Qinghai Terindah | Xining Qinghai + Kuil Ta'er + Danau Qinghai + Danau Garam Chaka Tur Klasik 3 Hari

Xining (average altitude about 2,275 meters) is the capital city of Qinghai Province, China. Located in eastern Qinghai Province and northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is the eastern gateway to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and enjoys the title of "First City of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau." As the intersection of the southern route of the ancient Silk Road and the Tang-Tubo Ancient Road, Xining was once a hub for trade and cultural exchange between East and West and has preserved a large amount of Silk Road cultural heritage. In addition, Xining's average summer temperature is about 17–19°C, very cool and pleasant, and it is known as "China's Summer Capital." Welcome to beautiful Xining. Our driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit, and then escort you to visit Ta'er Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism in China. [Ta'er Monastery] is named Ta'er Monastery because there was a pagoda first and then a monastery. It has a history of about 600 years and is one of Xining's most popular tourist destinations, as well as the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, a master of Tibetan Buddhism and the second Buddha of the world. The monastery's buildings are magnificent, its treasures are rich, and incense is abundant. It is one of the best places to learn about Tibetan Buddhist culture. In addition, Ta'er Monastery is also famous worldwide for butter sculptures, murals, and barbola, known as the "Three Wonders of Ta'er Monastery." After the visit, return to a hotel in downtown Xining to rest. Suggested ways to arrive 1. Plane: Xining Caojiabao International Airport (XNN) is Xining's main airport, about 30 km from downtown Xining, with very convenient transportation. Domestic flights can directly reach Beijing (2.5 to 3 hours), Xi'an (1.5 hours), Shanghai (3.5 hours), Urumqi (2.5 hours), Chengdu (1.5 to 2 hours), Chongqing (2 hours), Guangzhou (3.5 to 4 hours), Shenzhen (3.5 to 4 hours), Lhasa (2 hours), Kunming (2.5 hours), and other major Chinese cities. 2. Train: Xining is an important railway hub in Qinghai Province. Trains can directly reach Xi'an (4 to 5 hours), Lanzhou (1 to 1.5 hours), Zhangye (1.5 to 2 hours), Dunhuang (6 hours), Beijing/Shanghai (10 hours), Chengdu (7 to 8 hours), Chongqing (8 to 9 hours), and other major Chinese cities.

This morning, you will depart from Xining and drive about 145 km (about 2.5-3 hours) to visit Qinghai Lake. [Qinghai Lake] (altitude about 3,194 meters) is China's largest inland saltwater lake, like a brilliant pearl inlaid on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It was rated by Chinese National Geography as "the first of China's five most beautiful lakes" and selected for the "55 Places You Must Visit in Your Lifetime" list. Its deep and boundless blue water is surrounded by large stretches of golden rapeseed flowers and continuous green grasslands, dotted with colorful prayer flags and leisurely grazing cattle and sheep. This is the rich and colorful beauty unique to Qinghai Lake, where water and sky merge into one color. (PS: The best viewing period for Qinghai Lake rapeseed flowers and grasslands: July to August.) After arriving at Qinghai Lake, you will visit Erlangjian Scenic Area, one of the famous attractions of Qinghai Lake. Here, you can feel the rippling blue waves of Qinghai Lake up close, enjoy the natural beauty of the lake and sky merging into one color, and also immersively explore rich cultural heritage such as Tibetan cultural symbols and the legend of the Queen Mother of the West. When the weather is clear, you may also have the chance to gaze at snow-capped mountains in the distance. Optional activities at your own expense: If you want to fully enjoy the breathtaking natural scenery of Qinghai Lake, you can choose to take a boat and comfortably tour Qinghai Lake. Options include: high-speed boat (about 20 minutes one way, 140 yuan/person) or luxury cruise (about 50 minutes round trip, 180 yuan/person). In addition, you can also ride a horse or cycle around the lake. After visiting Erlangjian Scenic Area, continue westward along the picturesque shores of Qinghai Lake to Chaka Town (altitude about 3,100 meters), known for its stunning Chaka Salt Lake. The total distance is about 153 km and takes about 2.5 hours. Tonight you will stay in Chaka Town to rest.

After breakfast, you will take a car about 4 kilometers from Chaka Town (about 10 minutes) to visit Chaka Salt Lake Scenic Area. Chaka Salt Lake is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese salt culture, and its salt industry history can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty. The entire salt lake is set amid snow-capped peaks and green meadows. It is a saltwater lake where water and salt blend perfectly, beautiful in all four seasons. In summer, blue waves ripple; in winter, it is desolate and magnificent. The lake surface is as clear as a mirror, reflecting blue sky, white clouds, and snow mountains, and it enjoys the reputation of "China's Mirror of the Sky." You can climb the viewing platform to overlook the panorama of Chaka Salt Lake. If interested, take some time to explore the world's largest outdoor salt sculpture art group, the salt sculptures, to learn about Chaka's history and culture; or leisurely stroll in the salt lake above the clouds and fully experience the wonder of "water reflecting the sky, sky connecting the earth, people walking in the lake as if traveling in a painting." If you want a more immersive experience, you can also take the retro mini train and go deep along the tracks into the heart of the lake, placing yourself in a world of salt. After sightseeing, you can leisurely walk back to the entrance, which takes about 40 minutes. If you do not want to walk, you can take the train back (additional fee required). Along the way, you can go to the Qianyingshixue viewing platform to admire the reflection of the salt lake and snow mountains, and you can also stop for photos at Tianlu Yingchen Station and Tianji Xinyue Station to capture iconic scenes such as "I Love Chaka" and "Heart Crystal." Practical Travel Tips 1. To experience the charm of the salt lake up close, you can wear shoe covers (additional 10 yuan) and walk on the lake surface, as if walking in a dream above the sky. 2. Taking the sightseeing train allows you to enjoy the stunning reflection scenery of the "Mirror of the Sky" on the lake surface, and along the way you can photograph the scene of "railway tracks leading to the sky." 3. Every corner of Chaka Salt Lake is suitable for photos, such as Romantic Patio, Qianyingshixue, the water mini train, and the area around the salt sculptures and other popular spots. 4. If you want to photograph the magnificent sunrise/sunset of Chaka Salt Lake, you can go to places such as Qianyingshixue viewing platform, Tianjing Bishui Station, Romantic Tianjing Station, and Tianji Xinyue Station. After visiting Chaka Salt Lake, you will take a car about 300 kilometers back to Xining, with a journey of about 3.5 to 4 hours. At this point, this wonderful and unforgettable 3-day classic Qinghai tour is about to end. Our driver will escort you to the airport/train station for your next destination.