Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake Tour

Designed for travelers who are interested in nature and culture, this journey includes a scenic drive, a visit to the largest monastery in Qinghai, and an exploration of the lakes in the northern areas of the Tibetan Plateau. You’ll also gain firsthand insight into plateau life from local Tibetan nomads.

Day 1: Xining – Kumbum Monastery – Dzongkar Latse – Qinghai Lake (Kokonor Lake) [3,320 m]

We begin our journey by driving to Kumbum Monastery, located in Huangzhong County, 25 km west of Xining. Kumbum is the largest monastery in Qinghai and home to over 600 monks. It is also famous as the birthplace of Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

After visiting Kumbum, we’ll take a scenic backroad and ascend nearly 800 meters to reach the sacred mountain pass of Dongkar Latse (also known as Dzongkha Lhatse). This site was traditionally a sacred place for making offerings to local mountain gods and protector deities. Here, we’ll enjoy stunning panoramic views and hang prayer flags for the well-being and good fortune of ourselves and all beings.

Kumbum Monastery in Amdo

From there, we continue through nomadic grassland areas en route to Qinghai Lake, known as Kokonor in Mongolian and Tso Ngonpo in Tibetan. It is the largest lake on the Tibetan Plateau and the largest saltwater lake in China.

Optional activities at the lake include boating, horseback riding, or simply enjoying a peaceful walk along the lakeshore. In July and August, the shore is blanketed in golden rapeseed flowers, creating breathtaking scenery for photography. If we’re lucky, we may even spot the rare black-necked cranes, a species unique for living almost exclusively at high altitudes on the Tibetan Plateau.

We will spend the night at a lakeside hotel with stunning views. On clear days, the sunset and sunrise over the lake are truly unforgettable.

Day 2: Qinghai Lake – Chaka Salt Lake – Xining [2,270 m]

We’ll start the day with a peaceful walk to the lakeshore to watch the sunrise over Qinghai Lake.

After breakfast, we’ll drive up to a high-altitude mountain pass at 3,900 meters, offering yet another spectacular panoramic view. As we descend, we’ll arrive at the famous Chaka Salt Lake, located in Ulan County of the Haixi Mongolian-Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Nestled near the eastern edge of the Qaidam Basin, Chaka Salt Lake—whose name means “Salt Land” in Tibetan—is both a major tourist attraction and an important salt source in Qinghai. The lake is renowned for its crystal-clear blue water and mirror-like reflective surface, earning it the nickname “Mirror of the Sky.”

After spending a few hours at the lake, we’ll return to Xining via Chabcha Town, also known by its Chinese name Gonghe.