Comprehensive Qinghai-Gansu Loop Travel Guide

As a local who frequently travels along the Qinghai-Gansu loop, I must remind everyone: traveling in Qinghai and Gansu without proper planning is asking for trouble! This comprehensive guide, compiled over three days and based on my six trips along the loop, is a must-have. Save it for future use! 🚌 Transportation Tips ✈️ Opt for Xining Caojiabao Airport, with airport buses departing every 20 minutes to the city center (fare: 25 RMB). 🚄 Alternatively, use Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport and transfer via high-speed train (Airport → Lanzhou West Station → Xining Station, total travel time: approximately 3.5 hours). 🧳 Essential Packing List 🔖 Documents: Student ID and other discount cards (save wherever you can!) 📱 Electronics: Phone, power bank, camera (clear your memory space!) 🧴 Essentials: Toiletries, high-SPF sunscreen, moisturizing face masks (the UV rays in the northwest are intense!) 👗 Clothing: A light jacket is a must! The temperature difference between day and night is extreme. 🚙 Qinghai Lake-Dunhuang-Zhangye-Salt Lake-Yadan Eight-Day Loop: Day 1: Xining → Riyue Mountain → Qinghai Lake (Heimahe) → Chaka Salt Lake (overnight stay) Day 2: Chaka → Qarhan Salt Lake → Golmud (overnight stay) Day 3: Golmud → U-shaped Highway → Dongtai Jinel Lake → Water Yadan → Dachaidan Emerald Lake (overnight stay) Day 4: Dachaidan → Black Mountain → Silk Road Heritage City → Dunhuang (overnight stay) Day 5: Dunhuang → Mogao Caves (best to book tickets for around 9 AM) → Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake → Shazhou Night Market → Dunhuang (overnight stay) Day 6: Dunhuang → Yangguan → Yumen Pass → Yadan National Geological Park → Dunhuang (overnight stay) Day 7: Dunhuang → via Jiayuguan → Zhangye Rainbow Mountains → Zhangye (overnight stay) Day 8: Zhangye → Biandukou → Qilian Mountains and Grasslands → Gangshika Snow Peak (distant view) → Xining (end of trip) 🏜️ Famous Attractions in Qinghai and Gansu 📌 Qinghai Lake: The largest inland lake in China, with stunning lake views and blooming rapeseed flowers in July and August. 📌 Chaka Salt Lake: Known as the "Mirror of the Sky," its surface reflects the sky beautifully. 📌 Emerald Lake: Vibrant green and blue waters resembling gemstones embedded in the earth. 📌 Zhangye Rainbow Mountains: Colorful and layered, resembling a painting at sunset. 📌 Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake: A unique desert oasis where sand dunes coexist with a crescent-shaped spring. 📌 Mogao Caves: A treasure trove of Buddhist art with exquisite murals and sculptures. 📌 Menyuan Rapeseed Flowers: A golden sea of flowers stretching for tens of kilometers in mid to late July. 💵 Ticket Booking ✅ Qinghai Lake: 90 RMB, book 3 days in advance (07:30-19:30) ✅ Ta'er Monastery: 70 RMB, book 3 days in advance (7:30-18:00) ✅ Mogao Caves: 238 RMB, book 2 weeks to 1 month in advance (8:00-18:00) ✅ Chaka Salt Lake: 60 RMB, book 3 days in advance (8:30-18:30) ✅ Water Yadan: 60 RMB, book 3 days in advance (8:00-18:00) ✅ Jiayuguan: 110 RMB, book 3 days in advance (9:00-19:00) ✅ Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake: 110 RMB, book 3 days in advance (5:00-20:30) For Mogao Caves, book tickets as early as possible. If you have travel plans, secure your tickets immediately. June to August is peak season in Qinghai and Gansu, and tickets are often unavailable closer to the date. 🙌 Northwest Travel Tips ‼️ The sunlight in the northwest is intense, so take proper sun protection measures. ‼️ The climate is dry, so stay hydrated and moisturized. ‼️ The temperature difference between day and night is significant, so keep warm. ‼️ In high-altitude areas, be mindful of altitude sickness.