Cycling around Qinghai Lake, the biggest saltwater lake in China
Lakes and mountains are fascinating, especially when you go to the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai. That is a place beyond words, and you have to experience it yourself. Cycling around the largest salt-water lake in China, is challenging not just because of the high altitude. (3200m above sea-level), but also because of the ever-changing weather conditions.
In May the Tibetan Plateau comes back to life again after the harsh, cold and extreme windy winter days are finally over, and the short summer months finally arrive. This is a great spectacle that could be better appreciated by bike. The entire ride around the lake is 360 km. Some sections of this trip will take us right next to the lake, in the rest we will just see the lake in the distance.
The beauty and biodiversity of this plateau is astonishing! The peaceful lake, flocks of herds, prairies, farmlands, bright yellow rapeseed flowers and many other wildflowers will captivate your senses. We will be able to take in the striking views of the blue sky, high snow mountains, floating clouds reflecting their shadows in the “mirror” of the lakes. In addition to the natural diversity, we will be able to explore the cultural blend which fuses elements of Tibetan, Muslim, Mongolian and Han-Chinese traditions in Xining City. All in all, the 6 days 5 nights trip to this high plateau area will give you an unforgettable experience with physical, cultural and emotional pleasure.
Explore the Awe-inspiring Biome of the Plateau
- Cycle along rapeseed fields
- Witness a unique migration. The naked carp is a species of fish only found in Qinghai Lake. As the mating season approaches, adult carps embark on a challenging voyage upstream to spawn in fresh water. (May-August)
- Cycle through the Jinshawan Desert and plant some saplings to help nourish a refreshing oasis.
- Hike the Rubber Mountain and enjoy a picnic
- Visit the stunning Chaka Salt Lake （Chaka means Salt Lake in Tibetan） surrounded by snow-capped mountains
Experience the Multi-Cultural Setting
- Visit a Tibetan home, learn how to make the local staple food called Tsampa, and enjoy a cup of ghee tea.
- Admire the iconic Ta’er Temple, sacred place for its believers and a holy place for lovers of ancient architecture!
- Admire the exhibits of local museums, hosting thousands of animal and plant specimens that show the variety of ecology and geography of the Tibetan Plateau.
Enjoy the Local Flavor
- Dance, have a blast and taste the grassland roasted lamb in a bonfire party!
Logistic support services:
- Our local service provider team has 16 years of experience in organizing cycling tours in Hainan,7years in Qinghai Lake and 5 years in Xinjiang.
- Our professional cycling group leaders are trained and provide a safe cycling experience
- Our media team will capture those moments you want to remember, the smiles and the effort we put into cycling.
- A support van will accompany our tour carrying your luggage, so you can cycle light. There will be a First Aid kit and a toolbox for any emergencies on the road. All in all, to ensure the best experience for you cycling around the lake.
- Rest and restore energy supply with the provisions we prepare for you: fruit, snacks, and drinks that will provide you with the nutrition, electrolytes and hydration that your body needs during the rides. Discover what our team members affectionately call the“mobile mini-mart”
- End this highland cycling journey with an Award Ceremony and a dinner to celebrate your achievements, joyful memories and new friendships!
Day 1 Departure
(Worldwide – Xining)
Arrive at Xining Airport on the day and take a taxi or the bus to the designated hotel in Xining to check in. Xining is known as the “Pearl of the Plateau”. Families arriving early can enjoy free time and activities in the city. Recommended places to visit: Plateau Safari Park, the entrance fee is about ￥30; Buddhist holy land – Ta’er Temple, the entrance fee is about ￥70. And in the evening, you can shop for snacks in Wangfujing New Millennium Night Market, where snacks are rich in characteristics and shopping is also extremely convenient.
Day 2 Adaptive Ride + Museum Visit
(Xining–Xihai Town)
Drive 100km Adaptive ride 15Km
We will be sent by car to check in at the designated hotel in Xihai Town, which is also the location of China’s first nuclear weapons development base, Factory 221. Nowadays the traces of history are hidden in the Atomic City Memorial Hall, we will visit to learn the history of the manufacture of atomic bombs. After that we will go back to the base camp, the group leader will organize an orderly test ride for you to choose the bike and collect the equipment, then ride for 15km, and in the evening we will have ice-breaker activities and fruit dinner in the hotel.
