Details
Arrival in Xining – Hotel Check-in
Today is the assembly day. All tour participants arrive in Xining, known as the “Eastern Gateway to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,” from various parts of the country. If you arrive early, you can explore the city. Recommended spots include Dongguan Mosque and Xining Museum. In the evening, visit the historic Mo Jia Street in Xining’s Old Town, which has over 600 years of cultural history, to try local specialties such as Qinghai-style stuffed cold noodles, stir-fried cold noodles, yogurt, fried cakes, hand-pulled noodles, dumplings, and lamb skewers.
Notes:
-
Hotel accommodation on the assembly day and 24-hour airport/train station pickup are complimentary services and are non-refundable.
-
The assembly day is free time and not part of the official itinerary. Please ensure your personal safety; travel insurance does not cover the assembly day.
-
Check-in at the hotel is generally after 2:00 PM. If your room is not ready upon early arrival, you may leave your luggage at the front desk and explore the city nearby.
-
Participants who have not paid the final balance or signed the contract may do so at the company before departure or on the bus. Payments on the bus must be made via bank transfer; card payments are not accepted.
-
The tour guide or driver will inform participants of the next day’s departure time before 9:00 PM. If you do not receive notice by then, please contact customer service. It is recommended to buy any travel necessities such as snacks, drinks, or medicines after checking in.
Meals: Not Included
Accommodation: Yaxin Hotel / Rongxi Hotel / Meijin Garden Hotel / Xirui Hotel / Sunshine Holiday Hotel or similar
Xining – Riyue Mountain – Daotang River – Qinghai Lake – Xiangpi Mountain – Chaka
Depart early for sightseeing. On the way, pass the Huangyuan Grand Canyon, known as the “Throat of the Sea,” where stone inscriptions left by historical figures and literati are found, blending history, culture, and nature. Visit Riyue Mountain, where Princess Wencheng stayed during her journey to Tibet; the site is also the watershed between western monsoon-influenced farmlands and pastoral areas. See the Daotang River, famously flowing west while most rivers in China flow east. Continue to Qinghai Lake, known in Tibetan as “Cuo Wenbu” (Blue Sea), surrounded by mountains and grasslands, with crystal-clear waters and blooming flowers in summer. Pass Xiangpi Mountain, a steep and winding mountain, offering views of alpine pastures and grazing sheep before arriving at Chaka for overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch and dinner own arrangements
Accommodation: Interstellar Hotel / Haifeng Hotel / Plateau Blue Holiday Hotel / Solongge Hotel / Tianxin Hotel or similar
Chaka Salt Lake – Emerald Lake – Dachaidan
Visit the “Mirror of the Sky,” Chaka Salt Lake (free for Zhejiang ID holders). Nestled at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains, snow-capped peaks reflect on the lake surface on clear days, creating a perfect mirrored landscape. The salt lake has been named one of the “55 places to visit in a lifetime” by National Geographic. Take photos among the vivid salt formations and explore the mysterious lakebed. In the evening, visit Emerald Lake, a new scenic spot featuring turquoise, amber, and milky white water under the blue sky, ideal for photography enthusiasts. Arrive at Dachaidan for overnight. (Note: Triple rooms are rare in Dachaidan.)
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch and dinner own arrangements
Accommodation: Lihu Yazi Hotel / Beyond Hotel / Baike Hotel / Chengyue Sunshine Hotel / Liming Holiday Hotel or similar
Dachaidan – Heidushan – Aksai Oil Town – Dunhuang
Depart Dachaidan along China’s “Western No. 1 Highway,” known for its straight, endless road. Pass Heidushan, a small and remote black mountain resembling the moon, then Aksai Oil Town, famous as the filming location of the movie “The Ninth Layer of Demons”. Finally, arrive in Dunhuang for overnight.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch and dinner own arrangements
Accommodation: Jinxuan Hotel / Dunhuang Holiday Hotel / Guangyuan Hotel / Xiyu Post Hotel / Yuedun Hotel or similar
Dunhuang – Mogao Caves – Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake – Dunhuang
Visit Mogao Caves (ticket not included; must reserve via official platform). Known as the “Caves of a Thousand Buddhas,” the site contains 735 caves, 45,000 sq.m of murals, and 2,415 clay sculptures. Explore the caves with a guide to appreciate Buddhist art spanning multiple dynasties. Next, visit Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, famous desert wonders. The lake remains unblocked by sand even in strong winds, with reeds and aquatic plants on its banks. Enjoy the desert sunset at Mingsha Mountain and visit Shazhou Night Market in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch and dinner own arrangements
