Qinghai Lake

Background

Qinghai Lake is China's largest lake, an endorheic, saline and alkaline lake at about 3,200 m above sea level in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; its shores fall within three autonomous prefectures, Haibei, Hainan and Haixi, and the Erlangjian Scenic Area on the southern shore lies in Gonghe County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The lake shrank in most years of the 20th century and has risen somewhat since 2004. It sits where several Asian bird migration routes meet, and the Bird Island area has been a sanctuary of the Qinghai Lake Nature Reserve since 1997; the lake's endemic fish is the naked carp (huangyu). The surrounding land is pastoral grassland of Tibetan, Mongol and other peoples, there are historic temples on the lake's islands, and there is a local tradition of pilgrimage around the lake.

Local customs

• You can view the lake from the lakeside boardwalk at Erlangjian and take a boat trip (subject to on-site operations)
• cycle or drive around the lake in stages to see grassland, rapeseed flowers and the shimmering water
• and watch migratory birds from a distance at designated viewing areas, without entering the core protected zone.

Travel tips

• The lake lies at around 3,200 m, so take it slowly at first, drink plenty of water and protect yourself from sun and cold
• temperatures swing widely between day and night, so bring a windproof jacket, sunglasses and sunscreen. The lake water is salty and not drinkable. A full circuit of the lake is very long, so plan your stamina and supplies in advance and go within your limits. Most visitors start from Xining and drive, hire a car or join a licensed day or multi-day tour to the southern shore
• the circuit can be done in stages combining vehicles and cycling, and attempting it all at once without preparation is not advised. Routes, schedules and fares follow official announcements. Some sources give the scenic area's address as along National Highway 109 by the lake
• check the scenic area's own information.
• Summer is relatively pleasant and the usual time for the lake, grassland and rapeseed flowers
• spring and summer bring more migratory birds
• in winter the lake often freezes over, which is a striking sight, but it is cold and some services and roads may be limited, so check scenic-area notices before you go.