Jian Zhao
At a Glance
- Why Start with Acclimation in Xining City
- Day 1: Dive into Xining Culture & Food
- Day 2: Ta'er Monastery — The Monastery That Surprises
- Day 3: Qinghai Lake — Avoid the Crowds
- Day 4: Chaka Salt Lake or Alternative
- Day 5: Last-Minute Shopping & Departure
- Practical Tips for Your 5 Days in Xining
- Frequently Asked Questions
Got five days in Xining? Most visitors rush straight to Qinghai Lake and miss the city itself. I've been guiding here for years — here's how to do it right.
Here is the catch: altitude is real. Xining sits at 2,200 meters (7,200 ft). Arrive and hit Qinghai Lake (3,200m) on day 1? You'll be hugging a toilet. I always tell my clients: spend your first two days in the city to acclimatize. That alone makes the rest of the trip comfortable.
Now, let me save you time and money — book your Qinghai Lake day trip for Day 3, not Day 1. Trust me. Below is the full breakdown.
Why Start with Acclimation in Xining City
I once had a couple from Texas who ignored my advice. They went straight to Qinghai Lake after landing. By noon, severe headache and vomiting — they spent the next day in a hospital. Don't be that traveller.
Xining city itself is underrated. It's a blend of Tibetan, Muslim, and Han cultures. Walking through the streets, you'll smell cumin and yak butter. Plus, the city is compact — you can see a lot without exhausting yourself.
Acclimation tips I share with every group:
- Drink 2-3 liters of water per day (dehydration accelerates altitude sickness)
- Avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours
- Take it slow — no running, no heavy backpacks
- If you feel lightheaded, rest and drink local hongjingtian tea (Rhodiola) — widely available in pharmacies
Day 1: Dive into Xining Culture & Food
Morning: Visit the Qinghai Provincial Museum
Address: 66 Xiguan Street, Chengxi District
Hours: 9:00–17:00 (closed Mondays)
Ticket: Free (passport required). No reservation needed — just walk in.
Why go: It's the perfect intro to the region's history — from Tibetan Buddhism to the Silk Road. The exhibits are well-labeled in English.
My tip: Go right at 9:00 to avoid school groups. The second-floor hall on Tang-Tibet Ancient Road is the highlight. Spend about 1.5 hours.
Lunch: Hand-Pulled Noodles at Ma Zhong
Address: 88 Qiyi Road, Chengzhong District
Rating: 4.6 on Dianping
Price: ¥15–25 per bowl
My order: Beef hand-pulled noodles in clear broth with chili oil (ask for la jiao bu duo if you want mild).
Note: No English menu, but they have pictures. Cash or WeChat Pay only — no international cards. Go before noon to skip the 20-minute queue.
Afternoon: Explore Dongguan Mosque & the Muslim Quarter
Address: 57 Dongguan Street, Chengdong District
Hours: 8:00–18:00 (prayer times restricted for non-Muslims; avoid visiting during Friday noon prayer)
Ticket: Free
Why it's cool: It's one of China's largest mosques with a hybrid Chinese-Arabic architecture. The surrounding lanes are a foodie paradise — try youxiang (deep-fried dough twists) and yangrou chuan (lamb skewers).
Warning: Some shops try to overcharge foreigners. I always take my group to the second stall on the left — the owner, Uncle Liu, is honest and his lamb is top-notch.
Evening: Walk Along the Huangshui River
After dinner, head to the riverside promenade near Center Square. Locals dance, kids play — it's a slice of real life. The air is cooler, and the view of the lit-up mountains is free.
Day 2: Ta'er Monastery — The Monastery That Surprises
Getting There
Location: Lianhua Mountain, Huangzhong County (25 km from Xining)
Transport: Take bus 909 from Xining Railway Station (¥4, 50 mins). Get off at Ta'er Monastery stop. Alternatively, taxi costs ¥80–100 (40 mins).
My advice: Take the bus in the morning — taxis coming back from the monastery can be scarce after 4 PM.
Ticket & Hours
Admission: ¥80 (adults), ¥40 (students with ID). No online booking needed — buy at the counter (cash only!).
Hours: 8:00–18:00 (summer), 8:30–17:30 (winter). Last entry 30 mins before close.
Highlight: The butter sculpture exhibition hall — truly unique. Photography is allowed without flash in most halls.
What Most Tours Miss
Main prayer hall gets packed at 10 AM. Instead, walk to the Kumbum Stupa on the west side — fewer people, amazing view of the whole complex. The small souvenir shop near the exit sells authentic tangkas (Tibetan scroll paintings) at half the price of the main street.
Lunch recommendation: Lama Vegetarian Restaurant just outside the monastery gate. Address: 16 Jinjiao Road. Try the mo nu (yak yogurt) and the mushroom noodles. ¥20–40 per person.
Day 3: Qinghai Lake — Avoid the Crowds
How to Get There
Distance: 150 km west of Xining
Options:
- Join a day tour: Book via Trip.com or Klook (~¥380 per person including bus and park entrance). Convenient but you're tied to a schedule.
- Hire a private driver: ¥500–600 round trip via Didi Chuxing or ask your hotel. Split among 3–4 people — worth it.
