2025 Hualong Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

Though the spring breeze may blow them into snow, they surpass the dust crushed on southern paths. Spring arrives a bit later in Qinghai than elsewhere, but the flowers here possess a unique charm because of it. In Gabeile Village, by the banks of the Yellow River, I watched apricot blossoms dance in a sudden rain, falling like snow, brewing a deeper fragrance before turning to mud, like drinking a pot of wine aged by time. Deep within the apricot grove, the wings of three birds sliced through frozen time, their silhouettes piercing the grayish-purple mountain mist, sketching a flowing musical staff against the dark blue sky. The ripples from their wings awakened the sleeping flower mist, and rustling petals chased the rising birdsong. As the wind from the Yellow River swept through the treetops, the spring scroll slowly unfolded, each frame a letter written by time to spring. In April in Qinghai, I followed the wind to Gulangdi Village, where the mottled traces of time flowed between mountain ridges, and a cluster of pinkish-purple suddenly unfolded from the Tibetan blue folds. It was the peach blossoms, splashed like ink along the mountain slopes, as if dyeing a long-dormant dream into breathing brocade. Tibetan-style wooden houses scattered like bodhi seeds, waiting for the flowers to bloom in the mountain valley. Each carved wooden window held a tree of clouds and rosy dawn, petals climbing up the ochre-red earth walls, rustling and falling within the arc of fluttering prayer flags. Turning a corner, I met local villagers carrying bamboo baskets, the tassels of their yak wool scarves brushing against the purple jasmine on the wall. The stone slabs underfoot gleamed with a patina, and Gesang flowers sprouting from the cracks whispered with peach petals in the light and shadow. The aroma of butter tea drifted from afar, mingled with the fragrance of flowers, intoxicating the barley ears drying on the low walls, dozing against the mottled earth walls. At this moment, Gulangdi Village seemed like a rouge box left behind by the gods, every inch of time steeped in the intoxication of peach blossoms. Milky white ropes hung down like strings, wooden swings suspended between the turquoise water and brown mountains, like sighs frozen by the wind. When the wind blew, the fine sand beach flowed beneath my feet like liquid sunlight, gold-leaf-like particles clinging to the corners of my clothes. When I saw the inscription "The Yellow River's Beauty in Jianzha," I arrived at Deji Village, known as Qinghai's Little Sanya. I never imagined the Yellow River could be so clear, so playful, with a sandy beach, before coming here. When I first heard the locals call it "Qinghai's Sanya," I suspected the spring breeze had hidden too many secrets here. When I saw the swaying swings, the colorful prayer flags, and the gilded beach, all narrating the romance brewed by the plateau and the flowing water, I began to enjoy this comfort. There's no urban hustle and bustle here, only the whispers of wind and water. As the Tibetans say, "Deji's happiness is the barley wine brewed by the Yellow River over thousands of years, intoxicating visitors, but awakening spring."

