Things to do in Delingha

Tree of Life Filming Location (Keluke Town)

The "Tree of Life" filming location (Keluke Town) is the core filming location for the TV series "Tree of Life." The location was renovated based on the former Delingha Farm 201 Hospital, built in 1958, strictly adhering to the principle of "restoring the old as it was," completely preserving the architectural style from the 1950s to the 1980s. The main scenes within the base include a courtyard centered around the home of the female protagonist, "Bai Ju," where the "Tree of Life," symbolizing perseverance and hope, stands. Visitors can tie prayer ribbons to the branches. In addition, the scene of the Mazhi County Hospital has been recreated—the yellowed walls, rusty equipment, simple hospital beds, and details such as the stove and floral bed sheets in Bai Ju's home, full of the atmosphere of 1990s plateau life. The filming location innovatively introduces immersive gameplay such as NPC character interaction and task check-ins. Visitors can receive a "Watcher's Diary" in the "hospital" and collect stamps by interacting with characters such as "doctors" and "veterans."

No. 13 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Qinghai

Tuosu Lake

Tuosu Lake is located deep in the Gobi Desert on the northeastern edge of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai. In Mongolian, "Tuosu" means "butter lake." It is a typical inland saltwater lake on the plateau, surrounded by the vast Gobi Desert. The climate is dry with intense evaporation, and the lake water has high salinity, resulting in sparse aquatic flora and fauna, which makes the lake surface appear exceptionally quiet and vast. The lakeshore is open and unobstructed. When the wind is calm, the lake is vast and misty, with the water and sky merging into one. When the weather changes suddenly, waves crash against the shore, sending sprays of water everywhere. This contrast between stillness and motion fully displays the desolate grandeur of a Gobi lake. Tuosu Lake is connected to the Keluke Lake on its north side by a small river. One is saltwater and the other is freshwater, resembling a pair of saddlebags, so the two lakes are collectively known as the "Saddlebag Lakes." The Qinghai-Tibet Railway passes right between the two lakes, offering a chance to see trains traveling between them. Every early spring, water birds such as gulls, brown-headed gulls, and wild ducks flock to the bird island, which covers about 1 sq km in the middle of the lake, to nest. Nests are scattered everywhere, filled with eggs, making it a famous bird-watching spot in the Qaidam area.

No. 5 of Night Attractions in Qinghai

Hala Lake

Hala Lake is an endorheic saltwater lake on the eastern side of the Qaidam Basin, located deep in an uninhabited area. Its name means "black lake" in Mongolian, and it is also known as the "Black Sea." The lake surface is at an altitude of over 4,000 m, with a water area of approx. 600 sq km. The lakeshore area is a well-preserved primitive highland wetland. In summer, the pastures are lush and fertile, and various highland waterfowl inhabit the wetlands. The lake area is primarily fed by surface runoff and glacial meltwater, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers, with snow-capped peaks reflecting in the deep blue lake water to create an iconic scene. There is almost no light pollution here at night, and the Milky Way stretches across the sky and reflects on the lake surface, making it a sought-after destination for astrophotography enthusiasts.

Haizi Poetry Exhibition Hall

Haizi Poetry Exhibition Hall is a cultural venue established to commemorate the renowned Chinese poet Haizi. The hall houses Haizi's poetry manuscripts, photographs, and biographical information, showcasing his significant status in modern Chinese poetry. Visitors can gain a deeper understanding of Haizi's creative journey and intellectual world here, and experience the unique charm of his poetry. The architectural design of the poetry hall is simple yet artistic, with a well-organized interior space suitable for quiet reading and contemplation. The hall features a dedicated reading area that provides a variety of literary works for visitors to browse freely. In addition, the hall occasionally hosts poetry readings and literary lectures, providing a platform for literary enthusiasts to connect. Haizi Poetry Exhibition Hall is easily accessible, and visitors can choose to travel by public transportation or self-drive. There are several restaurants and cafes nearby, making it convenient for visitors to rest and dine after their visit. For tourists who love literature and poetry, this is a cultural destination not to be missed, where they can follow in the poet's footsteps in a tranquil atmosphere and inspire their love for and reflection on literature.