Accommodation: Jinxuan Hotel / Dunhuang Holiday Hotel / Guangyuan Hotel / Xiyu Post Hotel / Yuedun Hotel or similar
Dunhuang – Jiayuguan Fortress – Zhangye – Rainbow Mountains
After breakfast, head to Jiayuguan Fortress, known as the “First and Greatest Pass under Heaven” (entrance ticket optional). The fortress has five parts: inner city, outer city, reservoir city, watchtower, and moat, and historically served as the westernmost end of the Great Wall. Next, visit Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains), famous for its colorful rock formations. The mountains display layers of red, yellow, white, and green, resembling a painted fabric under sunlight. Stay overnight in Zhangye.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch and dinner own arrangements
Accommodation: Kaiyi Hotel / Shenghua Culture International Hotel / Mingzhou Hotel / Xiyu Hotel / Danxia Rainbow Bay Hotel or similar
Zhangye – Qilian Grassland – Menyuan – Xining
Drive through Qilian Grassland, one of China’s six major grasslands. See grazing sheep, flowers, and snow-capped peaks of Gangshika Snow Mountain, forming a natural masterpiece alongside fields of rapeseed flowers in July. Return to Xining via the Osaka Mountain Tunnel and Heiquan Reservoir, the city’s drinking water source, concluding the highland journey.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch and dinner own arrangements
Accommodation: Return journey
Dates & Prices
| Month | Date | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec | 2025-12 | $ 1150 | Book now |
| Jan | 2026-01 | $ 1150 | Book now |
| Feb | 2026-02 | $ 1150 | Book now |
| Mar | 2026-03 | $ 1250 | Book now |
You are consulting 2025-04-12 7-Day Tour of Northwest China (Qinghai and Gansu)
Fee Description
Inclusions
-
Transportation: Seats provided for all participants; tolls included.
-
Accommodation: 6 nights as per itinerary (triple rooms limited).
-
Tickets: Entrance to Black Horse River in Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, Emerald Lake, Oil Town, Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake, Zhangye Danxia (excluding shuttle vehicles and guided tours).
-
Insurance: Travel agency liability insurance + complimentary accident insurance.
-
Itinerary adjustments permitted without reducing sightseeing.
-
Discounted tickets for eligible ID holders will be refunded accordingly.
Sample Hotels:
-
Xining: Yaxin Hotel / Rongxi Hotel / Meijin Garden Hotel / Xirui Hotel / Sunshine Holiday Hotel or similar
-
Chaka: Interstellar Hotel / Haifeng Hotel / Plateau Blue Holiday Hotel / Solongge Hotel / Tianxin Hotel or similar
-
Dachaidan: Lihu Yazi Hotel / Beyond Hotel / Baike Hotel / Chengyue Sunshine Hotel / Liming Holiday Hotel or similar
-
Dunhuang: Jinxuan Hotel / Dunhuang Holiday Hotel / Guangyuan Hotel / Xiyu Post Hotel / Yuedun Hotel or similar
-
Zhangye: Kaiyi Hotel / Shenghua Culture International Hotel / Mingzhou Hotel / Xiyu Hotel / Danxia Rainbow Bay Hotel or similar
Exclusions
-
Meals (self-arranged or group AA).
-
Single-room supplement.
-
Children: includes transportation, insurance, driver tips, and organization costs; tickets and accommodation not included.
-
Local small transportation fees and optional sightseeing extras (Daotang River 40 CNY/person, Riyue Mountain 50 CNY/person, Chaka small train 50 CNY/person, Emerald Lake 40 CNY/person, Mogao Caves 238/100 CNY, Jiayuguan 110 CNY, Zhangye sightseeing bus 40 CNY, Qinghai Lake boat/electric car optional).
-
Expenses due to unforeseen circumstances (traffic, weather, strikes, flight delays, force majeure).
-
Personal expenses (laundry, phone, drinks, etc.).
-
Optional activities not included above.
Travel Tips
-
Essentials: Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, umbrella. UV rays in Qinghai are strong. Weather may change rapidly.
-
Bring extra clothing: Thin jackets for high altitude, warm clothing for sunrises.
-
Altitudes: Xining ~2,200 m, Qinghai Lake ~3,100 m, Xiangpi Mountain 3,817 m. Mild altitude effects possible; bring painkillers or cold medicine if needed.
-
Stock up on water, snacks, batteries, and medicine before heading to remote areas.
-
Maintain a balanced diet; Qinghai is dry. Limit excessive lamb consumption; consider bringing vitamins (especially vitamin C).
-
Drink alcohol moderately; Tibetan barley wine is potent.
-
Local butter tea may upset the stomach; leave at least 2/3 of the cup to respect customs.
-
Travel time is estimated without traffic; sightseeing order may be adjusted.
-
Natural disasters or force majeure may cause itinerary changes; extra costs are borne by participants.
-
Present student, senior, military, or journalist IDs before ticket purchase for discounts.
-
Respect local customs, protect environment and cultural heritage, and maintain courteous behavior.
