Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains)

Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop | Nanny-Level Route Guide Sharing Used to the routine city life, why not experience the grandeur of the northwest with its 'vast desert and long river with a round sunset'? This place has all the terrains and landforms in the world: lakes, mountains, Danxia landforms, deserts, neighbors, hills, grasslands, plateaus, stone forests... A trip to the northwest is equivalent to traveling ten times. I have compiled a travel guide for everyone here! Northwest Third Pole Travel Takes You to the Northwest 💁‍♀️9 Days and 8 Nights Northwest Tour Route D1: Arrive in Xining - Free 24-hour airport/station pickup - Check-in at hotel D2: Riyue Mountain - Daotang River - Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake - Chaka Town (overnight) D3: Chaka - Xiaochaidan Lake - Chaerhan Salt Lake - Dachaidan (overnight) D4: Dachaidan - U-shaped Road - Water Yadan - Dachaidan (overnight) D5: Emerald Lake - Heidushan - Oil Town - Dunhuang (overnight) D6: Dunhuang - Mogao Caves - Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring - (Dunhuang) D7: Dunhuang - Jiayuguan - Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park - Zhangye (overnight) D8: Zhangye - Qilian Grassland - Distant view of Gangshika Snow Peak - Menyuan Rapeseed Flower - Xining D9: Xining - Various destinations (free airport drop-off) 💞Scenic Spot Introduction 🌟Qinghai Lake: The sunrise and sunset are extremely beautiful, and there are golden rapeseed flowers by the lake in spring. 🌟Chaka Salt Lake: Be sure to take stunning reflection photos in the legendary Sky Mirror. 🌟Emerald Lake: Float on the emerald green lake in a transparent boat, aerial photography is amazing. 🌟Mogao Caves: The charm of the thousand-year-old cave murals is endless, and the guide's introduction is also very vivid. 🌟Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring: Take photos riding a camel in a red dress, absolutely stunning. 🌟Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park: The Danxia landform in the oil painting is vividly presented in front of you, super shocking. ~ 🙆🏻‍♀️Notes: ○ How to prevent and deal with altitude sickness ○ Avoid strenuous exercise when you first arrive at the plateau ○ Do not drink alcohol or smoke when you first arrive at the plateau, wait until you adapt ○ Do not go to the plateau if you have a cold, as it can easily cause pulmonary edema ○ The northwest loop is located on the plateau, with strong sunlight and ultraviolet rays, so take sun protection measures ○ The temperature difference between morning and evening in the northwest is large, so keep warm

Mingyue Mountain, a peak full of poetry and romance, is located in Yichun City, Jiangxi Province. Its name, just like its scenery, is filled with gentleness and beauty. Once you ascend Mingyue Mountain, you will be stunned by the scenery before you. The lush forests and babbling streams make you feel as though you are in a landscape painting. And the most unforgettable feature is the hot springs that cover the mountain. The springs are crystal clear and steaming, offering a sense of warmth and blessing from nature. At Mingyue Mountain, you can fully enjoy the gifts of nature. Whether you're bathing in the hot springs or strolling along the mountain paths, you will feel relaxed and joyful in both body and mind. At night, when the bright moon hangs high, casting its silver glow, the entire mountain is shrouded in a mysterious and romantic atmosphere. Mingyue Mountain, a peak full of poetry and romance, awaits you to discover its beauty, to feel its gentleness and loveliness.

