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Sunset over Qinghai Lake in Qinghai province, China. Photo by: Daniel Eriksson- Wikimedia.

10 Interesting Facts about the Qinghai Lake

Travel guides and recommendations for Qinghai Lake can be found below. If you want to learn more about visiting Qinghai Lake, check them out!

The largest lake in China is Qinghai Lake or Ch’inghai Lake, also known as Lake Koko Nor (the size of Rhode Island or three Greater Londons). This massive alkaline salt lake, located in the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau, is frequently ranked first on lists of the “Most Beautiful Lakes in China.”

Qinghai Lake, historically known as Koko Nor or Kuku Nor, is the largest saline lake and inland lake in China. It is located in Gangcha County, Xining City, Qinghai Province. In Standard Mandarin and Mongolian, the names Qinghai and Kokonor both mean “Blue/Teal Sea.”

Qinghai Lake is fed by twenty-three rivers and streams, the majority of which are seasonal. Eighty percent of total influx is provided by five permanent channels.

1. For Tibetan Buddhist Pilgrims, it is a Sacred Lake

For Tibetans and Tibetan Buddhists, four sacred lakes exist: Lake Manasarovar, Yamdrok Lake, Namtso Lake, and Qinghai Lake (the first three are all located in Tibet).

According to Tibetan folklore, pilgrims should walk around the lake in the Year of the Goat, the mountains in the Year of the Horse, and the forest in the Year of the Monkey. Some believe it is a Buddhist decree.

Traveling to Qinghai Lake allows you to interact with devoted Tibetans and learn about Tibetan culture.

2. Seasonal scenery of note

Qinghai Lake, 青海湖. Photo by: Sergio Tittarini – Wikimedia.

Qinghai Lake’s scenery changes dramatically with the seasons.

The surrounding mountains and wetlands turn a vibrant green in the spring, with scattered colorful flowers and white snow. You can stay beside Qinghai Lake, watch the ice melt, and welcome thousands of visitors from far away — migratory birds. Discover nature awakening.

Tens of thousands of hectares of rape flowers spread out from Qinghai Lake’s shores in summer and autumn, adorning the lake.

In the winter, snow and ice cover the lake’s surface, making it quiet. It’s a good time to slow down, immerse yourself in the cold world, and enjoy the peaceful plateau scenery.

3. Culture of ethnic minorities

The small population and ethnic mix of Qinghai Lake contribute to its allure.

Apart from Tibet, Qinghai Province is little known to tourists and has the smallest and sparsest population in China. Despite being the country’s fourth largest province, it has a population of only about 7 million people.

When the weather is nice in the summer, Tibetans and Muslims hold ethnic festivals. There are still many minority tribes and herdsman families living alongside the Lake today. There is a strong nomadic ethnic culture there.

4. The different landscapes

Kokonor, Qinghai-See. Photo by: Andreas Gruschke (Freiburg)- Wikimedia.

Qinghai Lake has an incredible variety of landscapes, including wetlands, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, and deserts!

The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and is surrounded by vast grasslands, wetlands, and some desert. There are various shaped islands in the lake, such as Three Stones, Bird Island, and so on.

Come to Qinghai Lake to enjoy several landscapes in one stop as well as a variety of cultures and activities.

5. Cycling tourist attraction

The lake is central to the popular Tour of Qinghai Lake professional bicycle racing event, which takes place every July during the Tour de France. As a result, it is already a popular biking destination in China.

The high altitude, which begins around 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) lakeside, makes biking around it difficult. The rewards of seeing beautiful scenery that sweeps outwards and soars upwards, as well as witnessing the local cultural mix, make the effort worthwhile for many people.

6. A Migratory birds’ heaven

Qinghai Lake wetland, one of the world’s seven largest wetlands, was designated an internationally important wetland in 1992.

It is a natural reserve with wetlands and wild animals. Qinghai Lake is a natural habitat for native birds as well as a migratory bird haven. Every year in late October, Qinghai Lake experiences a peak in migratory bird activity, with over 100,000 migratory birds congregating there.

You can get a closer look at nature, watch the birds, and learn a lot about animals and plants there.

7. Erlangjian scenic area

Kokonor, Qinghai-See. Photo by: Andreas Gruschke (Freiburg)- Wikimedia.

Erlangjian Scenic Area has the best infrastructure and is located on the southern shore of Qinghai Lake. It houses a shopping mall, restaurants, and hotels. You can get a great view of Qinghai Lake and go on a yacht tour there.

Qinghai Lake’s southeast shore, 110 kilometers west of Xining Gonghe County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, 209 National Road. Boat rides start from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

8. Sand Island

A section of desert has grown along the northeast shore of Qinghai Lake due to geological and climatic factors. The view of the lake and the vast sea of sand dunes is magnificent.

Sand Island attracts a huge number of tourists as the major tourism site for viewing desert landscapes. The vast stretches of sand dunes on one side, and the blue and endless Qinghai Lake on the other.

You can explore the area on an off-road motorcycle and try sand boarding.

9. Island of the birds (closed currently: Sep. 2020)

More than 10,000 migratory birds from all over Asia call Bird Island in Qinghai Lake home.

Every year, beginning in April, the birds flock to the island in large numbers. The months of May to July are ideal for bird watching.

The moving sight of a large flock of bar-headed geese flying south can be seen in September, while the best time to see whooper swans is from November to February.

10. Fairy Bay: 仙女湾

It’s nice scenery of western China. Photo by: 78223291- Wikimedia.

Fairy Bay Scenic Spot, located on the north bank of Qinghai Lake, is an important wetland and a traditional Tibetan sanctuary. There are many different types of animals and plants here, and the wetland landscape is unique, especially the land of dozens of migrating birds. It is the swan’s habitat.