Xining has a flat terrain with clearly defined main roads, making self-driving relatively easy. For city tours, you can choose Qinghai Provincial Museum as a starting point. This is the first modern comprehensive museum in Qinghai, featuring Neolithic painted pottery and ethnic and religious artifacts. It houses national first-class cultural relics such as the gilded bronze statue of Guanyin and the painted pottery basin with dance patterns, which are worth appreciating in detail to get a taste of Qinghai's folk customs.
Xining Dongguan Mosque
It takes 12 minutes by car from Qinghai Provincial Museum to Dongguan Mosque, heading west along Xiguan Street. It is one of the major centers of Islam in China, and is known as one of the four major mosques in Northwest China along with Qiaomen Mosque in Lanzhou, Huajue Mosque in Xi'an, and Id Kah Mosque in Xinjiang. The pavilions, minarets, and the main hall's dome at the entrance of the mosque blend traditional Chinese and Islamic architectural features. This unique style is unparalleled both domestically and globally, making it a sight to behold.
Dabanshan Viewing Platform
Dabanshan is a major transportation route from Qinghai to Gansu. Although it is not considered towering among the many high mountains of the Qinghai Plateau, the expansive scenery of the river valleys on both sides of the mountain top makes it highly sought after. From here, you can gaze at the endlessly extending verdant mountain views and the boundless blue sky, admire the rapeseed flower fields of Menyuan Flower Sea, and in autumn and winter, enjoy the snow-covered, continuous mountain scenery. Different seasons present distinct landscapes.
"After crossing Daban Mountain, continue north along the Xizhang Line for 40 minutes to reach Menyuan Sea of Flowers. The sea of flowers is filled with a total of 500,000 acres of rapeseed flowers. During the blooming season, the golden flowers stretch to the distant mountains, blending with the mountains and blue sky, making it an excellent spot for photography." The Menyuan Valley, where the sea of flowers is located, is a 'golden basin' surrounded by the Qilian Mountains and Daban Mountain. Like two golden silk ribbons, it decorates the boundless highland deep sky.
Xianmi Forest Farm
Xianmi Forest Farm is the largest forest area in Qinghai, featuring vast grasslands and tranquil scenery with rivers running through. The sight of mountains and forests is breathtaking. Prepare food and tents for a camping trip to personally experience the serenity and mystery of the wilderness.
Zhuo'er Mountain Scenic Area
Arriving at Qilian County, you can reach the Zhuo'er Mountain Scenic Area, known as the 'Little Switzerland of the East,' with a 10-minute drive from the county center. The mountain scenery is lush and green, adorned with vast flower seas and grasslands, with the rolling Qilian Mountains in the distance. From the mountainside, you can admire the interlacing layers of red cliffs and green grasslands, presenting a beautiful and magnificent view. After reaching the summit, the forest sea, flower sea, and village outlines on both sides of the peak are distinct, offering an extremely wide field of vision, making it an ideal spot for sketching and photography.
Departing from Zhuo'er Mountain, drive east for 1.5 hours along Provincial Road S302 to reach Qilian Mountain Grassland. Here, you will be greeted with vast expanses of green, leisurely cattle and sheep, reminiscent of the pastoral scenes described in textbooks. If interested, you can also experience the joy of horseback riding on the grassland.