🌊Qinghai Lake, known in Tibetan as "Cuowenbu" meaning "blue sea", is crystal clear and stretches as far as the eye can see. Some say Qinghai Lake is a "sapphire" 💎 left by nature in the inland, and it is also the "Jade Pool" mentioned in legends, associated with the Queen Mother of the West, or "Wangmu Niangniang". The average altitude is 3196 meters⛰️ 🌊Qinghai Lake is the largest inland saltwater lake in China, also known as Xianhai or Freshwater Sea. After the Northern Wei Dynasty, it was called Qinghai, characterized by low temperatures, large diurnal temperature variation, scarce and concentrated rainfall, long sunshine hours, and strong solar radiation. Winters are harsh and long, while summers are cool and brief🌞 📍Detailed address: Qinghai Lake Scenic Area, Gonghe County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai 🔶Preparation for the trip: 🪪Documents: ID card, student ID (discount for tickets) 🧴Hygiene: Skincare products, cosmetics, high SPF sunscreen 🧥Clothing: Summer clothes + light jacket + windbreaker (check the weather three days before departure) ⚡️Electronics: Charger, power bank, selfie stick🤳 💊Medicine: Rhodiola, cold medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, motion sickness medicine 👌Others: Umbrella🌂, sunglasses🕶️, hat🧢, some cash💵 🗓Itinerary: 🎈Day 1: Arrive in Xining and check into a hotel🏨 🎈Day 2: Xining➡️Riyue Mountain➡️Erlangjian Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake➡️Chaka Salt Lake➡️Chaka Town 🎈Day 3: Chaka Town➡️Cross the Qaidam Basin (Gobi style)➡️Emerald Lake➡️Dachaidan 🍲Recommended food: Yogurt🧈Kang Pot🥘Yak Milk🥛Local Hotpot🫕Stuffed Pancake🥠Boiled Yak Meat🥩 📝Tips: 🌈Bring some dry food🍞 and water💦 for the long journey to replenish energy💪🏻 🌈Wear polarized sunglasses🕶️The sunlight☀️ reflected on the salt lake is very strong and can cause damage to the eyes⚠️ 🌈Be sure to take photos with the lambs🐑, 5 yuan per person💰 🌈Wear sky blue, white, or ethnic shawls to match the blue sky, white clouds, and lake, and you'll get amazing photos in minutes!📸 🌄While you're young, be sure to visit the great Northwest See the roughest romance💕 Deserts, Gobi, grottoes, Danxia landforms, snow-capped mountains🏔️, grasslands🌿, lakes🌊 everything is just right‼️

Sun and Moon Mountain is one of the famous mountains in China. It has a beautiful story that can be traced thousands of years ago. It is sorrounded by huge mountains and a beautiful platue where it is covered by snow during winter. Riyue Mountain was called Russet Ridge during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) because of its grassless russet mountaintop. Legend has it that in the 641 during Zhenguan Period (627-649), when Princess Wencheng left for Tubo to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, she was very sad and painful. So the Emperor of Tang Dynasty gifted her a sun-and-moon treasure mirror and said to her that if she looked in the mirror at the boundary of Tang Dynasty and Tubo (Tibet), she would see her hometown and her parents. When Princess Wencheng reached the boundary, she took out the mirror and looked in it immediately. However, what she could see nothing in the mirror but a thin face of herself and the setting sun shining on Russet Ridge. She came to realize that the Emperor of Tang Dynasty had cheated her for the friendly relationship and the long-term peace between Tang Dynasty and Tubo. Princess Wencheng was so angry and sorrowful that she threw out the mirror. The mirror was broken and the fragments were just landed on the two hills. The east half piece of the mirror faced the west reflecting the rays of the setting sun and the west half piece of the mirror faced the east reflecting the rising moon. Hence, the name, sun and moon mountain, was came out.

Qinghai Five-Day Tour Guide🎈is here The scenery is really too beautiful!! Day1️⃣ Arrive in Xining—Mo Street/Xin Qian Night Market Day2️⃣ Riyue Mountain (🎫Ticket 40💰) 8:00-17:00—Qinghai Lake (Erlang Sword Scenic Area🎫Ticket 90💰) 8:00-18:00 Day3️⃣ Chaka Salt Lake (🎫Ticket 60💰) 7:00-19:00—Zhuoer Mountain 7:00-20:00 (🎫Ticket 60💰) Day4️⃣ Qilian Mountain Grassland—Zhangye Danxia National Geopark (🎫Ticket 75💰) 6:30-18:00 Day5️⃣ Menyuan Rapeseed Flowers 📌Important Notes: 1. Qinghai is at a high altitude, you may experience mild altitude sickness upon arrival, avoid strenuous exercise 2. Take sun protection measures, the ultraviolet rays are strong 3. There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening, remember to bring warm clothes 4. Make sure to book hotels and homestays in advance during peak season 🤩Qinghai is really too beautiful, girls let's go!

