People of the bustling cities may find peace, fresh air and idyllic
surroundings on the Qinghai-Tibet highland. The fluffy white
clouds, purely blue sky, vista of vast grassland on which flocks of
sheep and herds of yaks are grazing, creates a sanctuary free from
the turmoil of modern cities. On this mystical, unspoiled land,
travelers will find Xining-capital of Qinghai Province.
Severe earthquakes attacked Yushu, Qinghai Province.
- Major tourist spots in Qinghai Province and Tibet Autonomous Region
are not affected.
- Tours can proceed as planned. Click for more details.
Situated at the northeast of Qinghai province, Xining lies at the
junction of the Lanzhou-Qinghai and the Qinghai-Tibet railway with
good transportation. Bordering the harsh Tibet highland, Xining is
2,260 meters above sea level but climate there is much better than
that of Tibet. Enjoying a good location surrounded by high
mountains, the city has a relatively comfortable climate with
neither bone-chilling winter nor sweltering summer and the annually
temperature there is about 6 centigrade. Summer in Xining is an
ideal season for tourists who can enjoy fresh and crisp weather.
Xining was once an important stop on the century-old Silk Road. The
boom of the Silk Road in the Han Dynasty is a major factor for the
city's rise. But the city's historical role gradually declined as
the trade route fell into disuse. Xining's importance in the old
trade route means that it has a lot of historical sites.
In and around Xining, visitors can find the Ta'er Monastery
(Kumbum), one of the two most important Tibetan monasteries outside
Tibet, Dongguan Great Mosque. Xining also provide access to some
natural attractions with superlative beauty including the Qinghai
Lake, the largest inland salt-water lake in China, the Bird Island
on the west shore of the Qinghai Lake.
The recently finished Qinghai-Tibet railway marks a new era for
Xining's significant role in tourism. As an important stop along
the Qinghai-Tibet track, Xining will be a vital stop for travelers
to Tibet. The first luxurious five star sight-seeing trains will
start there bound for Tibet highland. Xining's similarity with
Tibet in weather allows Xining an "adapted stop" for visitor who
will then gradually adapt themselves to the harsh weather condition
in Tibet.
