Northwest Travel Guide: Must-Read Tips for July to September

💁 After visiting Qinghai multiple times 🥺, I stayed up late to compile this comprehensive travel guide 💯. If it's your first time visiting Qinghai, make sure to plan ahead ✍🏻. Otherwise, you'll spend most of your time on the road. Book your hotel a day in advance and organize your itinerary by region for each day. 🌈 Travel Essentials: ✅ Documents: ID card, student ID, medical/military discount cards ✅ Electronics: High-capacity power bank (under 20,000mAh), chargers, cables, headphones, selfie stick, drone, camera ✅ Daily necessities: Sunscreen, skincare products, toiletries, hydrating masks, moisturizer ✅ Others: Slippers, U-shaped pillow + eye mask, scarf, cash, thermos, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, sun-protective clothing, umbrella, sun hat, face towel ✈ Transportation Options: ✅ Typically, travelers start from Lanzhou or Xining. ✅ Lanzhou: Farther from Qinghai Lake, but offers more affordable tickets. ✅ Xining: More convenient for route planning. ✅ Xining Caojiabao International Airport: Airport shuttle costs 21 RMB. ✅ Xining → Lanzhou: 2 hours by high-speed train, 3 hours by regular train. ⚠ Avoid These Pitfalls in Qinghai: 1⃣ Some areas in Qinghai have poor mobile signal, so carry some cash. 2⃣ Accommodations with local ethnic characteristics are expensive and limited; regular hotels offer better value. 3⃣ Distances between attractions in the Northwest are long. Pack snacks and energy drinks, and download videos to pass the time. 4⃣ Avoid buying souvenirs at tourist spots; shop at local supermarkets instead. 5⃣ Always ask for prices before purchasing to avoid regrets. 6⃣ Do not stand in the middle of U-shaped roads for photos; it's dangerous. 7⃣ In high-altitude areas, minimize bathing to avoid catching a cold or exhausting yourself. Keep indoor temperatures moderate at night to prevent oxygen deficiency. 🔥🔥 Qinghai-Dunhuang-Zhangye-Chaka Salt Lake Seven-Day Loop: Day 1: Xining → Riyue Mountain → Qinghai Lake (Heimahe) → Chaka Salt Lake (overnight) Day 2: Chaka → Chaka Salt Lake → Golmud (overnight) Day 3: Golmud → U-shaped road → Dongtai Jinel Lake → Water Yadan → Dachaidan Emerald Lake (overnight) Day 4: Dachaidan → Black Mountain → Silk Road Heritage City → Dunhuang (overnight) Day 5: Dunhuang → Mogao Caves (best to book tickets for 9 AM) → Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake → Shazhou Night Market → Dunhuang (overnight) Day 6: Dunhuang → Jiayuguan → Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park → Zhangye (overnight) Day 7: Zhangye → Biandukou → Qilian Mountain Grassland → Gangshika Snow Peak (distant view) → Xining (end) 🔥 Highlights of Qinghai: 💕 Chaka Salt Lake: Known as the "Mirror of the Sky." 💕 Menyuan Flower Sea: Famous for its rapeseed fields. 💕 Zhuo'er Mountain: Snow-capped peaks visible from the summit, with rapeseed fields and wheat fields below, earning it the nickname "Heavenly Qilian." 💕 Zhangye Danxia: Resembles a painter's palette; a must-visit for photos. 💕 Jiayuguan: The starting point of the Great Wall. 💕 Mogao Caves: A timeless artistic treasure and a must-see in the Northwest. 💕 Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake: Renowned for its unique coexistence of sand and water. Tips: 1️⃣ Chaka Salt Lake: Visit on sunny days! Cloudy weather diminishes the "Mirror of the Sky" effect. 2️⃣ Rapeseed Flowers: Best viewed in July! Scenic spots charge fees, roadside views are free. 3️⃣ Mingsha Mountain: Keep track of your belongings! Lost items in the desert are hard to recover. 4️⃣ Reservations: Book tickets for popular attractions like Mogao Caves in advance via official platforms. 5️⃣ Grassland Photos: Do not enter pastures without permission; seek approval first.