Qinghai Lake a wonderful place to visit
QingHai Lake Overview🏞️
Located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, northwest of Xining, and south of Gangcha County, the Qinghai Lake Scenic Area is 136 kilometers from Xining. Situated between longitudes 99°36′ to 100°16′ E and latitudes 36°32′ to 37°15′ N, it is a national 5A-level tourist destination. Historically known as “West Sea,” Qinghai Lake is also referred to as “Fairy Sea,” “Freshwater Sea,” and “Beihe Qiang Sea.” It is the largest inland lake and the largest saltwater lake in China.
The lake’s surface is at an elevation of 3,196 meters, with a shoreline stretching 360 kilometers and covering an area of 4,583 square kilometers. The waters are cold and highly saline. In the center of the lake lies Haixin Mountain, surrounded by towering peaks: Datong Mountain to the north, Riyue Mountain to the east, Qinghai Nanshan to the south, and Xiangpi Mountain to the west. During the height of summer, the average temperature at the lake is a cool 15°C, making it a natural summer retreat.
*Stele at Qinghai Lake.
*Seagulls over the Surface of Qinghai Lake.
Location and Geography🌏
The Qinghai Lake Scenic Area lies in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, 136 kilometers from Xining. It is encircled by four mountains: Datong Mountain to the north, Riyue Mountain to the east, Qinghai Nanshan to the south, and Xiangpi Mountain to the west. The lake’s surface elevation is 3,196 meters, with an average depth of 18.6 meters and a maximum depth of 32.8 meters.
The shoreline is 360 kilometers long, extending 106 kilometers east to west and 63 kilometers north to south, covering an area of 4,583 square kilometers. The lake holds a water volume of 85.4 cubic kilometers.
Topography💐
The region features typical plateau terrain, with flat, expansive grasslands along the lake. The area serves as a natural pasture, showcasing the characteristic high-altitude plains of the region.
Climate🌦️
Qinghai Lake has a high-altitude continental climate, characterized by abundant sunshine and intense solar radiation. The winters are long and cold, while the summers are short and cool. The area experiences strong winds and sandstorms in spring, and overall, it receives low annual precipitation, with wet and dry seasons distinctly marked. The lake area enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunlight annually, about 700 hours more than regions at the same latitude east of Qinghai.
The annual sunshine rate is around 68-69%, with total annual radiation ranging from 171.461 kcal/cm² to 106.693 kcal/cm². The annual average temperatures vary: between 1.1°C to 0.3°C in the east and south, and -0.8°C to 0.6°C in the west and north. Average high temperatures range from 6.7°C to 8.7°C, and lows range from -6.7°C to 4.9°C, with extreme temperatures recorded at 25°C and 24.4°C (highs) and -31°C to -33.4°C (lows).
Hydrology👓
The area receives relatively low precipitation, with slightly higher amounts in the east and south compared to the north and west. Annual rainfall in the eastern area is 412.8 mm, while the southern part receives 359.4 mm. The northwest gets 370.3 mm, and the west varies between 360.4 mm and 324.5 mm. The lake has an annual evaporation rate of 1,502 mm, significantly exceeding its precipitation. Most of the rainfall occurs between May and September, coinciding with the warm season.
Flora🌺
The natural vegetation around Qinghai Lake consists of five main types: shrubs, grasslands, deserts, meadows, and wetlands, with temperate grasslands, temperate desert grasslands, and alpine swamp meadows near the shoreline being predominant. The dominant species include Stipa krylovii, Stipa breviflora, and Elymus nutans.
The area’s flora is part of the Tanggute region within the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau floristic subregion of the Circumboreal Region, formed during the uplift of the plateau. It features a complex composition of plant species, including seed plants, ferns, mosses, fungi, algae, and lichens. Among the 52 families, 174 genera, and 445 species of seed plants, angiosperms are the most abundant, while there are only three genera of gymnosperms, totaling six species.
*The Ocean of Rice Fields at Qinghai Lake.
*Summer at Qinghai Lake with Seagulls Flying Over.
Fauna🌊
The Qinghai Lake Scenic Area is home to 189 species of birds, spanning 14 orders and 37 families, accounting for 55% of the bird species in Qinghai Province. Of these, migratory birds make up 63.6%. Common species include the black-headed gull, a nationally protected species, while the brown-headed gull and bar-headed goose are classified as Category III protected animals.
The great cormorant and whooper swan are Category II, and the black-necked crane is Category I. The region also hosts 42 species of mammals across five orders and 17 families, constituting nearly a third of the province’s mammalian species. It is rich in rodents, carnivores, and ungulates, including six Category I nationally protected animals and 11 Category II species. Notably, the Przewalski’s gazelle (also known as Tibetan antelope) is a critically endangered species globally.
Scenic Areas
Erlangjian Scenic Area🎋
Located on the southern shore, Erlangjian was once known as the 151 Base, China’s first torpedo testing site. Today, it serves as a tourist reception base and a hub for experiencing ethnic culture around Qinghai Lake. With its unique geographical position, Erlangjian combines natural features like grasslands, beaches, and wildlife to become a highlight of the Qinghai Lake tourist circuit. It features viewing areas, a leisure zone with ethnic dance performances, Tibetan cultural gardens, sacred lake ceremonies, and water sports, including boating, water bikes, and jet skis.
Bird Island Scenic Area🦜
Also known as Xiaoxishan or Egg Island, Bird Island lies on the western shore, north of the Buha River’s mouth. The island resembles a tadpole, with a broader eastern end and a narrower, longer western side. After 1978, the lake receded, connecting the island to the mainland from three sides.
Bird Island gets its name from the tens of thousands of migratory birds that arrive here every year between April and June to breed, creating one of the lake’s most remarkable sights. To protect the birds’ habitat and allow visitors to observe them closely, a new multifunctional bird-watching facility was built, equipped with observation rooms, rest areas, a café, and a multimedia exhibition hall. The shelter extends 443 meters and has a building area of 2,800 square meters.
*Take a Cruise to Explore Qinghai Lake.
*A Tree Landscape at Qinghai Lake.
Sand Island Scenic Area🎄
Situated on the northeastern shore, the Sand Island Scenic Area features golden and silver sand dunes, accompanied by Sun Lake, Crescent Moon Lake, and Reed Lake. With flocks of seabirds, the dunes shine against the water. Visitors can enjoy unique desert experiences like sand sliding, dune buggies, beach biking, horseback riding, and camel rides.
Fairy Bay Scenic Area🚢
Located on the northern shore, Fairy Bay is an important wetland in Qinghai Lake and a traditional site for Tibetan lake worship. The area boasts diverse flora and fauna, distinct wetland landscapes, and serves as a migratory sanctuary, especially for swans.
Natural Wonders🍀
Two unique features stand out in the Qinghai Lake area. One is Bird Island, where tens of thousands of migratory birds flock to islands like Haixi Mountain and Three Stones Island each spring and summer. The other is the lake’s rich fishery, known for its abundant Qinghai carp, making it a natural and thriving fishing ground.