Things to do in Jinchang

Zijin Flower City Scenic Area, located 50 meters west of Tianjin Road, Jinchuan District, Jinchang City, Gansu Province, is a vanilla flower ecological leisure tourism scenic area built in accordance with the concept of scenic city integration. The scenic area covers a total area of ​​570.4 acres, of which 400 acres are planted with various flowers, and 170 acres are occupied by supporting facilities such as artificial lakes and parking lots. The area consists of one lake - Ziyan Lake, one island - Sakura Island, and three gardens - Vanilla Flower Garden, Medicinal Diet Flower Garden, and "Unforgettable Memories" Era Theme Garden.

Jinshui Lake, also known as the "Jinchang East Lake Scenic Belt", is located in the east of Jinchang City, Gansu Province, with a total area of ​​about 236 hectares. It is the largest artificial reclaimed water storage landscape belt in Northwest China. The project is to solve the problem of reclaimed water storage and utilization after the completion of industrial urban sewage treatment plants. It is an urban landscape project based on reclaimed water reservoirs that integrates leisure, sightseeing, and ecological protection, and has three functions of storage, regulation, and landscape. The scenic area reservoir consists of five lakes of different areas, with a total water surface area of ​​about 60 hectares and a total water storage capacity of about 2.3 million cubic meters. Jinchang City actively promotes the upgrading of the Jinshui Lake Scenic Area, makes full use of the vacant land in the scenic area, plants vanilla flowers and flowering plants, creates a landscape effect of lakes and mountains, waterscapes and flowers, and creates the Jinshui Lake Scenic Area as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

It is free but not open to the public. You can climb the mountain opposite to see the view.

We entered the Rainbow Mountains scenic area at 4 pm and took the sightseeing bus to four viewing points. We waited at the No. 4 viewing platform to watch the sunset. The setting sun dyed the entire mountainside golden red. The colors were 10 times more stunning to the naked eye than in the photos.

The scenery is actually very beautiful, but it's quite dirty; there's trash everywhere. The desert itself is still very interesting, with many recreational activities to enjoy. The service staff is so-so; some staff members have a rather poor attitude.

This century-old Tibetan Buddhist temple is well worth a visit, boasting exquisite butter sculptures, murals, and appliqué embroidery. It's also among the first batch of national protected cultural relics and a 5A-level scenic spot. It's one of the two must-see attractions in Xining, the other being Qinghai Lake.

The scenic area is large and clean, with a refreshing atmosphere. There are so many animals, the shows are fantastic, the kids had a blast, and the visit was very comfortable. The staff were very welcoming, and the routes were well-designed – it was so convenient! I'll definitely come back next time.

Buy tickets for the 9:00 AM bus from Xining Bus Station to Qinghai Lake. You can buy tickets through the Xining Bus Station's WeChat mini-program! The journey takes about 2.5 hours, with a stop at a service station for restroom use. Arrive around 11:30 AM. (There will be grasslands along the way; you can see them from the window.) The tour guide will assist with buying tickets on the bus, or you can buy them at the ticket center. Upon arrival, take a fast cruise to the island, then either the cruise ship to the island or a small train or bus to the lake. On the island, you can play in the sand and see seagulls and yaks. Plan your itinerary carefully; less than 4 hours for sightseeing will feel rushed.

Erlangjian is the main scenic area of ​​Qinghai Lake, shaped like a long sword entering the lake. Visitors can take a cruise to explore the heart of the lake and also get a close look at the ruins of a torpedo launching test base. The facilities are well-developed, making it suitable for first-time visitors, but prices are high during peak season due to crowds.