When the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop ignites in summer with seas of rapeseed flowers, crowds, and sunshine, winter unveils its own quiet splendor: Qinghai Lake draped in silver, the mirror-like frozen surface of Taka Salt Lake, snow-covered Yadan landscapes in desolate wilderness, and the Gobi night sky where the Milky Way hangs low… The Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop in winter sheds its bustle, returning to vastness and purity—a secret path seldom traveled yet profoundly awe-inspiring.
From December to February each year, the Qinghai-Gansu Loop enters its off-season. Gone are the golden seas of 600,000 acres of rapeseed flowers in Menyuan during July, and the crowds of peak season. Instead, visitors are greeted by majestic snowy landscapes, exceptional value for money, and profound tranquility. The plateau sheds its vibrant hues during this season, gaining instead a sense of vastness and poetry—snow-capped mountains appear whiter, frozen lakes bluer, and the starry sky brighter. This winter-exclusive route is tailor-made for photography enthusiasts, stargazers, and deep-travel explorers.
Winter vs. Summer: What Makes the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Different in Winter?
| Item | Summer（7-8月） | Winter（12月-2月） |
|---|---|---|
| Climate | Gentle, 15-25°C during the day | Cold, -5~5℃ during the day and -20℃ at night |
| People’s flow | During the peak season, tourists are dense | In the off-season, there are few people in the scenic spot, and the experience is quiet |
| Rape blossoms | The flower fields of Menyuan are in full bloom, a sea of golden yellow. | ❌ There is no sea of flowers, but you can enjoy snowfields and ice lakes |
| Qinghai Lake | The waves ripple gently, and the grass is lush and green. | ❄️ Some of the lake surface may be completely frozen, you can take pictures of blue ice, snowfield, and ice cracks |
| Chaka Salt Lake | ‘Mirror of the Sky’ effect depends on rain | ❄️ The ice surface is as flat as a mirror, and it is more pure after the snow, suitable for shooting minimalist ice and snow blockbusters |
| Accommodation and Price | The price is high, you need to book in advance | Prices are as low as 50% off in the peak season, wherever you go |
| Traffic | Good road conditions, large traffic | The road conditions are stable, but you need to pay attention to the ice and snow sections. It is recommended to use four-wheel drive vehicles or snow chains |
Winter highlights:
✅ Qinghai Lake Blue Ice Wonders
✅ Chaka Salt Lake ‘Ice and Snow Mirror’
✅ The Yadan on the water stands in the snow, like an alien ruins
✅ The night sky of the Gobi is clear and the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye
✅ There are few cultural scenic spots such as Mogao Grottoes and Danxia, so you can visit in-depth
winter precautions
About the weather
✔️The temperature difference between the Qinghai section is relatively large. In late October, the temperature will fall below 0 degrees, and the winter mode will be started after entering November, and it can reach about minus ten degrees in the morning and evening. But it’s not too cold during the day, and the sun is shining enough
✔️ The overall temperature in the Gansu section is about 5-10 ℃ higher than that of Qinghai.
✔️There will be rain and snow weather, but it is mainly sunny, so don’t worry too much.
✔️ Entering late October, Qinghai starts heating.
Scenic Highlights of the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop
1. Apart from rapeseed flowers and grassland scenery, which are seasonal, other landscapes remain unaffected by the time of year. The salt lake stays ice-free year-round, while Qinghai Lake only begins to freeze in late November. Overall, the impact on scenery is minimal.
2. The feeling of having the entire scenic area to yourself is absolutely amazing.
3. After November, some scenic spots offer half-price admission, while others provide free entry. Very few attractions close during this period. The Mogao Caves remain open year-round, with half-price admission for viewing 12 caves starting in December. Camel rides at Mingsha Mountain also operate normally throughout the winter.
Friendly suggestion:
1. Cold-proof clothing, especially hats, gloves, masks
2. Anti-drying equipment, lipstick, etc.
3. Sun protection equipment, do not ignore this item in winter
4, the vehicle is equipped with a non-slip chain, and the old battery is easy to lose electricity when the weather is cold
5. The design of the itinerary should be more loose, and it will be dark early in winter
Itinerary
| Day | Itinerary | Places Passed | Accommodation | Distance traveled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| day 1 | Arrived in Xining | Free time, adapt to the plateau | Xining | —— |
| day 2 | Xining → Qinghai Lake → Tianjun Stone Forest → Delingha | Frozen Qinghai Lake, Blue Ice Wonders, Tianjun Stone Forest Snow Scenery | Dingha | About 380km |
| day 3 | Delingha → Chaka Salt Lake → Dachaidan Emerald Lake → Delingha/Daidaidan | Ice and Snow Tea Card Salt Lake, Winter Jade Lake Dream Colors | Delingha or Dachaidan | About 450km |
| day 4 | Dachaidan → U-shaped highway → Yadan on the water | G315 U-road, Tiffany Blue Lake, Yadan on the snow, night viewing starry sky | Dachaidan or Shui Yadan Camp | About 350km |
| day 5 | Dachaidan → Dunhuang → Mogao Grottoes → Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring → Desert Camping | Mogao Grottoes In-depth Tour, Crescent Moon Spring, Desert Star Camping | Dunhuang or Desert Camp | About 380km |
| day 6 | Dunhuang → Jiayuguan (via) → Zhangye Colorful Danxia | Snow covers Danxia landform, light and shadow blockbuster | Zhangye | About 550km |
| day 7 | Zhangye → Biandukou → Qilian Grassland → Gangshika Xuefeng → Xining | In winter, Qilian prairie and snow-capped mountains overlook | —— | About 580km |
Tips: The opening hours of some scenic spots in winter may be adjusted, it is recommended to check in advance; vehicles are recommended to use four-wheel drive or equipped with snow chains, and pay attention to the safety of driving on ice and snow roads.
detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Xining, start a plateau journey
- Arriving in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, it is recommended to choose to arrive before noon to adapt to the altitude (about 2200 meters).
