Eling Lake, A Serene High-Altitude Lake of Changing Hues

Maduo County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province

A large expanse of lake water is glittering under the blue sky

Introduction

Eling Lake, also known as Elinghai or Baihai in ancient times, and as Cuoe Lang in Tibetan, is a large freshwater lake located in the western part of Maduo County, Qinghai Province, China. It is located in the upstream of the Yellow River and is known as the "sister lake" of Zhaling Lake. Eling Lake is approximately 32.3 kilometers long and 31.6 kilometers wide, with a surface area of 610 square kilometers, an average depth of 17.6 meters, and a maximum depth of 30.7 meters. It has a water storage capacity of 10.7 billion cubic meters and an altitude of 4,272 meters above sea level. The lake resembles a golden bell in shape. The Yellow River runs through the two lakes, forming a canyon about 300 meters long, and to the east of the canyon is a vast wetland. The lake water is blue-green and is rich in cold-water, scaleless fish. The small islands in the center of the lake are home to a large number of migratory birds, forming another bird island on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The surrounding area is characterized by subalpine meadows, making it an important grazing ground in Qinghai.

Address

Maduo County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province

Opening hours

08:00-17:00 (all day)
Last admission time: 17:00 (Monday-Sunday, January 1-December 31)