Situated on the northeastern border of Tibet, Qinghai is often overlooked by tourists and visitors to China, making it a uniquely mysterious place to spend some time.
Although at first glance Qinghai might not appear to be a dream destination for tourism, in truth it is simply packed with interesting sites to explore such as monasteries, rivers, mountains and temples. In fact, three of Asia’s best known rivers can be found here; the Yangzi, Yellow and Mekong.
Naturally, taking a boat tour on one of Qinghai’s rivers is a great way to see the sights of this picturesque province. Nature lovers will want to visit the Qinghaihu National Park, which is home China’s largest lake. This is a great spot for picnicking and hiking.
There are a number of interesting cities to visit in Qinghai such as the capital city of Xining, Golmud, Nangchen and Ledu. The city of Huangzhong is home to the famous Kumbum Monastery, and this is a major pilgrimage site for many visitors to Qinghai.
Qinghai is home to a number of ethnic groups such as Tibetans, Tu, Salar, Goloks and Hui. The current Dalai Lama was born in what is now known as Qinghai, and those interested in the 10th Panchen Lama and Tsongkhapa can see where he spent his first few years.
The weather in Qinghai can be rather intense and winters are literally freezing, with hot summers. Although pretty in the winter, traveling during this time of the year can be tough going and most people limit their travel to the middle of the year. However, there is an excellent rail network through Qinghai, so getting around isn’t a problem.
China’s fourth largest province, Qinghai makes a good introduction to Tibetan lifestyle and culture before crossing the border to explore the country itself. It is also the gateway to western China. When it comes to eating, the diverse culture lends itself to the cuisine and visitors can sample a range of delicious dishes such as filling Tibetan dumplings, Chinese noodles and Mongolian soups.
Access is from Lanzhou, which has a large train station, bus station and also an airport. Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport is connected to several of China’s other international airports such as Beijing (1 hour). Most parts of Qinghai can be reached by train from Lanzhou in about 4 hours. ** **