【Introduction】: This is how you can enjoy a pure 7-day, 6-night trip in Qinghai and Gansu. 🛬【Itinerary】: 【D1】Xining - Riyue Mountain - Qinghai Lake - Chaka Town (Overnight) [300km] 【D2】Chaka Salt Lake - Qaidam Basin - Emerald Lake - Dachaidan (Overnight) [400km] 【D3】Dachaidan - Chaka Salt Lake - U-shaped Road - Water Yadan - Dongtai Jinaier Lake - Dachaidan (Overnight) [550km] 【D4】Dachaidan - Oil Town - Yangguan - Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City - Dunhuang (Overnight) [420km] 【D5】Dunhuang - Mogao Caves - Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring - Shazhou Night Market - Dunhuang (Overnight) [20km] 【D6】Dunhuang - Son of the Earth - Jiayuguan Fortress - Rainbow Mountains Geological Park - Zhangye (Overnight) [600km] 【D7】Zhangye - Biandukou - Qilian Grassland - Menyuan Flower Sea - Xining (End) [380km] ⛺【Must-visit Attractions】: Popular Qinghai Lake Black Horse River | Chaka | Chaka Salt Lake | U-shaped Road | Dunhuang | Rainbow Mountains | Son of the Earth | Borderless 🏨【Accommodation Guide】: The itinerary includes 3/4-star hotels, which can be freely chosen. The itinerary remains the same. 🚌【Transportation Guide】: Travel by car throughout the journey, allowing for more freedom to stop and play as you wish. 🧡【Tips】: High-altitude travel still follows the old advice. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Chaka Salt Lake

Princess Wencheng, on her long journey westward for a marriage alliance, carried with her a precious item known as the "Sun and Moon Treasure Mirror". It is said that whenever the princess yearned for home, she could look into this mirror and see the landscape of the Tang Dynasty. However, while passing through a mountain, the princess, longing for her distant homeland, couldn't help but take out the "Sun and Moon Treasure Mirror" given to her by the Empress before departure to gaze upon it, and instantly, the enchanting scenery of Chang'an appeared in the mirror. At that moment, Princess Wencheng, overwhelmed with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, accidentally dropped the mirror, breaking it into two halves, which landed on two small hills. The eastern half faced west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, while the western half faced east, illuminated by the light of the rising moon. Thus, the name Riyue Mountain was derived.

Sun and Moon Mountain was not originally in the itinerary of this Qinghai-Tibet loop trip. When passing by, I became interested after listening to the introduction by our driver who was also our guide. So, I decided to take a look. On May 21st, in the Qilian Mountains, there was a gentle breeze, and the weather was very nice, neither cold nor hot. The scenery was extremely beautiful. After taking photos with the prayer flags on Sun and Moon Mountain, you can also visit the nearby museum to learn about the history of the ancient Tang-Tibetan road. After the visit, you can go to the foot of the Princess's statue. Climbing from the foot to the top of the mountain, after a few minutes, you will feel your heartbeat speeding up, but a short rest will suffice. Once at the top, you can appreciate what it means to have a panoramic view of the mountains below, feeling as if you are standing on the ground with your head touching the sky. The blue sky and white clouds seem within reach, and the photos taken are just too good.

Time: Sunday, 2023/12/24 20:00 Venue: Qinghai Grand Theatre - Art Lecture Hall Who says there's no Christmas atmosphere in the great Northwest? Here it comes, the Xining Spring Wave Island, Gua, and Mimi Dream Band concert! Besides watching the performance on Christmas, take advantage of the weekend to check out the local attractions in Xining! 1. Ta'er Monastery Ta'er Monastery is located in Huangzhong County, Xining, with a history of over 400 years. It is one of the important monasteries of the Gelug school (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect. The monastery's architecture is magnificent, its treasures are abundant, and it offers a strong religious atmosphere, making it one of the more popular tourist destinations in Xining. 2. Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum The Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum is a comprehensive museum with a theme of Tibetan medicine and culture. It houses 16 exhibition halls, including the Silk Road and Qinghai-Tibetan Civilization, Panorama of Chinese Tibetan Art Paintings, History of Tibetan Medicine, etc. It treasures the Guinness World Record-holding Thangka masterpiece - 'Panorama of Chinese Tibetan Art Paintings', which is 618 meters long. Planned by the renowned Thangka master Zongzhe Lajie, it was completed by 400 painters over 4 years. The content encompasses the Tibetan understanding of the universe, the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, history, religion, medicine, culture, art, and folklore. The painting is detailed and colorful, a grand spectacle, and is known as a 'contemporary national treasure' and an encyclopedia of Tibetan culture. 3. Riyue Mountain Riyue Mountain is located on the way from Huangyuan to Qinghai Lake and is also a necessary route to Tibet. Legend has it that when Princess Wencheng entered Tibet, she broke the stone mirror that could not reflect her hometown into two pieces, the sun and the moon, hence the name Riyue Mountain. On both sides of the Riyue Mountain pass, there is a small peak with the Sun Pavilion and the Moon Pavilion, two iconic buildings.

