Located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, between the Hainan and Haibei Tibetan Autonomous prefectures and at the foot of the Sun Moon Mountain (Riyue shan) is the largest salt lake in China, Qinghai Lake (Qinghai hu). The lake, also known as Koko Nor in the Mongolian dialect,

Blue Sea Lake in English and the Western Sea (Xi hai) in ancient times, has a circumference of around 360km and covers an area of 4,456 square kilometers at an average depth of 25m

The lake is surrounded by four mountain ranges that hem the lake like a belt, and it is these, along with the oil-seed rape that lines the banks and the azure colour of the cold, salty waters that gives the area such beauty. The lake itself contains a huge variety of fish, many of which can be eaten at restaurants near to the lake, and seabirds, that flock here in great numbers throughout the year. The most popular sight with tourists is the Bird Island (Niao dao), actually a peninsular, that contains some of the best selection of bird species in China.

The best way to enjoy the lake is probably by hiking and camping around its edge. There is in fact a special tourist site on the southern shores of the lake that will allow travellers access to boating, fishing, horseriding and other lake related activities, and from here motorboats can be chartered to take you across the lake to the Bird Island. After arriving and sight seeing on the “island”, you can then sail around the lake to the other sights, including the lake’s one small island, Haixinshan.

How to get there: For information on accessing the lake area, see Qinghai’s Transport Overview. The main entrance to the lake is from behind the Lake Tent Hotel.
Cost: RMB30 for the lake and an addition RMB15 for the neighboring Sun Moon Mountain (Riyue shan). You will have to pay RMB45 for a pleasure boat