In June, come to Qinghai to see the "sea"

I came back from Qinghai for a week,

Taking advantage of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday,

Organize the photos that need to be sorted out, the videos that need to be made, and the travel notes that need to be written.

The busy traffic and congestion in the city can easily bring people back to reality.

Therefore, I miss the broad and smooth road in the northwest even more,

The sunset at 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening,

And those lakes that rival the sea...

foreword

2020 broke many people's travel plans,

Also contributed to many unexpected encounters,

Qinghai is like this,

A piece of douyin, a piece of weibo,

It led to a walk-and-go trip.

Route Map & Itinerary

Weather: around 8 degrees -20 degrees, rainy, cloudy, cloudy, sunny we all encountered

Check the weather before you go.

The temperature is quite suitable,

But in order to avoid the rainy day, we changed the itinerary again and again.

In the end, I decided to start a clockwise self-driving tour from Xining.

The local people said: The rain here sometimes stops and stops, sometimes it lasts for a day, it is hard to tell.

So we no longer entangled, resigned, and settled down with the situation.

Did not choose the conventional route with the group,

Facts have proved that the unpopular scenery of the route is better.

6 days itinerary and hotel

Day1: Shanghai - Xining - Kumbum Monastery - Qinghai Lake

Day2: Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake - Delingha

Day3: Delingha - Dachaidan Emerald Lake - Water Yadan

Day4: Water Yardang - Dongtai Jinel Lake - Delingha

Day5: Delingha - Xining

Day6: Xining - Shanghai

Preparation

Day1: Shanghai - Xining - Kumbum Monastery - Qinghai Lake

Because of the early flight, I woke up at 4 o'clock to wash up. I booked the drop-off service on Ctrip and arrived at the airport at 6 o'clock. There are not many people at the airport during the special period.

When you check in your luggage, you must fill out a health declaration at the counter, and there is also a health declaration on the plane seat.

To Qinghai attractions or hotels, you need to scan this local QR code for health declaration

This time, I also experienced the satellite hall of Pudong Airport. I need to take a section of MRT to the terminal building.

Flight departs on time, see you, Shanghai! (I will omit a section of the unpleasant flight here. When I met two people who were not of high quality and clearly knew each other, I had to open a seat to sit. During the period, I had to talk and affect other people’s rest. I was repeatedly reminded by the flight attendant to wear a mask and close the small table. The man who rummages through other people's airline meal bags, the key is not to think that this behavior is problematic, when you are away from home, the world is so big, you can meet any kind of people)

The flight arrived in Xining on time,

Mr. Zhang booked a car with Ctrip in advance.

Although it is a 7-seater,

We use the back row to store our luggage.

A total of three people + three boxes + several backpacks,

Just right, not too big, not too small,

The staff handed over the car and said the precautions for more than half an hour,

Car rental costs are as follows, for reference:

Car rental (including luggage and scratch insurance): 1190 yuan

Fuel fee: about 550 yuan

High-speed toll: about 300 yuan

Kilometers upon delivery: 8623KM,

Kilometers when returning the car: 10598KM,

The 6-day trip drove nearly 2000KM,

Drive 25 kilometers from the airport to the supermarket in the city first,

Purchased some supplies for the road (long drive, need to prepare some dry food: self-heating rice, instant noodles, fruit, mineral water, etc.),

In addition, under the recommendation of the locals, I ate a century-old restaurant: Sansheng Beef Noodles,

recommend! The beef is 90 yuan a catty, it is really delicious, we also took a takeaway to eat at the hotel in the evening,

After a good lunch, we drove directly to Kumbum Monastery,

It takes about 45 minutes from downtown Xining to Kumbum Monastery.

Because of the epidemic, Kumbum Monastery is not open,

But you can still walk around in the open area,

When we came out of Kumbum Monastery, we went directly to Qinghai Lake.

Alternately cloudy and rainy all the way,

Fortunately, the days are long and the nights are short, making it easy to travel here.

It was already past 9:00 pm when we arrived at the hotel.

The room is nice. The window faces the lake.

It's just that the water heater in the room uses electricity.

The three of us take turns taking a shower and it is estimated that it will take midnight,

So after coordinating with the front desk, another room was opened for us to wash.

