Local Expert's Ultimate Guide to a 6-Day, 5-Night In-Depth Tour of Qinghai and Gansu

You must experience the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop at least once❗ Grasslands, snow-capped mountains, deserts, lakes, flower seas🌸 Forests, Danxia landforms, wetlands, murals, temples... everything you could wish for✅ See the scenery that would take ten trips to see🌈 Complete the loop in one trip💞 ✅Must-bring items for the trip ⭐Essential documents: ID card ⭐Discount documents: Student ID (half price is amazing) / Military ID and other discount cards ⭐Clothing and daily necessities: Change of clothes, toiletries, towels, pajamas, thermos, etc. ⭐Digital items: Mobile phone, power bank/charger, selfie stick, camera, drone ⭐Skincare/Cosmetics: Sunscreen, toner, cream, face masks, lip balm, etc. It is recommended to bring samples to save luggage space 🚗6-Day Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Tour (Standard Water Yadan) 🚩D1: Xining—Qinghai Lake—Chaka Salt Lake—Delingha (overnight) 🚩D2: Delingha—315 U-shaped Highway—Water Yadan—South Eight Immortals Yadan—Dachaidan (overnight) 🚩D3: Dachaidan—Emerald Lake—Petroleum Town—Dunhuang Ancient City—Desert Camping or Free Activities in Dunhuang—Dunhuang (overnight) 🚩D4: Dunhuang—Mogao Caves—Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring—Shazhou Night Market Free Activities—Dunhuang (overnight) 🚩D5: Dunhuang—Jiayuguan (optional Earth Child, Boundless)—Zhangye Danxia Landform—Zhangye (overnight) 🚩D6: Zhangye—via Biandukou—Qilian Grassland—Gangshika Snow Peak (distant view)—Menyuan Rapeseed Flower—End in Xining 🌈Must-visit attractions 💧 Qinghai Lake - China's largest saltwater lake, a paradise for bird watching and photography 💧 Chaka Salt Lake - Mirror of the sky, experience walking barefoot on the salt lake 💧 Water Yadan - Known as the "Mars Base on Earth", a photographer's paradise 💧 Emerald Lake - A lake formed by salt fields, with emerald green water 💧 Dunhuang Mogao Caves - A World Heritage site of Buddhist art, showcasing cultural exchange 💧 Zhangye Danxia Landform - Colorful rock formations, a paradise for photography and nature lovers 😋【Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Cuisine】 🔸Xining: ✔️Hand-grabbed mutton✔️Stuffed skin✔️Sweet fermented grains 🔸Qinghai: ✔️Highland barley tsampa✔️Mutton noodles✔️Butter tea 🔸Zhangye: ✔️Pinched noodles✔️Braised meat stir-fry✔️Beef rice ⚠⚠Travel Tips: 🔵It is best to bring a thermos, as the water quality💧 in the northwest is relatively hard, it is recommended to drink boiled water 🔵The diet in Qinghai and Gansu regions is generally meat-based🥩, especially beef and mutton, and tends to be spicy. Friends who are not used to it can bring some snacks🙈 🔵 There are many ethnic minorities in Qinghai, please respect the beliefs and customs of the local people, do not🙅‍ touch or make loud noises casually