Destination Guide
Qinghai
Mirror lakes and plateau roads that go on for days.
Qinghai sits on the northeastern corner of the Tibetan Plateau, centred around the vast, salty Qinghai Lake. It's less visited than Tibet but shares the same big skies, grasslands and Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Xining is the entry point and a useful transport hub. From there, the lake, grassland monasteries, high-altitude wetlands and the road west toward the Qaidam Basin give the province a remote, open feel.
Why go
- Qinghai Lake, grasslands and summer wildflowers
- Tibetan monasteries and nomad culture
- High-altitude trains and road journeys
- Bird-watching wetlands and salt lakes
- A gentler introduction to the plateau than Tibet
Best for
High-plateau sceneryCyclingTibetan cultureRoad tripsSummer travel
Good to know
Qinghai Lake sits around 3,200m, and many passes go higher. Altitude headaches are common on the first day, so take it easy and drink plenty of water.