The lake water is as blue as a gem, this grassland hides an autumn blessed by the gods

On the Gannan land at the border of Qinghai and Gansu, there is a little-known yet breathtakingly beautiful plateau lake—Gahai Lake. Unlike the widely renowned Qinghai Lake or the bustling Chaka Salt Lake, it lies quietly among the alpine meadows of Luqu County, like a tear from the heavens, reflecting the rolling clouds and towering snow peaks. The best photo spot is at the end of the wooden boardwalk on the south shore of Gahai Lake. In the early morning, mist lightly floats over the lake surface, with Amize Mao Mountain faintly visible in the distance. Flocks of migratory birds skim over the reeds, and the water mirrors a perfect sky scene: deep blue sky, cotton-like clouds, golden autumn grass, and the occasional leap of plateau naked carp, together composing a moving oil painting. Especially from late September to mid-October, the grasslands around the lake turn from green to gold, with wildflower shadows mingling with frosted grass. In the shifting light and shadow, it feels like stepping into a blissful paradise from a Thangka painting. Here are several must-visit pure scenic hidden spots: ✅ The north shore wetland at sunrise—morning light sprinkles on reed tips, dewdrops sparkle like stars, the call of black-necked cranes breaks the silence, the scene so pure it takes your breath away; ✅ The west shore pasture viewing platform—cattle and sheep scattered on the slopes, prayer flags fluttering in the wind, with the vast lake and layered distant mountains as the backdrop, like a pastoral Tibetan poem; ✅ The seventh bend of the lakeside road from a high aerial view—driving or drone footage reveals a winding dirt road cutting through golden grasslands, leading straight to the lake’s center, like brushstrokes on the earth’s canvas. As the “ecological heart” of Gannan, Gahai Lake is an important water conservation area for the upper Yellow River and a sanctuary for rare birds such as black-necked cranes and egrets. There are no fences, no noise, only the sound of wind blowing prayer flags and the gentle rhythm of lake waves lapping the shore. When you stand by the open lakeside, watching cloud shadows pass over the grass, listening to the wind whisper through the prayer flags, you will understand— some landscapes do not belong to the mortal world, they are just a splash of blue casually painted by the gods, left behind on earth. >Recommended seasons: June (green grass and blooming flowers), September-October (golden autumn), November (quiet first snow)