7-Day Classic Clockwise Tour of Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop

Itinerary

day	Itinerary	Accommodation	Distance traveled
day 1	Xining → Qinghai Lake → Chaka Salt Lake → Chaka Town	Chaka Town	About 300km
day 2	Chaka Town → Chaerhan Salt Lake → Emerald Lake → Dachaidan	Da Chai Dan	About 520km
day 3	Dachaidan → Yadan on Water → South Eight Immortals Yadan → Back to Dachaidan	Da Chai Dan	Approximately 400km (round trip)
day 4	Dachaidan → Aksai Petroleum Town → Dunhuang Ancient City → Desert Camping or Dunhuang City	Dunhuang/Desert Camp	About 380km
day 5	Dunhuang → Mogao Grottoes → Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring → Shazhou Night Market	Dunhuang	About 50km (in the city)
day 6	Dunhuang → Jiayuguan (Son of Changes to the Earth/Unique) → Zhangye Colorful Danxia → Zhangye City	Zhangye	About 550km
day 7	Zhangye → Biandukou → Qilian Grassland → Menyuan Rapeseed Flower (End of July) → Xining	——	About 580km

detailed itinerary

DAY 1: Starting from Xining, I will meet the two lakes in the plateau – Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake

Departing from Xining at dawn, traverse the Sun and Moon Mountains to enter the gateway to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The first stop is Qinghai Lake, China’s largest inland saltwater lake. Its waters shimmer like sapphires, and in summer, the shores burst with blooming rapeseed flowers, creating breathtaking scenery. Cycle along the eastern lakeside road or ascend Erlangjian Scenic Area for panoramic views of the lake and mountains. Afternoon brings a visit to the “Sky Mirror”—Chaka Salt Lake. When shallow rainwater covers the lake surface, the reflections of sky and earth merge seamlessly, creating the illusion of walking on clouds. Evening accommodations in Chaka Town prepare travelers for the next day’s extended journey..

Day 2: Cross the largest salt lake in China, and meet the plateau palette – Chaerhan Salt Lake & Emerald Lake

Embark on a breathtaking visual journey today. Drive across the Qarhan Salt Lake—China’s largest salt lake, five times the size of Qinghai Lake! National Highway G315 traverses its surface, forming the renowned “Ten-Thousand-Foot Salt Bridge.” The lake glistens like a white jade carpet, while brine pools shimmer in vibrant hues. Continuing westward, arrive at [Dachadan Emerald Lake], originally a brine pool left behind by salt mining. Rich in minerals, it displays dreamlike hues of emerald green, sapphire blue, and amber yellow, making it a wildly popular photography spot in recent years. Reach Dachadan Town by evening to experience the tranquility of this Gobi Desert outpost.

Day 3: Explore the world’s only water Yadan, enter the alien landform of the earth

Today we make a special trip to visit the world’s only [water-based Yadan landform]. This cluster of wind-eroded earthen mounds stands amidst the azure waters of Lake Taijinier, their reflections swaying gently. In the morning light, they resemble the ruins of a floating ancient city—mysterious and dreamlike. Next, we head to the [Southern Eight Immortals Yadan], also known as the “Devil’s City.” Its wind-eroded pillars form a forest of bizarre shapes, desolate yet ruggedly beautiful—an ideal spot for capturing the iconic image of “solitary smoke rising in the desert.” In the afternoon, we return to Dacidian Town to rest and reflect on this extraordinary landscape, often called “the place on Earth that most resembles Mars.”

Day 4: Cross the Gobi, into the ruins of film and television – Aksai Oil Town & Ancient City of Dunhuang

Departing from Daxaidam, travel along National Highway G315 through the Qaidam Basin. Stop briefly at the U-shaped Highway for aerial photography. Arrive in the afternoon at Aksai Oil Town (Boluozhuanjing Film Base), the filming location for movies like The Nine-Story Demon Tower and Sewing Machine Band. Abandoned office buildings, schools, and hospitals stand silently, as if time has frozen. Arrive in Dunhuang by evening. Choose to stay downtown or experience a [desert camping] adventure. Listen to the desert winds beneath the starry sky, feeling the desolate grandeur and romantic allure of the millennia-old Silk Road.

Day 5: Step into the millennia-old grottoes and touch the Silk Road civilization— Mogao Caves & Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake

Full-day in-depth exploration of Dunhuang’s cultural heartland. Morning visit to the Mogao Caves—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and millennia-old treasure trove of Buddhist art. Pre-booked Category A tickets grant access to the caves with a professional guide, immersing you in the splendor of murals and colored sculptures. Afternoon: Journey to [Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake], where golden dunes cradle a clear spring that has never dried up for a thousand years. Enjoy camel rides, sandboarding, or climb to the summit for panoramic views. Evening: Explore [Shazhou Night Market], savoring authentic Northwest delicacies like donkey meat noodles, apricot kernel water, and grilled lamb ribs, adding a touch of local flavor to your journey.

Day 6: From the Majestic Frontier Pass to the Colorful Hills—Jiayuguan & Zhangye Danxia

Depart early in the morning, passing through Jiayuguan—the western terminus of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Ascend the city tower for sweeping views of the Gobi Desert and experience the grandeur of the “First Pass Under Heaven.” Alternatively, visit land art installations like Son of the Earth or Boundless for a modern artistic dialogue with the desert landscape. Arrive at Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in the afternoon. This UNESCO Global Geopark features multicolored hills that blaze like fiery flames under the setting sun, creating breathtaking shifts of light and shadow. Settle into your accommodation in downtown Zhangye for the evening and savor a steaming bowl of beef noodle soup.

Day 7: Cross the Qilian Mountains and return to the starting point – the grassland, the sea of flowers and the way home

On the final day, we traversed the Biandukou Gorge along National Highway 227, entering the Qilian Grasslands. Herds of cattle and sheep grazed amidst towering snow-capped mountains, creating a scene straight out of a painting. Late July marks the peak blooming season for the Menyuan rapeseed flowers. A sea of golden blossoms spanning 600,000 mu (approximately 40,000 hectares) intertwines with the Qilian snow-capped mountains, creating the most magnificent finale to this journey. Along the way, you can stop multiple times to take photos before finally returning to Xining, concluding this 7-day grand loop adventure spanning plateaus, salt lakes, deserts, and civilizations.

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Ending

Over these seven days, we traversed China’s most expansive hinterlands, witnessing nature’s awe-inspiring wonders and the enduring resilience of human civilization. From the serene tranquility of Qinghai Lake to the resplendent splendor of Dunhuang, from the fantastical landscapes of the water-eroded Yadan formations to the dazzling hues of the multicolored Danxia landforms—every frame of scenery is worth treasuring. The Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop is more than a geographical route—it’s a spiritual journey. Standing in the heart of the Gobi Desert, gazing up at the starry sky, you’ll realize: the world is vast enough to be measured by our footsteps.

In 2025, let us set out together to complete this must-see journey through Northwest China.

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