Xining Travel Guide

Xining city, is the capital of Qinghai province. It's also the largest city of the prefecture. Now Xining acts one of the most important gateways to the Tibetan Plateau. It is an ancient highland city on the Yellow River which offers many scenic spots and historical interest. Although the city itself has a strong Islamic flavor, as it is home to many Hui people, you will start getting a more Tibetan feel as you move away from the city.

Major Attractions

Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum)

Located in Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province, 25 kilometers (about 16 miles) away from the capital city of Qinghai Province - Xining. In order to commemorate Tsong Khapa (1357-1419), founder of the Yellow Hat Sect, the Ta'er Monastery was built in 1577 more than 150 years after his death. Now the Ta'er Monastery is considered a sacred place in China.

In the Tibetan language, Ta'er Monastery is called 'gongben', which means '10,000 figures of Buddha'. During its long 400 years of history, it has gradually become a place of interest for its distinct ethnic color and native style. Among so many buildings, the Great Hall of the Golden Roof and the Great Hall of Meditation are the main parts. As the center core building, the Great Hall of the Golden Roof is in the middle of the monastery. Its colorful gates, which are different in length, are carved into various flower patterns and painted with multifarious fresh colors. The surfaces of the walls are covered with green ceramic tiles and embedded with countless pearls, agates, and gems, making the whole hall sparkle.

The Ta'er Monastery is rich in fascinating arts. The famous butter sculptures, the barbolas, and the murals are considered to be the three most unique arts of superb craftsmanship.

Dongguan Mosque

Situated in Dongguan Street, Xining City, Dongguan Mosque is the biggest mosque in Qinghai Province. It was built in 1380, and now boasts a history of more than 600 years. The Mosque is not only famous for its magnificent architecture but also as a religious education center and as the highest learning institution of Islam.

Dongguan Mosque is built on a grand scale. Its style combines both Chinese traditional architectural art and Islamic architectural features. When traveling to the Mosque, the first thing you can see is the elegant arched door on which is written 'Dongguan Mosque'. On either side of the front door stands the Xuanli Lou (Xuanli Pavilion). The Xuanli Lou is special as the place where the Imams invite people to pray. It is 8 meters (some 26 feet) high, and consists of three floors which are hexagonal in shape.

Since the Mosque was built, it has become an important place of worship and assembly for Muslims. When Islam's important festivals come round, tens of thousands of the Prophet's followers from every quarter come to participate in ceremonies and religious activities. On such occasions, the Mosque wears a festival mood.

Qinghai Lake (Koko Nor)

The largest inland and salt water lake in China. It is no exaggeration to say that Qinghai Lake is a miracle that is endowed by a deity. It lies northwest of the imposing Qinghai Altiplano, 150 km (93.21 miles) away from Xining in Qinghai Province.

The lake offers year-round pleasure. Many prefer when it is a green and lively world. The mountains and grassland wear a green blanket with herds of cattle and sheep dispersed over the grassland. The bank is connected with stretching farmlands, which is prospering with blooming rape flowers and rolling with wheat waves, sending blasts of fragrance to the lake.

The water of the lake is also very limpid, which reflects the pretty green mountains in the deep like a mirror. The color changes with time and varies in different depth of the lake, which produces a sense of mystery, hence the name 'Seven-Colored Lake'. As a result of the teeming fish on the lake, the mouth of the nearby river has a yellow color to it as the fish float close to the surface. Many birds are also attracted to this beautiful lake and bountiful surroundings, resulting in this place being a kingdom for birds' watchers.

Apart from embracing the heavenly beauty here, you can either stroll on the grass or ride on a yak, climb the sand hill or visiting the historic remains left on the Tang-Tubo ancient road or the Silk Road. If you are more sociable, the hospitable local people will warmly welcome you as you visit their homes and enjoy a taste of the Tibetan life. In addition, tents and various delicious foods are provided for the tourists in the pastures.

Birds Island

The kingdom of birds, which can amount to more than 10 thousand in the summer. When the spring and summer come, many birds fly from faraway mountains and deserts to breed here. In the noisiest months of April and May, their numbers can amount to ten thousand, 80% to 90% of which stop on the Haixi Shan and lay eggs With the enticing natural scenery and so many beautiful wildfowl, Bird Island has been a must for many tourists traveling in Qinghai.

The island has been listed as a national natural reserve mainly for the protection of birds here, but also provides an excellent place for the travelers and birdwatchers to visit. there. With eggs interspersed all over the island, Haixi Shan is also called 'Egg Island'.

How to Get in?

By plane

Flights at Xining Caojiabao Airport are available to some major cities such as Chengdu (1.5 hrs), Urumqi (2.5 hrs), Shenzhen (4.5 hrs), Guangzhou (4 hrs), Xi'an(1 hrs), Beijing (2 hrs), Shanghai (4.5hrs), Chongqing (1.5hrs) and Kunming (3.5 hrs). The airport is 15km south from Xining City.

By train

Xining Railway Station is located at Jianguo Road, Chengdong District, Xining City. 216km from Lanzhou Station and 814km from Golmud Station. Xining Station sits at the altitude of 2, 300m while Lhasa Station is 3, 680m. It's 14-16hrs to Golmud, 3-5hrs to Lanzhou and 26hrs to Lhasa. All the passengers taking the trains to Lhasa except Beijing would stop at Xining to be transferred to another special train to Lhasa.

Best Time to Come

The best time to come is summer, i.e. from May to September.

Attributed to the high altitude, very similar to Tibet, the region is encircled in low air pressure weather systems and as such receives high-levels of ultra-violet radiation, so it is important to be prepared with a high factor sun block to defend against sun burn.

Another typical climate feature like Tibet is that the temperature fluctuates widely between day and night. Therefore, several warm garments are also a necessity in your trip.

---