The following is a detailed description of the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop: Route Overview • Loop route: Starting from Lanzhou, crossing the Hexi Corridor, passing through Qinghai Yadan, Daxiadan, Chaka Salt Lake, Qinghai Lake, Xining and other places, all the way back to Lanzhou, the whole journey is about 4,000 kilometers. • Self-driving duration: The tour usually takes 8-10 days. Main attractions • Qinghai Lake: Known as “a blue tear on the earth”, it is one of Qinghai’s iconic attractions. The lake water is azure blue, and the lakeside grassland is vast. In July and August, you can also see large areas of rapeseed flowers. • Chaka Salt Lake: Known as the “Mirror of the Sky”, the lake surface is like a mirror, reflecting the sky and clouds clearly, like a dreamland. • Colorful Danxia: Located in Zhangye City, it is the only highly complex area of ​​colorful hills and Danxia landforms in China. It is colorful like a natural oil painting. • Jiayu Pass: Known as the "most majestic pass in the world", it is the westernmost pass of the Ming Great Wall. Historically, it was called the throat of Hexi. It has magnificent buildings and dangerous terrain. • Crescent Moon Lake in Mingsha Mountain: Located five kilometers south of Dunhuang City, it has been famous for thousands of years for the desert wonders of mountain springs, sand and water coexisting together, and is known as one of the most beautiful scenery outside the Great Wall. • Mogao Grottoes: Located 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City, it is a famous treasure house of Chinese grotto art, with numerous exquisite murals and sculptures, showing the cultural prosperity and artistic achievements of the ancient Silk Road. Best time to travel • May to September: The climate is relatively mild, with plenty of sunshine during the day and cool and pleasant nights, suitable for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Among them, in July and August, the grasslands around Qinghai Lake are lush and the rape flowers in Menyuan are in full bloom; in September, the vegetation is colorful and the autumn scenery is charming. • April to May: Attractions along the Grand Loop begin to gradually open, but the climate is relatively cold, so it is recommended to bring warm clothing. Precautions • The Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Route is a long journey, so self-driving tourists are advised to plan their routes in advance and make adequate preparations. • Some attractions along the way require tickets, so it is recommended to purchase them in advance. • Self-driving tourists should pay attention to road safety and abide by traffic regulations. • Some attractions along the way require tickets, so it is recommended to purchase them in advance.

🌟Highlights: ancient buildings. religious culture Xiaqiong Temple combines the Yellow River landscape, natural scenery, and Tibetan Buddhist culture; the magnificence of the "Nine Bends of the Yellow River" and the beauty of nature also allow you to understand and appreciate the breadth and depth of Tibetan Buddhism. 📍Detailed address: Hualong belongs to the Haidong area of ​​Qinghai, an area with relatively inconvenient transportation. There are regular buses from Xining to Hualong Bayan. After passing Ping'an, go south, get off at Zhaba, and then charter a bus to Xiaqiong Temple. Another option is to charter a car from Jianzha or Lijiaxia Reservoir. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to hike from Lijiaxia Reservoir to Xiaqiong Temple. Xia Qiong Temple

A hidden paradise in the mountains Haihui Mountain House·Qinghai Homestay|Find inner light in tranquility Haihui Mountain House is located in the original forest area of the Gangshan, a quiet place for meditation outside the world where the Kanda Buddhist College in Qinghai is located. Meet you again in this life and find the long-lost inner light in tranquility The homestay is originally clean, and it never wants to become a popular check-in place. The joy of being popular for a while will always end Just to immerse in peace, let the restless heart wandering outside, get some relaxation Resolve and heal the pain and confusion of the soul Here you can try to experience the fundamental method of Buddhist healing, the heart, irregular basic Buddhist guidance and meditation exchange activities, the whole area is smoke-free|healthy vegetarian

I'll go first: If you want to have a quiet rest with your family, you can go to Haihui Shanju. It was quite cold the day we went, but the room temperature was already adjusted when we arrived, so we didn't feel cold at all. The guesthouse is near Kanda Buddhist Academy, where there are masters teaching Thangka painting and making Tibetan incense. There are a total of seven rooms. The food is delicious, delicious, delicious, I say it three times. It's purely vegetarian, and the carrots are just carrots but they taste super good. The Tsampa is also delicious, you need to knead it yourself. After eating, you can go to the nearby Buddhist Academy or climb the mountain, the view on the mountain is beautiful (I forgot the exact name). Although the language is not particularly fluent (most of the staff at the guesthouse are Tibetan), basic communication is not a problem. It may not meet the service expectations of many people, but every staff member has a warm smile.

