Attractions · Xining

Qinghai Lake is China's largest inland saltwater lake, covering about 4,543 square kilometres at an elevation of 3,196 m. Every July–August the rapeseed flowers bloom along the shore, gold against the blue water, a magnificent sight. Highlights include the Erlangjian Peninsula, Bird Island (April–June), the lakeside rapeseed fields, and sunrise and sunset. Tip: cycling or driving around the lake is recommended; allow 1–2 days. Practical info: located at the Erlangjian Scenic Area, Qinghai Lake, Gonghe County, Hainan Prefecture, Qinghai Province; ticket ¥90; opening hours 08:30–18:00. Best season: summer (Jun–Aug) is cool and pleasant, a summer retreat; autumn (Sep–Oct) is colourful. Pair with Xining's Kumbum Monastery, Dongguan Mosque and Qinghai Provincial Museum for a half- or full-day itinerary. Check the day's opening and reservation policy before setting out, and allow enough time. It can be combined with Kumbum Monastery, Dongguan Mosque, Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum in Xining for a half- or full-day itinerary.

Tip: Cycling or driving around the lake is recommended; allow 1–2 days.

• Address: Erlangjian Scenic Area, Qinghai Lake, Gonghe County, Hainan Prefecture, Qinghai Province
• Ticket: ¥90
• Opening: 08:30–18:00

Kumbum Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. It lies in the Lotus Valley at Lushar Town, Huangzhong District, about 25 km from central Xining. Its history begins with the Lotus-Gathering Stupa built in 1379, the twelfth year of the Ming Hongwu reign, on the birthplace of Tsongkhapa; from 1560, the thirty-ninth year of the Jiajing reign, halls were built around the stupa and the complex gradually expanded into its present form. Butter sculptures, embroidered thangkas and murals are called the monastery's three artistic treasures, and the Butter Sculpture Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is one of its grandest ceremonies. Highlights include the Butter Sculpture Hall, the Great Golden Tile Hall, the Small Golden Tile Hall and the Eight Tathagata Stupas. Tip: visit in the morning for better light. Practical info: located at 56 Jinta Road, Huangzhong District, Xining, Qinghai Province; ticket ¥70; opening hours 08:00–17:00. Best season: summer (Jun–Aug) is cool and pleasant, a summer retreat; autumn (Sep–Oct) is colourful.

Tip: Visit in the morning for better light.

• Address: 56 Jinta Road, Huangzhong District, Xining, Qinghai Province
• Ticket: ¥70
• Opening: 08:00–17:00

Dongguan Mosque was first built in the Ming Hongwu period and is one of the largest mosques in north-west China. Its architecture blends Chinese and Islamic styles, and the prayer hall is grand, able to hold tens of thousands of worshippers at once. Highlights include the main prayer hall, the awakening tower and the stele pavilion. Tip: non-Muslims may visit outside prayer times and should dress modestly. Practical info: located at 31 Dongguan Street, Chengdong District, Xining, Qinghai Province; free admission; opening hours 08:00–18:00. Best season: summer (Jun–Aug) is cool and pleasant, a summer retreat; autumn (Sep–Oct) is colourful. Pair with Xining's Qinghai Lake (Erlangjian Scenic Area), Kumbum Monastery and Qinghai Provincial Museum for a half- or full-day itinerary. Check the day's opening and reservation policy before setting out, and allow enough time. Plan your stay according to opening hours and your energy. It can be combined with Qinghai Lake (Erlangjian Scenic Area), Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum in Xining for a half- or full-day itinerary.

Tip: Non-Muslims may visit outside prayer times and should dress modestly.

• Address: 31 Dongguan Street, Chengdong District, Xining, Qinghai Province
• Ticket: Free
• Opening: 08:00–18:00

Opened in 2006 in Xining's northern biological park, the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum presents Tibetan history, religion, art, medicine and daily life. The 618-metre Grand Painted Scroll of Tibetan Culture, painted by hundreds of artists, covers history, religion, medicine, astronomy and folklore and holds a Guinness record. Tibetan medicine, costume, thangka and architecture galleries complete the visit. Highlights include thangka art. Tip: allow at least 2–3 hours and see the long painted scroll first; combine with Kumbum Monastery on the same day, museum first and monastery after. Practical info: located at 36 Jing'er Road, Biological Park, Chengbei District, Xining; ticket about ¥60 (subject to official notice); opening hours 09:00–17:30 (closed Mondays).

Tip: Allow at least 2–3 hours and see the long painted scroll first; combine with Kumbum Monastery on the same day…

• Address: 36 Jing'er Road, Biological Park, Chengbei District, Xining
• Ticket: About ¥60 (subject to official notice)
• Opening: 09:00–17:30 (closed Mondays)

Preparation for the Qinghai Provincial Museum began in 1957, and it was formally established and opened to the public in September 1986. On 1 May 2001 its new hall opened on the east side of Xinning Plaza, on a 17,000 square metre site with 20,800 square metres of floor space, and from April 2008 it has admitted visitors free of charge. The museum keeps 15,742 objects (sets), 2,079 of them precious relics, with Neolithic painted pottery and Tibetan Buddhist and other ethnic religious material as its strengths. After more than two years shut for refurbishment it reopened in 2021 with 9,450 square metres of exhibition space, mounting themed shows such as the Qinghai Historical Relics Exhibition and the Qinghai Archaeological Achievements Exhibition and displaying 2,405 relics at one time, 191 of them national first-class objects. Highlights include the Tibetan Buddhist thangka exhibition and the gilt bronze standing Avalokiteshvara. Tip: admission is free but requires real-name reservation in advance through the official WeChat account; tickets are tight during holidays. Practical info: located at 58 Xiguan Street, Chengxi District, Xining, Qinghai Province (east side of Xinning Plaza); free admission (online real-name reservation required, subject to official notice); opening hours 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30, closed Mondays).

Tip: Admission is free but requires real-name reservation in advance through the official WeChat account, and ticke…

• Address: 58 Xiguan Street, Chengxi District, Xining, Qinghai Province (east side of Xinning Plaza)
• Ticket: Free (online real-name reservation required; subject to official notice)
• Opening: 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30, closed Mondays)