6th-time Northwest Travel Guide: Avoiding Pitfalls

💥Hey everyone! A local with 6 trips to Northwest China is here with the ultimate guide!! Step-by-step tips to save 80% of your time, avoid 90% of tourist traps💸 and cut 70% of your budget while exploring the Northwest! If you're planning to go during May Day or summer vacation, save this now🌟 - Important Reminders ❶ Sun protection essentials: SPF 50+ sunscreen, sunglasses, and cooling sleeves (UV rays are super strong!) ❷ Altitude sickness prevention: Start drinking Rhodiola tea in advance and bring oxygen bottles (don’t buy them at scenic spots! They cost 60 RMB per can there) ❸ Clothing: A windbreaker is a must (strong winds at Chaka Salt Lake), and bring a brightly colored scarf (great for sun protection and photos) ❹ Hydration: Use a face mask daily and carry lip balm with you . 🚗Transportation Tips ▫ Self-driving: Scenic spots are very spread out, driving can be exhausting❌ Best for experienced drivers ▫ Public transport: Budget-friendly but takes longer, with limited schedules. ▫ Private car rental: Perfect for traveling with friends or family! Flexible stops and routes👯‍♀ - 🏠Accommodation Tips Xining: Stay in the city center! Food streets and transport hubs are just downstairs Dunhuang: Highly recommend staying near Mogao Caves! Enjoy an extra hour of sleep—so worth it Qinghai Lake: Choose between family inns or camping⛺ Stargaze at night🌌 and watch the sunrise in the morning🌅 for the ultimate vibe! - ✨Must-Visit Northwest Attractions 💙Qinghai Lake: The true blue gem! Cycling around the lake with the breeze is so healing, every photo looks like an Instagram masterpiece📸 💙Chaka Salt Lake: The real "Mirror of the Sky"! Wear a red dress or bring a shawl, take the small train for a leisurely tour—it's breathtaking 💙Water Yadan: A magical combination of Yadan landforms and lakes! Stunning in both sunny and cloudy weather, feels like a trip to Mars 💙Rainbow Danxia: Nature’s spilled paint palette! Visit at sunset for a mesmerizing view 💙Dunhuang Mogao Caves: No photos allowed, but who cares? Watching the "Encore Dunhuang" performance feels like traveling back a thousand years 💙Qilian Grassland: Run and ride horses freely! The real-life version of "The wind blows, the grass bends, and cattle and sheep appear"—maximum healing power - 7-Day Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Itinerary 🔵D1: Xining—Sun and Moon Mountain—Qinghai Lake—Chaka Salt Lake—Chaka (overnight) 🔵D2: Chaka—Chahann Salt Lake—Emerald Lake—Dachaidan (overnight) 🔵D3: Dachaidan—315 U-shaped Highway—Water Yadan—Dongtai Jinel Lake (distant view)—Dachaidan (overnight) 🔵D4: Dachaidan—Black Mountain—Dunhuang (overnight) 🔵D5: Dunhuang—Mogao Caves—Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake—Shazhou Night Market—Dunhuang (overnight) 🔵D6: Dunhuang—Son of the Earth—Jiayuguan—Zhangye Rainbow Danxia—Zhangye (overnight) 🔵D7: Zhangye—Qilian Grassland—Gangshika Snow Peak (distant view)—Menyuan Rapeseed Flowers (seasonal)—Xining - ⚠Important Tips to Remember!! ✔ Northwest is super popular this year!! Scenic spots are far apart!! ✔ Self-driving can be exhausting to the point of questioning life❌ ✔ Whether joining a tour or traveling independently, plan your itinerary in advance! Plan in advance! Plan in advance! ..