Welcome to China｜The Great Northwest, a colorful dream

Northwest Travel Guide (Essentials Edition) Recommended Itinerary (6-7 day loop) 1. Departure from Xining: - Qinghai Lake: Cycle around the lake (Er Lang Jian Scenic Area), enjoy the blue water and rapeseed flower fields (July-August). - Chaka Salt Lake: Wear bright clothes to take photos of the "Mirror of the Sky" (best in early morning/evening light, bring shoe covers). 2. Delingha → Dunhuang: - Qaidam Basin: Vast Gobi Desert highway, passing the "U-shaped road" (stay safe, do not occupy the road). - Mogao Caves: Book tickets one month in advance to see the millennium-old murals; Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring: camel riding, sand sliding, and sunset photos of the dunes. 3. Dunhuang → Zhangye: - Jiayuguan: The cantilever Great Wall, experience the frontier scenery; Zhangye Danxia Landform: watch the sunset from Viewing Platform No. 4, enjoy the colorful Danxia formations. 4. Return to Xining: - Qilian Mountain Grassland: Horse riding on the grassland, passing Menyuan rapeseed flowers (July) or Gangshika Snow Peak, appreciate the diverse landscapes of the Northwest. Tips - Transportation: Car rental/carpooling (the Northwest is vast, self-driving requires experience), starting and ending in Xining/Lanzhou. - Clothing: Large temperature difference between day and night (bring a windbreaker + short sleeves), sun hat, sunglasses, arm sleeves (strong UV rays). - Must bring: Moisturizing skincare (dry climate), cold medicine (temperature changes cause colds), student ID (half-price tickets at attractions). Highlights - See lakes, salt lakes, deserts, Danxia landforms, and grasslands all in one trip, experiencing the clash of "wilderness and beauty" in the Northwest. - Food: Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles, Qinghai lamb intestine noodles, Dunhuang donkey meat yellow noodles, Zhangye cuo fish noodles, costing 30-50 RMB per person per meal.