Chaka Salt Lake: China’s “Mirror of the Sky”

In the eastern part of Qinghai, there is a dreamy lake known as the “Mirror of the Chinese sky”-Chaka Salt Lake (Chaka Salt Lake).
It is like a huge natural mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds and the snow-capped peaks of the distant mountains. Walking on it, it feels like being in the clouds and walking in the sky.
As a classic punch-in place for the Ganqing Great Loop, Chaka Salt Lake attracts millions of tourists every year in pursuit of that pure blue and white realm.

This is not only a paradise for photography lovers, but also a figurative expression of “poetry and distance” in the hearts of countless people.

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1: Basic situation and geographical location

• Chinese name: Chaka Salt Lake (‘Chaka” is Tibetan, meaning ‘salt Pond”)
• Altitude: about 3100 meters
• Reason for formation:
  The closed salt lake on the eastern edge of the Qaidam Basin is supplied by the meltwater of the ice and snow of the Qilian Mountains, and after long-term evaporation and crystallization, a salt layer up to several meters thick is formed. The lake water has a high salt content, is clear and calm, and is extremely reflective.
• Geographic coordinates: Chaka Town, Ulan County, Haixi Mongolian Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province
• Best season:June—September(moderate rain in summer, calm lake surface, best reflection effect)；
  • July-August is the peak water period, and the mirror effect is the strongest.；
  • The weather is stable in September and there are slightly fewer tourists, which is suitable for in-depth play.

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Two: How to get there? Traffic guide

Self-driving

• From Xining: about 300 kilometers, 4 hours by car, follow the G6 Beijing-Tibet Expressway to S207 provincial Highway
• From Qinghai Lake (Erlangjian): about 150 kilometers, 2.5 hours by car
• Navigation and positioning: search for “Chaka Salt Lake Scenic Area’ or ‘Chaka Salt Lake Sky Mirror”
• Road conditions description: The whole journey is high-speed + provincial highway, the road conditions are good, and ordinary cars can pass through

Charter/carpool

• One-day trips or carpool services can be booked around Xining or Qinghai Lake, the cost is about 200-300 yuan/person (round trip)
• Tours on the Ganqing Grand Ring Route will basically arrange this attraction

bus

• Xining Bus station (such as Xining Bus and Passenger Transportation Center) has a direct bus to Chaka Town, which takes about 4.5 hours by car.
• After arriving in Chaka Town, you can walk or take a taxi for 10 minutes to the entrance of the scenic area

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Three: Tickets and opening hours

• Ticket price(reference price in 2025, the package is probably within 150-200)：
  • Adult ticket:60 yuan/person
  • Student/elderly ticket:30 yuan/person(with valid ID)
• Scenic transportation costs：
  • Small train(one-way):60 yuan/person, round-trip 100 yuan (the scenic area is about 5 kilometers deep, and private cars are not allowed to enter. You can consider taking a battery car to the salt Lake and then walking)
  • Battery car (optional): 5 yuan single time (some sections are connected)
  • Shoe cover: 10 pieces
• Opening hours：
  • Peak season (May-October）：07:30 – 19:30（ Long summer days, suitable for morning and evening shooting)
  • Off-season (November-April): 08:30–18:00

💡 Tips：

• It is recommended to enter the park before 7:30 in the morning to avoid the peak of the tour group. The lake is the calmest and the light and shadow are the softest.；
• The light is warm after 18:00 in the evening, which is suitable for shooting sunset reflections.

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Four: Features of attractions and highlights of play

1. Mirror of the sky-a dreamy experience of walking in the clouds

• After the rain or during the plentiful period, the lake is shallow and clear, calm as a mirror, perfectly reflecting the sky, forming a visual spectacle of ‘walking in the sky”.；
• Walking into the lake barefoot or wearing rain boots, you can take beautiful pictures of suspension and symmetrical reflection.

2. Salt Lake Train-Traveling through the ‘Salt White World”

• Take a small red train deep into the heart of the lake, and along the way you can see white salt mountains, crystallized salt fields and snow-capped mountains in the distance, like a fairy tale world.；
• Near the small train terminal is the best photography area, with a wooden plank road and a viewing platform.

3. Salt Sculpture Art Park

• There are large-scale salt sculptures in the scenic area, such as the ‘Goddess of Salt Lake” and ‘Kunlun deer’, all carved from salt crystals, which are very artistic.；
• It is a popular background for taking pictures and checking in.

4. Drone aerial photography Holy Land

• It is allowed to fly drones legally (it is recommended to confirm the policy in advance). From the air, the salt lake is like a huge mirror, and the train travels like a red dot. The picture is shocking.

5. Golden moments of sunrise and sunset

• At sunrise in the early morning, the surface of the lake is golden, and the clouds dye the sky red.；
• In the evening, the sun sets and the light and shadow are soft. It is a favorite shooting time for photography enthusiasts.

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Five: Precautions and Travel Tips

1. Plateau protection
   • At an altitude of 3100 meters, newcomers should avoid strenuous exercise to prevent mild hyperreactivity.；
   • Pay attention to hydration and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
2. Sunscreen and cold protection
   • Ultraviolet rays are extremely strong, so be sure to wear sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen；
   • There is a large temperature difference between day and night, so it is recommended to bring a windproof and warm jacket.
3. Environmental requirements
   • It is strictly forbidden to throw garbage into the lake, destroy the salt layer or take away salt blocks；
   • The lake water is high in salt, so it is recommended to rinse with water after walking barefoot.
4. Dressing advice
   • Wear colorful clothes (red, yellow, and white) to take pictures and make movies；
   • It is recommended to bringrain boots or disposable shoe covers(available for rent in scenic spots, about 15 yuan/pair) to prevent salt water from irritating the feet.
5. Avoid peak flow of people
   • 12:00-15:00 noon is the concentrated time for tour groups. There are many people on the lake and the reflection is easy to be destroyed.；
   • It is recommended to go in the early morning or evening.
6. The weather determines success or failure
   • Sunny day + breeze is the best condition for ‘Mirror of the Sky”；
   • Cloudy days, strong winds or just after heavy rain (the lake is muddy) will affect the shooting effect.

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Six: Recommendations for surrounding linkage attractions

• Qinghai Lake: It is about 150 kilometers away and the largest lake in China. Tours can be arranged on the same day or the next day.
• Heima River: A great place to watch the sunrise from Qinghai Lake
• Rubber Mountain: High Mountain Pass, overlooking Chaka and Qinghai Lake
• Wulan County Big Canary Rapeseed Flower Sea(limited in July): The golden Flower Sea and the salt Lake are side by side.

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Seven: Summary

Although Chaka Salt Lake is famous and has many tourists, it is still the most representative “mirror of the sky” landscape in China. As long as you choose the right time, avoid the flow of people, and respect nature, you can still shoot stunning fantasy blockbusters here.

📌 A word of recommendation:
If you yearn for the pure beauty of ”walking in the sky’, then go to Chaka Salt Lake-there is a mirror that the plateau has given to the world.