- In the afternoon, free activities, it is recommended to visit [Dongguan Mosque] or [Qinghai Provincial Museum] to learn about Tibetan Buddhism and plateau culture.
- For dinner, you can taste the local characteristics: hand-picked mutton, old yogurt, and stuffed skin.
- Accommodation: Hotels in Xining City (recommended to choose oxygen-containing rooms or floor heating rooms).
Day 2: Xining → Qinghai Lake (Frozen Blue Ice) → Tianjun Stone Forest → Delingha
- Depart early and go to [Qinghai Lake] along G109 National Highway, which takes about 3 hours.
- Qinghai Lake in winter Frozen on the lake, the ice is thick and can be photographed at close range Blue ice, ice cracks, snow waves Wait for the spectacle (pay attention to safety, do not go deep into the undeveloped ice area).
- Continue westward and visit [Tianjun Stone Forest] – called ‘Yugong Mountain’ in Tibetan.
- Arrive at [Delingha] in the evening, and live in the city, where you can overlook the night view of the small Gobi town under the snow-capped mountains.
- Accommodation: Delingha City Hotel.
Day 3: Chaka Salt Lake (Ice and Snow Mirror) → Emerald Lake → Delingha
- Driving to [Chaka Salt Lake], there are few tourists in winter, the lake is icy, and after the snow, it is like a ‘mirror of ice and snow’, which is suitable for shooting minimalist style blockbusters.
- In the afternoon, go to [Big Chaidan Emerald Lake], the water color of the lake is more intense in winter, as green as jade, blue as gemstones, and the snow and the salt lake complement each other, just like a fairy tale world.
- Return to Delingha in the evening or directly stay in Dachaidan Town (depending on the road conditions and physical strength).
- Accommodation: Delingha or Dachaidan Town.
Day 4: Dachaidan → U-shaped highway → Yadan on the water (starting at the starry sky at night)
- Starting from Dachaidan, cross the [G315 U-shaped road], the straight road extends to the sky, the snow field is boundless, and the aerial photography effect is shocking.
- In the afternoon, go deep into the [Water Yadan Geological Park], which is the only Yadan group in the world that ‘floating on the water’.
- Camping in the evening or staying near the scenic spot,There is no light pollution at night, and the Milky Way is clearly visible, is an excellent place to shoot the starry sky and star trails.
- Accommodation: Yadan camp on the water or return to Dachaidan.
Day 5: Dunhuang → Mogao Grottoes → Mingsha Mountain Crescent Moon Spring
- Drive to [Dunhuang] (about 4 hours), the Gobi Snowfield is vast along the way.
- In the afternoon, visit the [Mogao Grottoes]. There are few tourists in the off-season. You can focus more on the art of murals.
- In the evening, go to [Mingsha Mountain Crescent Moon Spring], the sand temperature is low in winter, and the sand skiing experience is slightly different, but after the snow, the sand mountain and Qingquan complement each other, which has a unique artistic conception.
- Accommodation: Dunhuang city or desert camp.
Day 6: Zhangye Colorful Danxia (Danxia in the Snow)
- Starting from Dunhuang, go to [Zhangye Colorful Danxia] (about 5 hours by car).
- In winter, the color of the Danxia landform is slightly calm, but Snow over the hills It forms a unique landscape of red and white, and the light and shadow in the morning light are clear, which is suitable for shooting blockbusters.
- Arrive in the urban area of Zhangye in the evening, you can taste the authentic Lanzhou beef noodles.
- Accommodation: Zhangye City Hotel.
Day 7: Qilian Mountain Prairie → Gangshika Xuefeng → Return to Xining
- Return along the 227 National Highway, cross the [Qilian Mountains Prairie], wrap the grassland in silver in winter, and flocks of cattle and sheep, just like the Nordic scenery.
- Passing through the [Gangshika Snow Peak] – one of the highest peaks in the Qilian Mountains, it covers snow all year round, and it is even more majestic and holy in winter, so you can overlook the photos.
- Return to Xining in the afternoon, ending this quiet and shocking winter trip.
- It is recommended to rest for one night in Xining and return the next day.
Conclusion
Without the summer bustle, the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop in winter resembles a poem written to the earth. It seals away the clamor with ice and snow, yet offers a baptism for the soul through blue ice, starry skies, snowfields, and profound silence.
This route is perfect for off-peak travel, offering unparalleled scenery and immersive experiences. If you’ve grown weary of crowded tourist spots and yearn to rediscover inner peace amidst vast landscapes, this winter, embark on the Qinghai-Gansu Loop. Touch the snow-covered expanse and listen to the echoes of wind sweeping through the Yadan formations.
The northwest in winter isn’t desolate—it’s a different kind of ultimate beauty.
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