Qinghai

A source-of-rivers province on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau — a highland province of Qinghai Lake, salt lakes and Tibetan Buddhist temples.

• History: Qinghai Lake is China's largest inland saltwater lake, represented by lakeside grassland and rapeseed flower seas. Kumbum Monastery (塔尔寺) is one of the six great Gelug Tibetan Buddhist monasteries; butter sculptures, murals and appliqué embroidery are together called the "Three Wonders". Chaka Salt Lake is a highland salt-lake landscape. Hoh Xil is a highland wildlife habitat. Qinghai is multi-ethnic, with Tibetans, Hui, Tu, Salar, Mongolians and others long co-residing, and many areas use both Tibetan and Chinese. Foods include hand-held mutton, yak meat, highland barley, butter tea and yoghurt.
• Legend: The story of King Gesar campaigning across the plateau is widely sung in Tibetan areas — the "Gesar" epic is a Tibetan oral literary tradition, and its miraculous elements are legend, not reliable history. The claim that Qinghai Lake was formed from Princess Wencheng's precious mirror is also legend; the lake's formation follows geological explanation.

• Qinghai Lake — lakeside cycling, Erlangjian Scenic Area, Bird Island (opening subject to notices).
• Kumbum Monastery, Huangzhong — Great Golden Roof Hall, butter-sculpture exhibitions (activities around the 15th day of the first lunar month subject to monastery notices).
• Chaka Salt Lake — "Mirror of the Sky" landscape; reflections best on calm sunny days, bring shoe covers.
• Hoh Xil — view Tibetan antelopes and other wildlife from afar; do not enter core areas without authorisation.
• Huzhu Tu Ethnic Homeland Garden — Tu folk customs, embroidery and song-and-dance displays.

Intercity travel is mainly by rail and air: Xining to Golmud, Delingha and elsewhere have conventional rail, fares from tens to about a hundred yuan, subject to official publication. Xining Caojiabao Airport has airport buses and ride-hailing. Xining city relies on buses, taxis and ride-hailing; buses are mostly one to a few yuan, payable by transit card or ride code. Xining to Kumbum Monastery can be done by bus or tourist line, about tens of minutes. Around Qinghai Lake, Chaka and Hoh Xil mostly rely on chartered cars or self-driving; a full lake loop is several hundred kilometres, a day's charter mostly hundreds of yuan — agree the route in advance. Highland stretches have many bends and steep slopes and winter ice; parts of the Qinghai-Gansu grand loop are high altitude, so drive within your ability. Fare-evasion fines follow each operator's official rules.

• Red Line: In temple halls photography and touching Buddha statues and ritual objects are strictly forbidden, and smoking is forbidden in no-smoking zones; in Hoh Xil and other reserves do not chase or feed wildlife or enter core areas without authorisation.
• Taboo: ① On entering Tibetan Buddhist temples wear long sleeves and long trousers, not short skirts or slippers into halls (subject to monastery notices); ② prayer wheels, prayer flags and other religious objects should only be turned in the locally directed direction, not reversed, and offerings should not be stepped over; ③ when visiting herder areas do not step on thresholds or touch hosts' heads (subject to local custom).
• Good Manners: Accept a khata with both hands; when speaking with monks and herders be gentle, greet first, then ask directions or about photography; on the plateau slow down and respect the local "slow pace" of life.
• Common pitfalls for visitors: ① Treating altitude sickness as an ordinary cold and pushing through — if headache and breathlessness worsen, rest at once, take oxygen and seek medical help, and do not force yourself to climb higher; ② Chaka Salt Lake has strong light and reflective ground, so without sunglasses and shoe covers sunburn and slipping are easy.

Best from June to September; rapeseed flowering is mostly around July, subject to local forecasts. Highland ultraviolet radiation is strong — bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a warm jacket. On first arriving on the plateau avoid strenuous exercise and alcohol, and bring common medicines. Some scenic areas are above 3,000 metres, so leave acclimatisation time in the itinerary.