Give a good service,

Moisturizing depends on the mask,

Supplement physical strength by sleep,

Good night, Qinghai Lake...

Day2: Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake - Delingha

It's already light at 6 o'clock in the morning,

look out the window,

Although the clouds are thick, it is already profitable without rain.

The hotel is built on the grassland, beside the road along the lake.

Opposite the hotel is Qinghai Lake

Pat clap, a herd of sheep came,

Pat pat, a few more horses came,

This excites us who live in the city,

It takes a long time for a car to pass on the empty road,

Driven by the shepherd, the sheep are walking comfortably on the road,

The hotel's breakfast is quite simple,

But it is very warm to drink a bowl of hot soup powder in the cold morning,

Tangy Bean Curry Rolls

The courtyard of the hotel is full of roses

After breakfast, we packed our luggage and fueled the car.

Go to the next point: Chaka Salt Lake,

There are countless herds of cattle and sheep along the way,

May step on the brakes at any time and wait for them to cross the road,

I read a lot of guides before the trip,

The predecessors also reminded to pay more attention to cattle and sheep when driving by car, and give way in time.

Firstly, it is a lovely life, and secondly, it is really necessary to have a touch. I heard that the compensation fee is also very high.

So we always remind each other along the way: Be careful, there are hundreds of thousands ahead :)

I often meet travelers along the way,

Among them are professional cyclists and motorcycle riders.

Everyone travels in the way they like,

Walking on the road of the Great Northwest,

Passing through a small town,

This beef noodle has won from the name,

Admiring the scenery along the way is also a kind of enjoyment

When we arrive at Chaka Salt Lake,

It's already past 11:00 noon,

No tickets will be charged before the end of June, only the sightseeing train fee (50 one-way, 100 round-trip),

It is recommended to take a small train in and out (about 5KM one way)

have to be aware of is:

1. You need to make an appointment online in advance (we don’t have an appointment, and we will book tickets at the on-site staff here)

2. It is necessary to register Qinghai's health code in advance

There are really not many tourists now, and the small trains are not full.

The main salt sculptures passing by along the way

The small train arrives at the terminal

The light is average, the reflection is not as clear as expected

There are shoe covers for rent in the park.

You can also bring your own shoe covers or flip flops,

Getting into the water will be easier,

When we landed,

The feet are covered with white salt,

There is no place to shower in the scenic area.

You have to take a small train to the toilet door at the entrance of the park to wash (the tap water is very cold).

When we are ready to leave the scenic spot,

There are many tourists coming in,

Most of the girls wear red dresses,

After coming out, I found a restaurant on DZDP,

Yak Yogurt

Big Pan Chicken

Quinoa porridge (this bowl of porridge is really expensive, 88 yuan a bowl, sweet, you can also order half a bowl)

Qinghai Three Burns (Beef Balls, Lamb Tendon, Potatoes)

Radish Salad

Have a good meal and continue on your way.

Next stop: Delingha

It was almost 8:00 pm when we got to the hotel.

This three-person room is really big...

Spread out a table of snacks (this is only part of Zhang Zong's belt),

Eating melons bought on the road,

Take a good rest to replenish your strength,

Good night, Delingha...

Day3: Delingha - Dachaidan Emerald Lake - Water Yadan

This trip, we are not looking at the lake,

Just on the way to see the lake haha,

After breakfast at the hotel, I can’t wait to set off on my way

ps: The supply of eggs in the hotel here is limited, and each person can only take one. There are not many kinds of vegetables, and the one that looks like soy sauce is black rice porridge.

the weather is nice today,

The sky is blue and cloudless,

It's so hilarious,

I really like looking at the mountains in the northwest,

Handsome and imposing,

Angular and endless,

mountains, roads and blue skies,

It is a landscape,

There is snow on the mountaintops in the distance,

As if winter never left,

The farther west you go, the landforms begin to change slowly.

From the vast grasslands of Qinghai Lake,

It has become a mountain and Yardang landform with few plants,

There are very few cars on this road.

Sometimes it takes tens of minutes to meet one,

Luckily our threesome didn't seem so lonely,

Although there are few cars, you should pay attention to safety when getting off the car to take pictures.