Baishu Mountain

Baishu Mountain serves as a natural barrier for Delingha, standing like a sturdy, heroic warrior guarding this "pearl of the plateau" beside it. The environment here is elegant, and the scenery is charming. Looking at Baishu Mountain from afar, cypress trees stand proudly across the mountains and plains, and on the mountain, the grass appears lush up close but seems to disappear from a distance. "Frosty bark slick with rain, forty spans around; dark green color reaching the sky, two thousand feet high" (Du Fu, "Ancient Cypress"). The tall, straight cypress trees with giant, umbrella-like canopies are the highlight here. Also known as Qinghai rock cypress, these trees are tenacious, cold-resistant, and drought-tolerant, thriving in both gravel piles and rocky cliffs. Therefore, in the arid mountains and gullies of the Qaidam Basin, they remain lush and verdant. The meadows among the cypress forests, filled with clusters of red willows and wildflowers, where butterflies and bees chase each other, are a blessed land for the people of Delingha. Baishu Mountain features knife-cut cliffs from which clear spring water cascades down, forming a sparkling, turquoise pool. The swirling blue water and rippling waves create a picturesque scene where the sky, mountains, and water reflect one another. Behind the waterfall lies a massive cave; sitting inside and watching the waterfall cascade down like a silver curtain feels exactly like being in a "Water Curtain Cave." In the dense cypress forest, there is also the "national treasure" Qinghai spruce. This ancient species from the Cretaceous period is tall and lush, with some trees reaching four to five hundred years of age. Like the dawn redwood and ginkgo, it is a precious "living fossil" plant.

Kelukehu Tourism Area

"Koruk" means "a place with lush grass and sedge beach and lush water grass" in Mongolian. It is located in the eastern part of the Qaidam Basin. It is a slightly brackish freshwater lake with clear water, calm lake surface and beautiful scenery. In early spring every year, when the ice of Crook Lake begins to melt, flocks of black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese, gulls, wild ducks and other rare birds fly here from the distant Southeast Asian islands to build nests and raise children. Black-necked cranes like to build nests and live in the swamps and reeds beside Crook Lake, while bar-headed geese and grey geese build nests and live on sand dunes. Koruk Lake is located to the north of Tosu Lake. Together with Tosu Lake, they are collectively called Talian Lake. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway passes between the two lakes. It is a paradise for birds and a hometown for fish. The cooing of birds echoes among the reeds, bringing endless joy. Kelu Lake has a dock, yachts, motorboats, tents and restaurants. In the fishing area, you can see fishermen fishing. The Qaidam carp in the lake are large and weigh more than ten kilograms. The meat is tender and delicious. The lake is also rich in Chinese mitten crabs, also known as hairy crabs.

Haixi Prefecture Museum

Haixi Prefecture Museum is a comprehensive local museum that showcases the history, culture, and multi-ethnic integration of the Qaidam Basin. The museum's architecture blends plateau regional characteristics with modern exhibition concepts, featuring a simple and steady exterior that harmonizes with the Gobi city view of Delingha. Through systematic exhibitions, the museum unfolds the historical trajectory of the Haixi region—from prehistoric civilization and its role as a node on the ancient Silk Road's Qinghai Route to modern ethnic exchanges—allowing visitors to clearly understand the unique role this plateau hinterland plays in regional cultural exchange. The exhibition halls feature a variety of formats, including archaeological artifacts, ethnic costumes and utensils, historical documents, and reconstructed scenes. At the same time, the museum highlights the lifestyles and cultural traditions of local ethnic groups, such as the Mongol and Tibetan people, creating a dialogue between historical narratives and contemporary life.

de ling ha nai zi hu

Baishu Mountain Stargazing Campsite

Delingha Alien Site Scenic Area

Alien ruins are very famous locally. The site is located on Baigong Mountain, east of Tuosu Lake, around a cave. There are some iron pipes and iron pieces scattered outside the cave. There are iron pipes of different diameters in the cave that penetrate into the mountain, as if the pipes are inserted directly into the middle of the stone. The pipes are rusty and maroon. Outside the cave, there are all kinds of strange-shaped stones, all of which are standing, some even standing in the lake next to them, and there are a series of mysterious symbols and unsolved letters on the rock formations of sand and stone. Mysterious Steel Pipe Unearthed cultural relics here are animal bones, stone tools, pottery or leather, etc. far away, and bronze ware, knives and arrows, clothing, etc., although there are also woolen textiles, but all of them are simple in craftsmanship and rough in production. There has never been a modern industrial product like iron pipes before. In addition to the harsh natural conditions in the Qaidam Basin, the local people have never had a history of industrial development. Searching all over the history books, I have never found a few words about the industry here.