Qinghai 5 Days 5 Nights Travel Guide

🌄【Itinerary Overview】 Destinations: Qinghai Lake｜Chaka Salt Lake｜Qilian Mountains｜Menyuan Rapeseed Flower Fields｜Emerald Lake (optional) Duration: 5 days 5 nights Per person budget: ¥4500-5000｜Total budget controlled within ¥10,000 Best season: June to August (rapeseed flowers in full bloom + pleasant climate) --- 🗓 Itinerary｜Detailed 5 Days 5 Nights Guide Day 1: Arrive in Xining → City check-in + Qinghai Lake sunset - ✈️ Arrive at Xining Caojiapu Airport (early flight recommended) - 🏨 Check in to a downtown hotel (recommended: Motel, All Season, ¥300/night) - 🍜 Lunch: Mojia Street snacks (hand-grabbed mutton, sweet fermented rice, yogurt) - 🚗 Afternoon charter car departure (book driver in advance, about ¥600/day) - 🌅 Arrive at 【Qinghai Lake Erlangjian Scenic Area】 in the evening, shoot sunset photos - 🏕 Overnight at a lakeside guesthouse (Heima River or Jiangxi Valley, ¥400/night, breakfast included) > 💡 Tip: Don’t buy the scenic area ticket! Take the detour to the free viewing platform, the scenery is just as beautiful! --- Day 2: Qinghai Lake cycling → Chaka Salt Lake “Mirror of the Sky” - 🌄 Early morning shoot Qinghai Lake sunrise (stunning!) - 🚴 Morning cycling around the lake for 1-2 hours (bike rental ¥30/hour) - 🚗 Depart at noon for Chaka Salt Lake (3-hour drive) - 🌟 Afternoon visit to 【Chaka Salt Lake】 (ticket + small train ¥80) - Wear a white dress! Wear a white dress! Wear a white dress! Important to say three times! - Recommended to enter after 4 PM, soft light and clearest reflections - 🏨 Overnight in Chaka Town (¥350/night, basic conditions, just for one night) > 💡 Tip: Avoid strong midday light, or it will be all glare! Bring a red umbrella and mirror for better photos! --- Day 3: Cross Qilian Mountains → Zhuo’er Mountain sunset + stay in Qilian County - 🚗 Depart in the morning via 【G227 National Highway】— one of China’s most beautiful roads! - 🏔 Pass by 【Rubber Mountain】, 【Qilian Grassland】, stop anytime for photos - 🌄 Climb 【Zhuo’er Mountain】 at dusk (ticket ¥80), overlook Danxia landform + snowy grasslands - 🏨 Overnight in Qilian County (recommended: Qilian International Hotel, ¥450/night, clean and comfortable) - 🍲 Dinner: Yak hotpot + Highland barley wine, experience Tibetan flavors > 💡 Tip: G227 has many speed limits, drive steadily, safety first! --- Day 4: Menyuan Rapeseed Flower Sea → Return to Xining - 🌼 Early morning depart for 【Menyuan Rapeseed Flower Sea】 (best in July, blooms by late June) - Ticket ¥60, or find free viewing platforms (like Yuanshan Viewing Platform) - 📸 Shoot epic photos: tens of thousands of acres of golden flowers + snowy mountain backdrop, visually stunning - 🚗 Return to Xining in the afternoon (4-hour drive) - 🏨 Overnight in Xining (¥300/night) - 🛍 Evening stroll at 【Shuijing Alley】 or 【Xinqian Night Market】, buy specialties: yak jerky, Highland barley wine, black goji berries --- Day 5: Ta’er Monastery cultural tour + return trip - 🏯 Morning visit to 【Ta’er Monastery】 (ticket ¥70, guide ¥50) - Qinghai’s largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, feel the power of faith - 🍵 Lunch: local Xining restaurant (recommended: Ma Zhong Restaurant) - ✈️ Afternoon return flight according to schedule 💰 Budget Breakdown (Total cost for 2 people｜about ¥9800) | Item | Cost | | Round-trip airfare (economy, depends on departure city) | ¥4000 (e.g., from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) | | Accommodation (5 nights, mid-range hotels + guesthouses) | ¥1800 | | 5-day charter car (including driver’s food and lodging) | ¥3000 (about ¥600/day) | | Tickets + small train (Chaka + Zhuo’er Mountain + Ta’er Monastery + Menyuan) | ¥600 | | Meals (about ¥200/day) | ¥1000 | | Others (car rental, souvenirs, etc.) | ¥400 | | Total | ¥10,800 (can be controlled within ¥10,000 if airfare discounts apply) | > ✈️ Money-saving tip: Buy tickets 1 month in advance, choose Tuesday/Wednesday departures for cheaper prices! 📸 Photo Tips｜Blogger’s secret - Outfit: white long dress, red dress, denim + straw hat, perfect for salt lake shots - Best photo times: sunrise (6:00-7:00), sunset (19:00-20:00) - Must-shoot scenes: Qinghai Lake prayer flags, Chaka reflections, Menyuan flower sea + snowy mountains, Zhuo’er Mountain panorama ⚠️ Pitfall Warnings 1. Don’t trust “low-price tours,” they are all shopping traps! 2. Altitude sickness: around 3000m elevation, generally no big problem, avoid strenuous exercise 3. Weather changes frequently, bring a windbreaker, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm 4. Respect Tibetan customs, don’t casually photograph monks in temples ✅ One sentence summary: Spend ¥10,000 for 5 days of pure blue skies, snowy mountains, lakes, rapeseed flower seas, and a free spirit — totally worth it!