In addition to photographers and models,

Another security officer always looks left and right to see if there are passing vehicles,

Open all the way chatting all the way laughing and laughing all the way,

It was past 11 noon when we arrived at Dachaidan Emerald Lake.

Before entering the scenic spot, you will pass a section of gravel road (about 15 minutes by car, and the car with the low ground will drive about 20 yards),

Bumping all the way,

The scenic spot is still under construction, so our vehicles can drive in,

Self-driving cars are used as vehicles in scenic spots. It is really convenient to drive directly to where you want to go.

It is only during this time that you can enjoy this kind of treatment.

The beauty of the Emerald Lake for the first time really shocked us,

Blue, green, under the sunlight, the water surface is sparkling, like a fairyland,

Omit the text here and directly look at the picture.

Even photos cannot restore her beauty 100%,

crystal clear salt block

The tourists I met recommended one point and said it was beautiful.

But to ford the river,

Unexpectedly, the sand and gravel along the coast are quite soft,

It's almost knee-deep.

After all, it is a scenic spot under construction, everyone should pay attention to safety when going there,

The scenes taken by Hua Xiang and Mr. Zhang after they entered were also of great value.

The beauty of Emerald Lake is atmospheric and pure,

Against the background of blue sky and mountains,

Lament the uncanny workmanship of nature,

And the vicissitudes of history...

Goodbye, Emerald Lake, hope to see you again.

Don't pass the Emerald Lake, we drove to Yadan on the water,

In the evening, I booked a caravan in the scenic spot.

I planned to shoot the stars at night,

Before entering the park, you must buy a ticket for 120 yuan.

It was around 5pm when we arrived.

Go back to your room to pack your luggage after checkin is done.

Self-driving cars can be parked next to your RV.

The first time to experience a motorhome,

Two single beds + one bunk bed, can sleep 4 people,

It's still early, we had dinner first,

It is the self-heating hot pot and self-heating rice bought in downtown Xining on the first day,

Have a good dinner and take a walk to watch the sunset,

No matter where the sunset is always in a hurry,

Soon it was dark,

Clouds cover the sky too,

silhouette at sunset,

The setting sun of Yardang on the water,

Looking at the stars at night is missing,

Go back to the room and eat melons,

Life should have a sense of ritual,

Dried up this super sweet cantaloupe!

Good night, Water Yadan...

Day4: Water Yardang - Dongtai Jinel Lake - Delingha

In the morning, go to the hotel to have breakfast (eggs are also limited supply),

After breakfast, the first scenic sightseeing bus has already left.

The sky is gloomy, it looks like it will rain anytime,

During the 15 minutes waiting for the departure,

The driver brother reminded us that the lake is colder and wear more clothes.

As he talked, he also wanted to go back and put on a military coat...

I was so scared that I was already wearing a jacket, and I went back to my room and put on another one.

It turns out that

It's really cold in Yadan on the water in the morning.

The convertible landscape car was also cooled by the wind, haha,

Fully armed, the masks at the moment are used to keep warm,

It takes about 15 minutes to drive to the terminal.

The magical water Yardang landform,

Admire the wonders of nature,

Just got on the landscape car to return,

it started to rain,

We went back to our room to pack our luggage and check out.

Go to Dongtai Jinel Lake,

It is about 30 minutes by car from Shuishang Yadan, very close,

Dongtai Jinel Lake is also a scenic spot under construction.

There is only a parking fee of 30 yuan per car.

You need to wear shoe covers to enter here.

It is also to protect the scenic spot because the ground is covered with white salt flats,

Here is called the Maldives of Qinghai,

No need for filters, the original image restores the real beauty,

The wind on the lake is also very strong,

Although it is not raining, the clouds are thick.

This is how dedicated photographers work...

Every time I encounter beautiful scenery,

I always want to stop and appreciate and taste,

But always walking in a hurry, contrary to expectations,

I always feel that human beings should return the pure land of nature,

But yearning for a new landmark that has not lost its aura due to frequent check-in,

Nice to meet you, Jinel Lake, Dongtai...

We drove back to Delingha,

Checked the Internet celebrity U-shaped highway,

Near the G315 national road sign 780-781KM,

Here I met a group of travelers who spontaneously formed a group and also checked in.