|| The sacred sounds from the cliff. Shaqiong Temple is located in Chapu Township, Hualong County, about a two-hour drive from Xining. This temple was founded in 1349 and is well-known in the Tibetan region. Its founder was Tsongkhapa's mentor, Drupchen Dorjechang. In 1363, at the tender age of 7, Tsongkhapa was ordained here. He later emerged as a prominent figure in Lhasa and founded the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, which has led to the site being honored as the cradle of the Gelug tradition. At the summit of the temple stands a colossal statue of Tsongkhapa, with the golden dome of the hall shimmering in the sunlight. The road to Shaqiong Temple is quite rugged, requiring an ascent along the mountain. At its narrowest, it only allows for one vehicle to pass, with cliffs on the side, demanding extra caution. Due to its inaccessibility, there are few tourists, but a steady stream of devotees. They hurry around the giant statue, chanting and praying, or bowing devoutly outside the hall, with incense smoke curling inside the temple. Looking out from the railing, one can see the meandering Yellow River and the farms and villages below, a picturesque scene. 【Navigation Guide】To get to Shaqiong Temple, it's about a 2-hour drive from Xining. After descending the mountain, consider visiting Jianzha Kangyang Town, known as 'the first town of the Yellow River', where the water is clear and the scenery is charming.

Xiaqiong Temple in Haidong, Qinghai The monastery where Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, became a monk, retains a silver stupa of Qujietunzhu Ren. The monastery is spectacular, but its actual visibility is not high. Several halls such as the Tantric Hall prohibit atheists from entering, which is the first time I have encountered being prohibited from visiting due to atheism...

Xiaqiong Temple is located in Chafu Township, Hualong County, about two hours' drive from Xining. This temple, which was built in 1349, is famous in the Tibetan area. The founder of the temple is Tsongkhapa's enlightenment teacher, Qujie Dondrub. In 1363, the 7-year-old Tsongkhapa officially became a monk here. Later, he became famous in Lhasa and founded the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Therefore, this place is also known as the source of the Gelug Sect. There is a huge statue of Tsongkhapa standing on the top of the mountain, and the golden roof of the temple is shining in the sun. The road to Xiaqiong Temple is not easy to walk. You need to go up the mountain all the way. The narrowest part of the road can only accommodate one car. There is a cliff next to it, so you need to be very careful. It is precisely because it is not easy to reach that there are very few tourists here, but there are many believers who come to worship. Everyone walks hurriedly, circling around the huge statue of Tsongkhapa and chanting, or kowtow and worship outside the temple, and the temple is filled with smoke. Looking out from the railing, you can see the Yellow River turning in the distance and the nearby farms and villages. It is a very beautiful and special place. Address: Navigate to Xiaqiong Temple. It takes about 2 hours to drive from Xining. After going down the mountain, you can visit Jianzha Kangyang Town, which is also known as the first town of the Yellow River. The river water is clear and you can see the bottom.

During the period of the 13th Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933), it was presided over by the Deyang Living Buddha of Xiaqiong Temple and the local tribal leader Rosang, and the 'Jianzha Mani Qukeqinmo' was moved to the current site and a scripture hall was built, divided into two floors with a total of 7 rooms. The scripture hall and the Mani prayer wheel were demolished in 1958 and reopened in 1980. Now there is one scripture hall with 5 rooms, 11 monk houses, and 6 resident monks. The temple is managed by Jia Yangjia Cuo. The scripture hall is a Han-style loft-style building, made by Hezhou craftsmen, with carved beams and painted buildings, which is very spectacular. It is the main building of the entire temple, with the temple door facing west, from north to south. The first room is equipped with a Mani prayer wheel erected by the believers of Tianzhu County; the second room is sculpted with Sakyamuni, Tsongkhapa and the ninth Panchen Lama's clay statues; the third room is the center of the scripture hall, equipped with a large Mani prayer wheel erected by the local twelve ethnic groups with the Mani prayer wheel of Dunzhu Renqin as the treasure; the fourth room is sculpted with the clay statues of the 'Three Honorable Masters' Jingming Khenpo, Padmasambhava and Dharma King Trisong Detsen; the fifth room is equipped with a Mani prayer wheel erected by the Yixi of the temple. The three Mani prayer wheels in the scripture hall are all led from the back of the hall into the hall, and the water is used to drive the belt to make the Mani day and night. The water flows out of the hall, and the worshippers regard it as holy water, all draw it for drinking, or wash their heads and faces, it is said that it can brighten the eyes and is beneficial to health.