Time to go! Goodbye, Northwest China!

When the wind sweeps across the spine of the Qilian Mountains, and the salt lakes reflect the entire Milky Way, Qinghai unfolds its most magnificent scroll between heaven and earth. This is God's overturned palette, where the pure blue Qinghai Lake embraces thousands of acres of golden rapeseed flowers, the Tiffany blue Dongtai Gelinair Lake is embedded in the Gobi, the green of Emerald Lake and the white of Qarhan collide to create ultimate romance, and the ink-black ridges of Heidu Mountain carve out a stark, apocalyptic aesthetic. Day 1: Xining → Ta'er Monastery → Qinghai Lake → Heimahe Township ◦ Morning: Visit Ta'er Monastery (admission 80 RMB, open 8:00-17:00). Hire an official guide to explain the butter sculptures, murals, and other intangible cultural heritage, and turn the prayer wheels clockwise for blessings. ◦ Afternoon: Drive along National Highway 109 to Qinghai Lake. Check in at Erlangjian Scenic Area (peak season admission 90 RMB), or take the free section of the West Lake Ring Road for a closer view of the lake. ◦ Evening: Stay at a guesthouse in Heimahe Township, convenient for watching the sunrise the next day, and experience a Tibetan-style heated brick bed room (peak season 200-400 RMB/night). • Day 2: Heimahe Sunrise → Chaka Salt Lake → Gangcha County ◦ Early Morning: Watch the Qinghai Lake sunrise in Heimahe Township. Arrive before 6 AM for the best views, and capture stunning photos with prayer flags and lake reflections. ◦ Morning: Head to Chaka Salt Lake (admission 60 RMB, open 7:00-20:00). Wear sapphire blue clothing for mirror-like reflections, and take the small train deep into the lake to avoid crowds. ◦ Evening: Stay in Gangcha County and savor authentic hand-grabbed lamb. Accommodation conditions in the county seat are better than in townships. • Day 3: Gangcha → Qilian Mountain Grassland → Menyuan → Xining ◦ Morning: Traverse the Qilian Mountain Grassland (free admission). Experience horseback riding at Arou Tribe (300 RMB/2 hours), and gaze at the distant Gangshika Snow Peak. ◦ Afternoon: If visiting in July, check in at the Yuanshan Observation Deck for the Menyuan Rapeseed Flower Sea (admission 60 RMB), and take a hot air balloon to overlook the hundred-mile flower sea (680 RMB/person); if not during the flower season, visit Daban Mountain Observation Deck.