Qinghai Lake has returned in March, to tell you the unpleasant truth...

1. Transportation Guide: Easy Arrival, Worry-free Travel 1. Airplane + car: - You can fly to Xining Caojiabao Airport from many places across the country, and then take a bus from Xining Bus Station directly to Qinghai Lake Erlangjian Scenic Area (ticket price is about 100 yuan, and the journey takes about 3 hours). - It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance during the peak season (June-September). During the off-season, there are fewer flights, so please pay attention to your schedule. 2. Self-driving tour recommendations: - From Xining, drive along the G109 National Highway or the newly built Daotanghe Highway (designed speed 60 kilometers per hour) to Qinghai Lake in about 2 hours. Along the way, snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and rapeseed fields unfold like a picture scroll, which is suitable for photography enthusiasts. - The total length of the road around the lake is 360 kilometers, connecting core attractions such as Erlangjian, Heima River, and Bird Island. The car rental fee is about 200 yuan/day in the off-season. 3. Train + carpooling: - If you depart from Lanzhou or Golmud, you can take the high-speed rail to Xining and then share a car around the lake (about 150 yuan per person per day), which is flexible and free. --- 2. Must-see attractions: plateau wonders that cannot be missed 1. Erlangjian Scenic Area 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 - Recommended reason: This landmark attraction of Qinghai Lake is shaped like a long sword extending into the center of the lake. You can take a boat to watch birds and feed seagulls. The "Blue Ice Wonderland" is open for a limited time in March. Ticket holders can take a free sightseeing bus to the core area of ​​the blue ice, which is crystal clear and like entering a fairyland. - Ticket price: 90 yuan in peak season, 50 yuan in off-season; opening hours: 8:00-18:00. 2. Chaka Salt Lake 🌟🌟🌟🌟 - Recommended reason: The "Sky Mirror" is about 80 kilometers away from Qinghai Lake. The salt layer reflects the blue sky and white clouds. It is recommended to wear a bright long skirt to take blockbuster photos (ticket price 100 yuan). 3. Sunrise at Heima River 🌅 - Recommended reason: The starting point of the West Ring Road, the most beautiful sunrise viewing spot of Qinghai Lake. The lake surface is dyed golden in the morning light, which is breathtaking. You can experience Tibetan customs in the surrounding homestays, and it is perfect for stargazing at night. 4. Bird Island (April-May only) 🦅 - Recommended reason: A global bird migration destination, where hundreds of thousands of birds such as cormorants and bar-headed geese live. You can see chicks hatching on Egg Island (ticket price: 100 yuan). 5. Sand Island and Golden Sand Bay 🏜 - Recommended activities: Sand Island combines desert, wetland and lake, where you can ride camels and sandboard; Jinsha Bay's crescent-shaped sand dunes and clear water complement each other, making it a great place to take photos of desert movies (ticket price: 60 yuan). --- 3. Check-in recommendation: niche secrets and in-depth experience 1. Qinghai Lake Sacrifice Ceremony 🛎 - Time: On the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, local Tibetans burn incense and pray for blessings, experiencing the sacred folk culture. 2. Cycling around the lake 🚴♂ - Route: From Heima River to Bird Island (about 70 kilometers), there are grasslands, sea of ​​flowers and prayer flags along the way. Car rental costs about 50 yuan/day. 3. Qilian Mountain Grassland and Menyuan Rapeseed Flower Sea 🌼 - Best time: July, when thousands of acres of rapeseed flowers and snow-capped mountains appear in the same frame, just like an oil painting (you can also visit Qilian Zhuoer Mountain on the way). 4. Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience 🎨 - Content: Huangzhong pile embroidery, Tibetan thangka painting, making Tibetan incense or butter tea by yourself, and deepening your understanding of ethnic culture. --- 4. Food and accommodation: double satisfaction of taste buds and body and mind - Must-eat food: - Hand-pulled mutton (no mutton smell, original flavor); - Qinghai old yogurt (golden skin, sweet and sour); - Highland barley wine (fragrant, sweet and mellow, a plateau specialty). - Accommodation recommendations: - Lakeside view: Heimahe B&B (200-500 yuan/night), lake view from the window; - Featured experience: Jiangxigou RV campsite (bonfire party + starry sky tent); - High cost-effectiveness: Dayu Folk Village in Xihai Town has a strong Tibetan style.