- Public bus: From Xining Passenger Transport Station, buses to Qinghai Lake depart at 8:00, 9:00, 10:00 (¥37). Returns less frequent — risk getting stranded.
My pick: Private driver. You control the timing. I book with Mr. Zhang (phone: ask your hotel front desk) — he speaks basic English and stops at the best photo spots.
Entrance & Tips
Main entrance (Erlangjian): ¥90 (adults). Hours: 8:30–18:00.
Crowd hack: The typical tour arrives at 10 AM. I tell my clients to leave Xining at 6:00 AM. By 8:30 you're inside — you'll have the lake nearly to yourself until 10:30. Then watch the busloads flood in while you enjoy your packed breakfast by the water.
What to bring: Sunscreen (UV is brutal at 3,200m), windbreaker, and snacks. The only restaurant inside is overpriced and mediocre.
Day 4: Chaka Salt Lake or Alternative
Chaka Salt Lake — The Mirror of the Sky
Location: Chaka Town, 300 km from Xining (4 hours by car)
Ticket: ¥70 (adults) + ¥50 for the sightseeing train (recommended if time-limited).
Best time: Arrive before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM for the mirror effect. Midday is washout — I've seen so many disappointed photos.
Transport: Day trips from Xining are common. I book a private car (¥800–900 round trip). The drive is beautiful — stop by the Rubber Mountain overlook.
Reality check: Chaka is crowded on weekends. If you want serenity, replace this day with Qilian Mountain or Guide National Geopark — less touristy and equally stunning. But Chaka is the iconic shot.
Alternative: Explore the City's Underground
If you're tired of long drives, spend Day 4 exploring Xining's lesser-known spots:
- Beishan Temple: Cliffside temple complex with stunning city views. Free entrance. Take bus 10 or taxi (¥15).
- Nanchuan West Road Night Market: More local than the touristy Moat Street. Try the roasted sheep intestine and Tibetan butter tea.
Day 5: Last-Minute Shopping & Departure
Morning: Grab Souvenirs at Shuijingxiang Market
Address: Shuijingxiang Street, Chengzhong District
What to buy: Tibetan incense, cashmere scarves, dried yak meat, and qingke barley tea.
Haggling: Start at 50% of the quoted price. Most shopkeepers will drop by 20–30%.
Lunch: Try the Famous Qinghai Yogurt
Head to De Lian Shen yogurt shop (19 Shuihe Street). It's thick, sour, topped with a layer of yellow cream — unlike any yogurt you've had. ¥8 per cup.
Afternoon: Pack & Head to Airport/Train Station
Xining Caojiabao Airport is 30 km from city center (taxi ¥100, 40 mins). The high-speed rail station is central — easy to catch a train to Lanzhou or further.
Practical Tips for Your 5 Days in Xining
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Best travel season | June to September (warm, green). July–August peak — book hotels 2 weeks ahead. |
| Getting around | Didi (Chinese Uber) works well. Taxis start at ¥8. Buses cost ¥1–2. |
| Payment | Cash is king for small purchases. WeChat Pay/Alipay widely used. International credit cards accepted only at major hotels and some restaurants. |
| Language | Few locals speak English. Download Pleco offline dictionary. For taxi, show address in Chinese characters. |
| Altitude | Xining: 2,200m. Qinghai Lake: 3,200m. Acclimate 2 days first. |
| Wi-Fi | Almost all hotels have free Wi-Fi. Buy a local SIM at airport for data (China Telecom/Unicom). |
Best travel guide I've used for a Chinese city! The balance of nature, culture, and food was perfect. I especially loved the detour suggestion to the Beichan Temple cliffside—would have missed it otherwise. The itinerary even included altitude acclimation advice, which saved me from a headache on Day 1. Highly recommend to anyone wanting a stress‑free, immersive experience in Xining.
Absolutely loved using this itinerary! As a solo female traveler, I appreciated the safety tips and the clear directions for getting around. The recommendation to start Qinghai Lake early in the morning was genius—I had the place almost to myself for a blissful hour. The little cultural notes (like when to avoid praying hours at the temples) made me feel prepared and respectful. Already shared it with two friends planning their China trips.
Honestly a bit disappointed. The itinerary looks good on paper but in practice the suggested times were way off. The Dongguan Mosque only needed an hour, not two, and the walk to Nanchan Temple turned out to be longer than stated. I ended up skipping half of Day 4 because I was already tired. Needs more flexibility and realistic timing for a foreign traveler who isn't used to the altitude.
Solid 4 stars from me. The 5-day plan covers all the must-sees, and the public transport directions were surprisingly accurate. Only reason I'm not giving 5 is that Day 3 felt jam-packed—hopping from the old town to the provincial museum then to a night market left us exhausted. Maybe trim one activity or add a lunch break. Still, great starting point for first-timers.
This itinerary was a lifesaver for my first trip to Xining. The pacing felt just right—not too rushed, with enough buffer time to soak in the atmosphere at Kumbum Monastery and the Qinghai Lake. The restaurant recommendations were spot-on, especially the hand-pulled noodles near the Great Mosque. Would've liked more tips on local etiquette, but overall a fantastic blueprint for a short stay.