green water is beautiful. It's my top recommendation of the three; aside from not allowing swimming, it's much better than Chaka Salt Lake. It also has reflections, a true green mirror of the sky.

Sisters! I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of Qinghai Lake! 😭 📍Address: No. 151, National Highway 109, Gonghe County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province I was stunned by the scenery the moment I stepped off the bus! Under the blue sky and white clouds, the lake water was crystal clear. Flocks of seagulls soared freely over the lake. 🕊️ Every snapshot looked like a professional photograph. 📸 Standing by the lake, watching the seagulls swimming on the water, and occasionally flying over to greet you, the feeling of harmony between humans and nature was incredibly healing. ✨ The weather was perfect too! ☀️ A gentle breeze, perfect sunshine, no need to worry about getting sunburned. The air was so fresh you couldn't help but take a deep breath. If you're planning a trip to Qinghai Lake, I highly recommend choosing a sunny day. Qinghai Lake under the blue sky and white clouds will definitely be a visual feast! #QinghaiLake #QinghaiTourism #NorthwestTravel #QinghaiLakeSeagulls #HealingScenery

I think no one could resist a lake like this. Emerald Lake isn't greatly affected by the weather; it was cloudy when we went, but we still managed to capture beautiful green and blue hues in our photos. Personally, I think the observation deck is definitely worth a visit (it costs 25 yuan per person). Whether or not to take the sightseeing bus is up to you; if you have enough time, you can skip it, but because I was in a rush, I opted for it, and the experience was excellent.

We came during the off-season and stayed at a hotel within the scenic area on October 30th. Staying at a hotel within the scenic area allows for two days of sightseeing, multiple rides on the sightseeing bus, and entry into the scenic area. The weather was great that day, and the scenery was beautiful. Due to time constraints, we visited each sightseeing bus stop first. The last stop was quite close to the hotel, and we could walk around to watch the sunset. On the morning of October 31st, we planned to go to the Eye of Yadan, but it got too cold, so we didn't go. The hotel breakfast during the off-season was average, with limited variety. The hotel room was quite large, though. There was cigarette ash on the bedside table and some dirt on the bed, so we immediately asked the staff to change the blankets.

I stumbled upon these pictures online and immediately added Mangya to my itinerary before embarking on the Qinghai-Gansu loop. We entered the scenic area in the evening. The weather was so-so that day; thankfully, the sun came out later, but there was no sunset. The visual impact inside was still breathtaking, though the photos seem to show it even more beautifully than it appears in person. Bringing a drone would have been even better for aerial photography. We didn't visit Rouge Mountain separately; the red color wasn't as pronounced there, and the online pictures seem to have been edited.

Chaka is divided into Chaka Sky Mirror and Chaka No. 1. Sky Mirror is the older scenic area, more crowded, with complete facilities and equipment, great photo opportunities, and better management, but definitely more crowded with long queues. Sky No. 1 is a newly developed scenic area, less crowded, quieter, allowing for more leisurely photography, but the scenery is far inferior, and management is practically nonexistent. Choose the scenic area based on your needs.

Aiken Spring, known as the "Eye of the Devil," was discovered during the early days of the People's Republic of China when crossing Lop Nur, but it was also recorded in Qing Dynasty documents as early as the early 19th century! The wetlands along the way from Mangya to Aiken Spring are also very beautiful.

Having seen the Zhangye Danxia Landform before, I was still amazed by the Delingha Rainbow Danxia Star Valley. Its colors are deeper and richer than Zhangye's, and its landforms are more varied. The only drawback is the transportation; some sections are bumpy and difficult to travel for an hour.

东台吉乃尔湖，位于青海省海西蒙古族藏族自治州格尔木市境内。湖水在阳光下闪闪发光，透露着独特的蓝色，一望无际，空旷而又神秘。消失或是出现皆没有迹象，是上帝的一滴“蓝眼泪”。非常适合打卡拍照。过去十年间，东台吉乃尔湖已经出现消失多次。时隔3年，它如海市蜃楼般凭空出现在戈壁里。与众不同的蒂夫尼蓝，主要来源于锂盐。去东台交通不便，最好自驾。