Qinghai Lake

Welcome to Qinghai Lake, an immense inland sea of sapphire blue perched at an elevation of 3,200 meters on the northeastern corner of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Known as 'Koko Nor' in Mongolian and 'Tso Ngonpo' in Tibetan, both…

We begin at Erlangjian, also known as the '151 Area' because it is located exactly 151 kilometers from the provincial capital, Xining. This is the primary tourism hub of the lake, where the facilities cater to the thousands of…

If you are visiting in winter, you are witnessing a transformation that few outsiders experience. The entire 4,500 square kilometers of the lake freeze over into a sheet of ice that can be up to 'two meters thick'. …

To truly understand Qinghai Lake, one must step away from the water and into the lives of the people who inhabit its shores. We are now near a 'very simple nomad home,' a concrete or mud-shell structure that serves as a sanctuary…

It may seem mundane, but to a nomad at Qinghai Lake, a 'pile of dirt' is actually '100 percent yak poop,' and it is as valuable as gold. We are looking at a stack of dried dung that might stretch for '50 straight meters' and…

Encircling the entire lake is a 360-kilometer road that serves as both a physical and spiritual artery for the region. For professional cyclists, it is a world-class challenge that can be conquered in a single grueling day,…

Our final stop at Qinghai Lake explores the spiritual 'sanctuaries' that dot the landscape. Nearby is the 'Laji Monastery,' a 'beautiful high altitude rugged' site dedicated to the worship of the deity of Amne Machin, one of the…

As we leave the shores of Qinghai Lake, we carry with us the image of its 'ever-blue sky' and the 'immense majesty' of its waters. This is more than just a lake; it is a 'spiritual home' and a 'lifeline' for the people and…