Summer, best season for self-driving in Qinghai

Lying mostly on the Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai has an average elevation of over 3,000 meters above sea level. Thanks to its unique geographic location, the weather in Qinghai during summer is much cooler and more comfortable than other parts of China which are hot and muggy.

Blessed with splendid scenery, vast areas and well-developed road systems, Qinghai attracts many tourists to take self-driving trips around the province.

In recent years, the number of self-driving trips in Qinghai has seen a steady growth of over 100,000 every year, and the annual number has now exceeded 1.5 million.

Moreover, Qinghai province has devoted great efforts in tourism infrastructure construction at self-driving camps, such as building public toilets, road signs and filling stations. Services such as bike rentals, accommodation, dining and entertainment are also available at the camps. Qinghai now offers 50 self-driving camps and 10 distinctive self-driving routes.

Here are three recommended routes.

Route 1

Xining - Riyue Mountain - Backflow River – Qinghai Lake - Jinyintan Pasture - Atomic City – Xining - Ta'er Monastery - Kanbula National Forest Park – Tongren county – Xunhua county - Mengda Tianchi Lake – Xining

This route, covering about 700 kilometers, is suitable for a two-day trip. Three of the most famous tourist attractions – Jinyintan Pasture, Qinghai Lake and Ta'er Monastery – are on this route, allowing visitors to get a close look at the beauties of nature and local religious culture.

Route 2

Xining - Ta'er Monastery – Qinghai Lake – Qilian county – Menyuan county - Huzhu county – Xining

This route is about 870 km long and is can be finished in about four days. The picturesque grassland at the foot of Qilian Mountain is a must-see attraction with its clear skies and herds of cattle and sheep.

Route 3

Xining - Qinghai Lake – Guide county – Dawu town – Animaqin Snow Mountain - Nianbaoyuze Mountain Scenic Resort – Jiuzhi county – Dawu town – Tongren county - Lijia Gorge Hydropower Station – Xining

Route 3 can be finished in about 12 days as it covers an overall length of 3,000 km. Twelve days may sound too long for a self-driving trip but you will encounter beautiful scenery all the way along this trip. Animaqin Snow Mountain is the largest and longest glacier in the Yellow River basin.