Top 10 Best Things to Do in Xining
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Top 10 Best Things to Do in Xining

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Trip.Best is a collection of travel rankings that takes into account the travel choices and genuine preferences of hundres of millions of Trip.com users. It is updated monthly based on real data.
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  • Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museumtop_1
    󰺂8.3
    Xining.Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum/Wanda Plaza8.4 km from downtown
    Highlights:
    Tibetan music shows daily until 8/15
    󰋄Open year-round, closed 3 days
    󱨠Saved by 228 users󱨠7311 positive reviews
    4.8/5
    羊猫树羊猫树

    The Thangka paintings were truly breathtaking, especially because of their length. There seemed to be very few staff members; there wasn't a single person at the service desk. I really wished I could hire a guide. Otherwise, I was completely confused. Hopefully, more guided tours will be available in the future.

  • Kumbum Monasterytop_2
    󰺂8.3
    45
    Xining23.7 km from downtown
    trip best TravelHotspot logoTickets for Three Major Xining Attractions Reduced to ¥10 | Dec 1, 2025-Mar 5, 2026
    Highlights:
    󱓊Unique hilltop temple complex
    󱓊Butter sculptures & Thangka masterpieces
    󱨠Saved by 251 users󱨠9287 positive reviews
    4.6/5
    壹興-賈勝伟¥仰望壹興-賈勝伟¥仰望

    Kumbum Monastery is not large, but it was the first time I felt a different kind of faith, prayer, and protection. At such an altitude, there are so many believers... Anyway, those who are interested can come and see for themselves.

  • Qinghai Laketop_3
    󰺂7.9
    178
    Gonghe>100 km from downtown
    trip best small logoFeatured in 2026 China 50 - Cool Water Escapes
    Highlights:
    󱓊Clockwise lake tour & Tibetan culture
    Boat ride & scenic views
    󱨠Saved by 193 users󱨠3650 positive reviews
    4.5/5
    Anonymous userAnonymous user

    The visual impact of that unobstructed, azure lake stretching to the horizon is unforgettable. The water is crystal clear, displaying layers of emerald and deep blue under the sunlight, truly making me understand what "highland sapphire" means. Standing on the waterfront platform, with the water and sky merging into one, it felt like standing at the center of the world, instantly broadening my horizons.

  • Xining Wildlife Park
    4
    󰺂7.8
    Xining4.3 km from downtown
    trip best TravelHotspot logoEscaped Snow Leopard "Naonao" Becomes a Top Star in Xining
    trip best small logoFeatured in 2026 China 100 - Family-friendly Attractions
    Highlights:
    󰋄Simulated alpine rocks for snow leopards
    󱓊Wildlife viewing & educational experience
    󱨠2329 positive reviews
    4.6/5
    SDDSDDSDDSDD

    The park exhibits over 180 species and more than 3,000 wild animals, making it the world's only zoo that integrates captive-bred populations of snow leopards, Himalayan vultures, and Pallas's cats. Guests can see rare animals unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, such as snow leopards, Tibetan antelopes, and wild yaks, as well as introduced species like hippos and giraffes.

  • Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains)
    5
    󰺂7.7
    133
    Huangyuan64.2 km from downtown
    Highlights:
    󱓊Diverse landscapes & fluttering prayer flags
    Yak rides & highland photography
    󱨠Saved by 137 users󱨠815 positive reviews
    4.4/5
    沫沫然_沫沫然_

    The Qinghai-Tibet border landscape is breathtaking, the fluttering prayer flags create a wonderful atmosphere, and the legend of Princess Wencheng adds to the charm! A must-see for anyone passing through, the scenery is magnificent, the Tibetan culture is rich, and the price is great!

  • Plateau Pearl Sightseeing Tower
    6
    󰺂6.0
    129
    Xining2.6 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 1 of Night Attractions in Xining
    Highlights:
    󱓊188-foot tower: Xining's iconic landmark
    󱓊188m tower overlooks Xining
    󱨠191 positive reviews
    4.5/5
    _We***53_We***53

    Also known as "Puning Pearl", it was built with the aid of Shanghai Pudong New Area, and is named after Pudong and Xining. Puning Pearl is a multifunctional sightseeing tower integrating radio and television transmission, urban planning exhibition, and tourism. It is located on the top of Xishan Mountain. From the tower, you can overlook the night view of the entire Xining City.