The enthusiastic little brother also helped us get the parts under the car,

Sometimes the passers-by you meet will also become a good memory of your trip, thank you.

Various road stickers

The sky and it's magical,

It's cloudy here, cloudy there, very interesting,

After checking in, continue on your way

It was almost 7 o'clock in the evening when we arrived in Delingha.

First went to the beef noodle restaurant next to the hotel for dinner,

Shaved noodles

cold beef

Steamed Lamb

Interestingly, the hotel is on Manya Road,

We didn't have time to arrange to go to Mangya,

But I live on Mangya Road haha,

Have a good dinner and go back to the hotel

Bought water and hand cream in a small supermarket nearby

Remember to bring hydrating and anti-crack supplies when traveling in the northwest!

Look at hands before vaseline,

Almost ten years older,

It took one night to get back to its original smoothness haha

Save dessert after dinner - cantaloupe,

During this trip, we became melon eaters all the way,

Good night, Delingha...

Day5: Delingha - Xining

The hotel's breakfast is relatively rich,

The key is that the eggs are finally unlimited.

We drove from Delingha to Qinghai Lake Erlang Jianhe Scenic Area,

But it's raining lightly,

When we arrive at the scenic spot, the sky lake is the same color,

There was nothing to see, so we drove back to Xining directly.

On the way, the car suddenly gave a warning that the tire pressure was unstable.

I got out of the car and checked that there should be no nails.

I went to the auto repair department in a nearby town to cheer up.

It's really raining all the way.

Arrived in Xining and still going down,

I also encountered the only traffic jam on this trip.

nearly 20 minutes,

Hotel check-in in the urban area is indeed very standardized.

Temperature measurement, health code, mobile phone positioning itinerary, and signing a letter of commitment,

Put your luggage away and go straight to find food,

I found this one on DZDP,

It is also close to the hotel,

Maybe it's raining,

We didn't experience the long queues that the reviews said online,

Yak Yogurt

Milk Egg Fermented Glutinous Rice

There are milk, eggs, sesame, red dates, peanuts and other dried fruits

stuffed skin

Lettuce (the first time I ate green leafy vegetables these days, I was so touched)

rack of lamb

Kang Beef Tripe Pot

beef is big

Baked Potato Chips

Use fermented glutinous rice instead of wine, cheers

ps: The bean cakes bought in the store opposite are also delicious, and I bought a few to bring back

It was still raining after dinner,

I have nowhere to go,

I bought some local specialties with my friends,

Day6: Xining - Shanghai

I originally wanted to check in at the Qinghai Museum,

Who knows that during the epidemic period, the renovation has not yet opened,

I had no choice but to give up.

Had the most sumptuous breakfast of this trip at the hotel,

Flights after 3:00 pm,

Have a good breakfast and go back to the room to pack your luggage.

After checking out, go directly to Sansheng Beef Noodle Restaurant to buy beef.

By the way, we settled for lunch there,

It's good to go early,

The front desk is all personal,

The beef is almost finished as soon as it comes out of the pan.

Good car at the airport,

Unexpectedly, the flight was delayed from 3 o'clock to 5 o'clock before taking off.

It suddenly occurred to me that yesterday Pudong Airport canceled a large number of flights due to heavy rain,

I have no choice but to be thankful that it was only delayed for more than an hour.

Goodbye, Xining.

Epilogue:

Writing a travelogue is physical work.

From organizing photos to uploading and coding,

It took a full 8 hours,

But it's also one of the great joys of traveling,

some years later,

I will recall this trip to Qinghai here,

Think of Qinghai Lake at sunrise, Qinghai Lake in the rain,

Chaka Salt Lake under the Qilian Mountains,

Pure Emerald Lake, Dongtai Jinel Lake

first self-driving tour,

first RV tour,

We will have many, many wonderful journeys,

And the beauty of this journey,

This road is cloudy and rainy,

is also unique,

Northwest, look forward to seeing you next time...

Welcome to visit us for more travel notes~~

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Travel notes in Kyoto, Osaka, Japan: http://you.ctrip.com/travels/kyoto430/2826129.html

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Travel Notes of Nagoya, Japan: http://you.ctrip.com/travels/nagoya2127/3171296.html

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