Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop

Sharing my 10-day Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop itinerary～This route is absolutely breathtaking! The northwestern landscapes are all here, bookmark this for future reference📌 🚗【Itinerary】 Day1: Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport → Lanzhou West Station → Xining Station (Stay at Fairfield by Marriott Xining) 🔸First thing after landing in Lanzhou: eat authentic beef noodles🍜, then head to Xining. Flying to Lanzhou is cheaper Day2: Xining → Menyuan Rapeseed Flower Fields → Qilian Mountain Grassland (Stay at Wangshan Yi Hotel), not highly recommended 🔸July is peak season for rapeseed blossoms🌼🌼 Day3: Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains 🔸God's color palette🎨 Must-visit! VIP tour recommended with private guide and vehicle for better views Vehicle quality varies randomly Day4: Jiayuguan Pass → Mogao Caves → "See You Again Dunhuang" performance (Stay at Zhongzhou International Hotel Dunhuang) 🔸Full-day cultural journey📿 Experience millennia of Buddhist art Book Mogao Caves tickets 1 month in advance Day5: Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Moon Spring 🔸Camel riding🐫 and sand sliding are so fun! Must watch sunset🌅 Group singing event was cancelled due to weather Day6: Dunhuang → Dachaidan Emerald Lake (Stay at Dachaidan Emerald Lake Hotel), basic but expensive, advantage is proximity to attraction 🔸Tiffany-blue lakes💎 breathtakingly beautiful Day7: Haizi Poetry Museum → Delingha (Stay at HanTing Premium Hotel) 🔸Pay tribute to poet Haizi, feel the land's romance Nothing much in Delingha, just a rest stop Day8: Chaka Salt Lake → Qinghai Lake (Stay at Qinghai Lake Grand Metropark Hotel), excellent hotel 🔸China's "Mirror of the Sky" lives up to its name☁️ Day9: Qinghai Lake Erlangjian → Xining (Stay at Xining Wanda Vista Hotel), boat ride highly recommended Day10: Ta'er Monastery 🔸Sacred Tibetan Buddhist site🏯 rich in ethnic characteristics ⭐【Must-Visit Spots】 1️⃣ Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Moon Spring: Desert miracle🏜️ 2️⃣ Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains: Nature's masterpiece🌈 3️⃣ Chaka Salt Lake: Dreamy sky reflections🪞 4️⃣ Mogao Caves: Millennia-old artistic treasure🎨 💡【Travel Tips】 ✓ July-August is peak season☀️ ✓ Strong UV at high altitude, sun protection essential🧴 ✓ Large temperature swings, bring a jacket🧥 ✓ Mogao Caves tickets require advance booking🔖