Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Day 1｜Xining → Qinghai Lake Road Trip

The long-awaited Northwest journey is finally happening ✌ Will gradually organize the travel notes. The itinerary is planned as follows: Day 1: 🚆Arrive in Xining—rent a car for road trip—Qinghai Lake Cliff—Heimahe Town🏨 Day 2: 🌅Watch sunrise at Donggeer Viewing Platform of Qinghai Lake—Chaka Salt Lake—Delhi🏨 Day 3: Delhi—Xiaochaidamu Lake Viewpoint—Chaerhan Salt Lake—Dachaidan🏨 Day 4: Dachaidan Emerald Lake—U-shaped Highway—Watery Yadan—Lenghu Town🏨 Day 5: Heidushan—Mingsha Mountain—Dunhuang🏨 Day 6: Mogao Caves—Mingsha Mountain—Dunhuang🏨 Day 7: Dunhuang—Child of Earth—Jiayuguan Pass—Rainbow Danxia—Zhangye🏨 Day 8: Zhangye—Biandukou—Qilian Mountain Grassland—Menyuan—Xining🚆 On Day 1, we encountered the Qinghai Lake Cycling Race🚲 with road closures, so we circled Qinghai Lake to visit the viral check-in spot "Cliff" The cliff now has a boardwalk built, parking is 🆓, but you need to buy shuttle tickets and can't walk to the edge anymore❗️It was quite crowded too. In the evening, we witnessed spectacular sunset clouds😍. Stayed at a homestay in Heimahe Town with a very hospitable host. 🌅The sunrise over Qinghai Lake is a must-see - the red sun breaking over the lake surface is truly breathtaking😍 🚗Road conditions were excellent throughout the day with no traffic jams. PS: 🌱Arrived in Xining by train in the morning. Had breakfast buns near the car rental place - taste was mediocre. Probably not used to the pepper seasoning here. 🌱Dinner was at Zangmeige Restaurant in Heimahe Town - their Tibetan-style pot stickers were delicious😘