  • Qinghai Province Museum
    7
    󰺂5.9
    Xining.Qinghai Province Museum/Xining Wildlife Park2.5 km from downtown
    Highlights:
    󰋄360° view of Qinghai's nature & history
    󰀆360° panoramic view of Xining
    󱨠157 positive reviews
    4.4/5
    无敌酷炸毛的喵酱无敌酷炸毛的喵酱

    A worthwhile museum offers a window into Qinghai's history and culture. To explore Qinghai and the plateau, start at the Qinghai Provincial Museum. The museum displays artifacts from across the province, including brocades, silks, gold, silver, and bronze artifacts unearthed from the Reshui Tombs in Dulan, painted pottery from the Liuwan Tombs, 4,000-year-old Lajia noodle containers and noodles, the first bronze mirror and tile end from the Guinan grasslands, Panxiu from the Rainbow Homeland, row lanterns from the ancient city of Danger, and Qutan artifacts from the imperial monasteries. The exquisite craftsmanship is breathtaking and unforgettable.

  • Dongguan Mosque
    8
    󰺂5.7
    Xining.Dongguan Grand Mosque/Lower Nanguan Street1.7 km from downtown
    Highlights:
    󱓊Watch rituals & learn religion
    󱓊Temple illuminated by magical green lights
    󱨠Saved by 130 users󱨠175 positive reviews
    4.4/5
    _co***29_co***29

    The Dongguan Grand Mosque in Xining City is a rare and solemn building. The nine gold-plated regular script characters "Xining Budongguan Grand Mosque" are inscribed on the middle door lintel, and the inside and outside of the other door lintels are inscribed with gold-plated Arabic classic quotations. The "Hundred-Character Praise" inscribed by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, for mosques across the country is preserved in the temple and is embedded in the wall of the middle door, which is worth seeing.

  • Danggar Ancient Town
    9
    󰺂5.6
    Huangyuan46 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 2 of Night Attractions in Xining
    󱨠31% positive reviews
    4.3/5
    盛夏的清凉盛夏的清凉

    The ancient city of Danggar is located on the road from Xining to Qinghai Lake, making it a worthwhile stop. It's small and has been beautifully restored. Besides shops, it houses a Confucian temple, a memorial hall for local poets, and a church. Because it's relatively unknown, it doesn't attract many visitors.

  • Dream of Paradise
    10
    󰺂5.5
    834
    Xining19.2 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 2 of Family-friendly Attractions in Xining
    Highlights:
    󰋄Whale & dolphin show nearby
    󰋄Silk Road Town & Fantasy Forest
    󱨠3186 positive reviews
    4.7/5
    佐佐的漫游日记佐佐的漫游日记

    Xining's Family Treasure! A Day of Fun at Xinhualian Tongmeng Park Bringing my kids to Xining's Xinhualian Tongmeng Park completely blew away my expectations of Northwest theme parks! As a comprehensive park offering one-stop family fun, it's truly worth adding to your Xining travel bucket list. The most stunning attraction was Xining Ocean World. As the world's highest aquarium, you can see lively penguins, spectacular dolphin shows, and the unique Qinghai Lake naked carp display on the plateau. The children's eyes lit up the entire time, and the underwater performances were truly captivating. A ride on the 108-meter "Eye of Qinghai" Ferris wheel in the land park is a must-do. When it lights up in the evening, you'll get a panoramic view of the park, creating stunning photos. The thrilling tornado pendulum and the immersive "Arabian Nights" dark ride offer fun for both adults and children. If you're traveling with young children, Tongmeng Kingdom is an absolute paradise. With nearly 8,000 square meters of indoor space and safe, fun facilities, children can enjoy a long day of fun. The fully heated Tongmeng Water World is sun- and cold-resistant, and the wave pool and lazy river are fantastic, perfect for parent-child interaction. The Silk Road Town within the park is unique, featuring miniature replicas of buildings from 18 countries. While taking photos and checking in, you can also educate your children about their culture. If you're hungry, head to the Ethnic Food Street, where you can sample specialties from 56 ethnic groups all in one place, allowing you to experience the flavors of each region without having to travel too far. The only caveat is that the plateau's ultraviolet rays are strong, so remember to wear sunscreen. The temperature difference between morning and evening can be significant, so bring a light jacket. The fireworks show is only held from Tuesdays to Saturdays, so plan your time well in advance. Overall, whether you're traveling with children or friends, this place has something for everyone. It's a fulfilling and enjoyable day out, and I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Xining!

What Best Things to Do are there in Xining?
These are all Best Things to Do in Xining:Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum, Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai Lake, Xining Wildlife Park, Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains)
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Xining?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Xining include:Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum:4.8, Kumbum Monastery:4.6, Qinghai Lake:4.5, Xining Wildlife Park:4.6, Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains):4.4
At what locations in Xining can Best Things to Do in Xining be found?
The Best Things to Do in Xining are mainly located in:Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum:Xining, Kumbum Monastery:Xining, Qinghai Lake:Gonghe, Xining Wildlife Park:Xining, Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains):Huangyuan
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