Travel Tips for Northwest China

Sisters planning to travel to Northwest China, beware of potential pitfalls! 👀 If you're planning a trip to Northwest China, pay attention‼💌 For those overwhelmed by countless travel guides, as someone who has visited Northwest China multiple times, I’m sharing a classic itinerary: Xining → Qinghai Lake → Chaka Salt Lake → Dachaidan → Dunhuang → Jiayuguan → Zhangye → Qilian Mountains → Menyuan. This guide covers transportation, accommodation, food, and tips to avoid common issues—ready for you to use directly‼ Especially for first-time visitors, save this guide and take your time to read✅ ---- 🤙💦 Essential Packing List ✨Sunscreen + spray (reapply every 2 hours!) ✨Water! Water! Water! (Expensive at scenic spots, bring at least 2 bottles) ✨Wet wipes (for sand and sweat) ✨Phone sandproof bag (sand in the charging port costs over $200 to fix😱) -- 🚙🚙 Qinghai Lake-Dunhuang-Zhangye Seven-Day Grand Loop: Day 1: Xining → Riyue Mountain → Qinghai Lake (Heimahe) → Chaka Salt Lake (overnight) Day 2: Chaka → Crossing the Qaidam Basin → Emerald Lake → Dachaidan (overnight) Day 3: Dachaidan → U-shaped Highway → Dongtai Jinel Lake → Water Yadan → Dachaidan (overnight) Day 4: Dachaidan → Heidu Mountain → Oil Town → Dunhuang City (overnight) Day 5: Dunhuang → Mogao Caves (best to book tickets for around 9 AM) → Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake → Shazhou Night Market → Dunhuang City (overnight) Day 6: Dunhuang City → Passing Jiayuguan → Zhangye Rainbow Mountains → Zhangye (overnight) Day 7: Zhangye → Biandukou → Qilian Mountains Grassland → Gangshika Snow Peak (distant view) → Xining (end) -- 🦋 Northwest Attractions Collection 💜 Qinghai Lake: Erlangjian Scenic Area, Huanhu West Road 💙 Chaka Salt Lake: Sky Mirror, Mini Train, Salt Sculptures 💚 Dachaidan: Emerald Lake, Heidu Mountain, Water Yadan 🧡 Dunhuang: Mogao Caves, Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake, Shazhou Night Market 💖 Jiayuguan: Jiayuguan Fortress, Hanging Wall, The Son of the Earth 💙 Zhangye: Rainbow Mountains, Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple 💚 Qilian Mountains: Qilian Grassland, Zhuoer Mountain, Gangshika Snow Mountain --- 🚗 Transportation Tips 🚗 Car rental/self-driving: Northwest attractions are scattered, so renting a car or self-driving is most convenient. However, some roads (e.g., Heidu Mountain) have poor conditions—an SUV is recommended. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Carpooling: Budget travelers can opt for carpooling but confirm routes and costs in advance. 🚌 Public transport: Not recommended due to long travel times and lack of direct access to scenic spots. Gas stations: Northwest is vast and sparsely populated; refuel whenever you encounter a gas station. 🏨 Accommodation Tips 🕐 Book in advance: During peak season (July-August), accommodations are tight, especially in Chaka Town and Dachaidan Town. Book 1-2 months ahead. --- 🍜 Food Recommendations 💫 Xining: Hand-grabbed mutton, Qinghai yogurt, Liangpi, Sweet fermented grain 💫 Qinghai Lake: Baked mutton, Highland barley pancakes 💫 Chaka Town: Lamb skewers, Noodles, Butter tea 💫 Dunhuang: Donkey meat yellow noodles, Hu sheep stewed pancakes, Apricot kernel water 💫 Jiayuguan: Jiayuguan BBQ, Pinched fish noodles 💫 Zhangye: Zhangye pinched fish, Fried Bala, Beef rice --- ⚠️ Travel Tips ❗️Altitude sickness: Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake have high altitudes; avoid strenuous activities and prepare altitude sickness medication. ❗️Unpredictable weather: Northwest has large temperature differences between day and night and frequent sandstorms. Bring warm clothing and windproof gear. ❗️Scenic spot restrictions: Mogao Caves and Rainbow Mountains require advance ticket reservations. ❗️Photography tips: Visit Chaka Salt Lake on windless days and wear bright-colored clothes for better photos. ❗️Environmental awareness: Northwest’s ecosystem is fragile; don’t litter and protect the natural environment. -- 💡 Summary Traveling to Northwest China is a feast for the eyes and taste buds, but thorough preparation is essential! Plan your route, book accommodations, pack supplies, be mindful of altitude sickness and weather changes, respect local culture, and protect the environment.🌄