The 2025 travel guide for the Northwest is full of key points.
In 2005, deepseek gave the life advice: don't be anxious, don't waste time, and don't be confused by uncertain things in the future. When asked, it also gave a suggestion: you must go to the Northwest to take the Gansu-Qinghai Grand Loop once in your life. This complete route without turning back covers the most classic beauty of the Northwest. Life is but 30,000 days, so be happy every day. You are not always in your 20s, so of course you have to go out for a walk. Sisters, take this guide and go 🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
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🧳Preparation before the trip
◇ Documents: ID card, student ID card, veterans ID card, active military ID card, disability card (some documents can be brought) Some attractions are half price or free
◇Clothes: Summer: short sleeves, sun protection clothing, shorts. Winter: down jacket, cotton trousers, sweater, cotton shoes
◇Medicine: cold medicine, stomach medicine
◇Sun protection: sunscreen, sun protection clothing, hats, sunglasses, parasols
◇ Daily necessities: power banks, chargers, drones (some scenic spots cannot fly)
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Recommended itinerary:
🌈Six-day Internet celebrity route (Water Yadan)
D1: Xining - Sun Moon Mountain - Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake - Chaka Town [Accommodation]
D2: Chaka - 315 U-shaped road - Dongtaijinaier Lake (pass) - Water Yadan - Nanbaxian Yadan landform - Dachaidan [stay]
D3: Da Qaidam - Emerald Lake - Oil Town - Silk Road Heritage City - Desert Camping or Dunhuang [Accommodation]
D4: Dunhuang - Mogao Grottoes - Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake - Shazhou Night Market - Free time - Dunhuang City [Accommodation]
D5: Dunhuang - Jiayuguan (can be exchanged for Son of the Earth, Boundless) - Zhangye Colorful Danxia - Zhangye City [Accommodation]
D6: Zhangye - passing through Biandukou - Qilian Grassland - viewing Gangshika Snow Mountain from a distance - Menyuan rapeseed flowers (end of July) - end in Xining
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🌈7-day Internet celebrity route (Water Yadan + Heidu Mountain)
D1: Xining - Sun Moon Mountain - Qinghai Lake - Chaka Sky No. 1 - Chaka Town [Accommodation]
D2: Chaka Town - Gobi Desert along the way - Emerald Lake - Dachaidan [Accommodation]
D3: Daxiadan - 315U-type road - Water Yadan - Nanbaxian Yadan landform - Daxiadan [accommodation]
D4: Da Qaidam - Heidu Mountain - Oil Town - Silk Road Heritage City - Dunhuang City [Accommodation]
D5: Dunhuang - Mogao Grottoes - Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake - Shazhou Night Market - Free time - Dunhuang [stay]
D6: Dunhuang - Jiayuguan (can be exchanged for Son of the Earth, Boundless) - Zhangye Colorful Danxia - Zhangye City [Accommodation]
D7: Zhangye - passing through Biandukou - Qilian Prairie - viewing Gangshika Snow Mountain from a distance - Menyuan rapeseed flowers (end of July) - end in Xining
🌈The 8-day popular Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop
D1: Xining--Riyue Mountain--Qinghai Lake--Rubao Mountain--Chaka Salt Lake--Chaka
D2: Chaka--Koruk Lake--Xiaochaidan Lake--Qarhan Salt Lake--Golmud
D3: Golmud--Kunlun Holy Spring--Wuji Dragon and Phoenix Palace--Kunlun Mountain Pass--Khekexili--Suonandajie Conservation Station--Golmud
D4: Golmud--315U Highway--Usut Water Yadan--Nanbaxian--Dachaidan Emerald Lake--Dachaidan
D5: Dachaidan--Route 66 (passing by)--Oil Town--Dunhuang
D6: Dunhuang--Mogao Grottoes--Mingsha Mountain--Shazhou Night Market
D7: Dunhuang--Son of the Earth--Jiayuguan--Colorful Danxia--Zhangye
D8: Zhangye--Biandukou--Qilian Grassland--Gangshika Snow Peak (viewed from a distance)--Menyuan Rapeseed Flowers--Dabanshan Observation Deck--Xining
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Must-see attractions in Northwest China
1⃣, [Qinghai Lake] A tear left by God, the lake water is as bright as a sapphire, it is one of the best scenic spots in the world💎
2⃣, [Chaka Salt Lake] The salt lake under the blue sky and white clouds is like a sky, intoxicating🌤️
3⃣, [Mogao Grottoes] An ancient treasure house of Buddhist art, after thousands of years of vicissitudes, it still shows its extraordinary cultural charm🙏
4⃣, [Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring] The pearl in the desert, the clear spring water and the golden sand dunes complement each other, which is breathtaking🏜️
5⃣, [Jiayuguan] The Great Wall fortress with a long history has witnessed the bravery and wisdom of the Chinese nation and is a treasure of Chinese civilization🏰🗝
6⃣, [Zhangye Colorful Danxia] Just like God accidentally overturned the palette in the world, the colorful Danxia makes people feel like they are in a dream💭
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[Northwest Transportation Guide]
✔️Usually choose Xining as the starting point, or fly to Lanzhou, and then take the train (about 2 hours) to Xining
🚞Train: Xining Railway Station and Railway Station are one station, it is very convenient for transportation in the eastern part of the city
✈️Airplane: Xining Airport has buses to the city, and there are several pick-up points in the city. Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport can transfer to Xining. Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport has a high-speed bus directly to Xining, which departs every day
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🍜Northwest food check-in
Six Northwest delicacies: roasted lamb, stuffed skin, scrambled eggs with shallots, yogurt, highland barley wine, and roasted glutinous rice.
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⚠️Notes
The temperature difference in the northwest is large, so you need to bring some thick clothes to keep out the cold.
You can't get off the car on the U-shaped road, you can only look around and take pictures in the car
Sun protection and moisturizing should be done well. The purple line in the northwest region is strong.
Be careful to respect local customs and don't make random comments or criticisms
The Qinghai area is high. If you are worried about altitude sickness, it is recommended to take anti-altitude sickness medicine according to the doctor's advice one week before traveling.
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💡Tips: The scenic spots in the northwest are scattered, and self-driving tours may be too tiring and may cause unnecessary trouble, so it is not suitable. It is recommended that you charter a car or join a tour group.