🌟 Riyue Mountain, known as 'Chiling' before the Tang dynasty, is part of the Qilian Mountain range, stretching 90 kilometers long. It also marks the dividing line between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau. At the mountain's summit, there are structures such as the Riyue Pavilion, the Princess Wencheng Temple, and a large prayer flag... 📍 Address: Riyue Mountain Scenic Area, Huangyuan County, Xining City, Qinghai Province ⏰ Suggested visiting time: 1-2 hours 🌟 Legend has it that on her way to Tibet to marry Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng passed by this place. Looking back to the east, she could no longer see Chang'an, and a sense of homesickness emerged spontaneously. Therefore, she couldn't help but take out the 'Sun and Moon Treasure Mirror' given by the Empress. Overwhelmed with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, she accidentally knocked it over. 'The treasure mirror fell to the ground, half became the sun, and half became the moon; hence the place was named Riyue Mountain.' 🌟 Travel Tips ➖ Those who want to go up the mountain to see the large prayer flags and the Princess Wencheng Temple can buy a ticket for 50 yuan, but be sure to arrange your time in advance. ➖ You can also take photos at the foot of the mountain, 10 yuan to hold a lamb, 30 yuan to ride a yak. ➖ For taking photos in ethnic costumes, you can buy a shawl in advance on your own, as it will be 20 yuan more expensive in the scenic area than in Xining city. Riyue Mountain

|||Took a chartered tour around the great Northwest. D1: Xining-Riyue Mountain-Qinghai Lake-Chaka D2: Chaka Sky No.1-Jade Lake-Qaidam Basin-Dachaidan D3: U-shaped Highway-Dongtaijinoer Lake-Water Yadan-Yadan Devil City-Dachaidan D4: Dachaidan-Silk Road Heritage City-Dunhuang Museum-Dunhuang D5: Dunhuang-Mogao Caves-Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake (encountered a sandstorm)-Dunhuang D6: Dunhuang-Unbounded-Son of the Earth-Zhangye Danxia Geopark-Zhangye D7: Zhangye-Qilian Mountain Grassland-Distant view of Gangshika Snow Peak -Xining 💚【Off-season Tickets】: 1️⃣Riyue Mountain Princess Wencheng Temple 30 yuan 2️⃣Qinghai Lake 20/90 (including sightseeing car) 3️⃣Chaka Sky Mirror closed during off-season Sky No.1 30, sightseeing car 60. 4️⃣Jade Lake 25, no sightseeing car during off-season 5️⃣Water Yadan free with ID card/sightseeing car 60 6️⃣Silk Road Heritage City 60, sightseeing car 15 7️⃣Mogao Caves 140 8️⃣Crescent Lake 55, sightseeing car 20 9️⃣Zhangye Danxia 93 (including sightseeing car) 💙【A few notes】: 1️⃣Both the salt lake and Qinghai Lake are icy surfaces, not very pretty this season. 2️⃣Encountered a sandstorm on the day going to Mingsha Mountain, missed the sunset. 3️⃣Other: The weather is quite dry, windy, remember to keep warm. Sunglasses, hats, hand warmers, masks, sunscreen, facial masks, hand cream, body lotion, lip balm, thermos. 💜Off-season【hotels and food】are very cheap. 🚙Found a local guide who took us around for the whole trip, had a good experience. 💛Overall, this trip was quite tiring. 😶‍🌫️