Morning: Xining-Xihai Town by car, Atomic City Museum visit, Natural Ecology Museum visit, learn the natural formation law of Qinghai Lake, the origin of the life of local Tibetan residents.
Lunch: Meal at the base camp
Afternoon: cycling tips and tricks presentation + adaptive ride 15km, and tracing the history and culture of the locomotive at Shangxing Station
Day 3 First stop of the ride around the lake
(Xihai Town–Jiangxigou)
Drive 85km Cycle 50km
After breakfast at the hotel,8:30 am transfer to the gate of Qinghai Lake for a group photo, and then start to cycle the desert highway section, arrive at the mysterious protector of the Qinghai Lake – Mr. Nanjia’s museum to learn about environmental protection knowledge – Tibetan home visits. We will all work together to plant a sapling at the Jinshawan Desert. Then, return to the Rapeseed Flower Cycling Greenway for a 13km ride, which is “one of the most beautiful places to see rapeseed flowers in Qinghai Lake”. Finally, drive back to the hotel.
Morning:15km ride on Jinshawan Desert Highway, desert saline and alkaline land to protect the environment and help plant trees.
Noon: Lunch at the sheep farm on the east side of the lake
Afternoon: Cycle the Rapeseed Greenway for 13km, rapeseed field viewing.
Day 4 Meet the Land of the Sky
(Jiangxigou–Heimahe–Chaka Salt Lake)
Drive 90km Cycle 30km
Under the clear sky after the rain, cloudless, turquoise grassy beach with dark brown mountains, and the silver highway looks like a khata, winding out into the distance………A few yaks strolling on the grassy beach seem to be very leisure. After lunch at Heimahe, we will drive to the Chaka Salt Lake, Chaka Salt Lake – the realm of the sky, China’s Chaka Salt Lake is known as China’s “realm of the sky” by travelers. It is honored as one of the “55 places you must visit in your life” by the National Geographic magazine. After visiting Chaka Lake, we will stay in Chaka town.
Morning:30km ride on a straight road along the lake
Lunch: Heimahe
Afternoon: Visit Chaka Salt Lake, the realm of the sky, and watch the sunset
Day 5 Canyon Hike & Whole Sheep Roast Campfire Party
(Chaka Salt Lake-Gangcha)
Drive 167km Cycle 15km
Over the Rubber Mountain, you can see the white sheep on the Shangtou Mountain. We will cycle along the lake for 15km, followed by Tibetan family visit, canyon hiking and lookout of Qinghai Lake. There are wild rabbits, rock sheep, eagles and other wild animals in the canyon. The naked carp migrate in May-August, it is the only one kind of large wild economic fish in Qinghai Lake. Because of its special living environment, the naked carp growth rate is very slow, about every 10 years weight gain of 0.5 kilograms, and with the low reproductive capacity, the population renewal time is also longer.
Morning: from the hotel drive to the east road around the lake, ride along the lake 30km, look for the naked carp migration, feel the intoxicating beauty of Qinghai Lake
Noon: Canyon hike + picnic lunch
Afternoon: local specialty tsamba food making and ghee tea tasting
Evening: Roasted whole sheep and grassland bonfire party
Day 6 Final Challenge & Honorary Awards
(Gangcha-Xihai Town-Xining)
Drive 186km Cycle 28km
Gangcha to Xihai town is the last day of cycling around the lake, we are about to finish the 360Km journey around the lake. We hit the road, riding on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, passing by Kangyangjiacuo Square, where many verses are engraved, “You see or you don’t see me, I’m right there……” The left and right sides of the highway were filled with peace and silence. In the sound of wheels rubbing against the road, swing your feet and continue to wander in that magical dream of the plateau. At the end of the ride, we returned to Xihai town for lunch. cycling certificates and medals are prepared for each team member.
Morning: start riding 28km at Ganzihe, cycling up a challenging steep hill and make the most memorable impression for our perseverance and this trip.
Noon: Presentation of medals and certificates to the team members, a moment of honor for each and every one of them.
Afternoon: we expect to finish at 2:00 p.m. and arrive at Xining or the airport around 4:00 p.m. When you buy the ticket, try to be in this time period, so that it is convenient for the bus to send you to the airport at one time. If you have time, you can choose to stay in Xining that night, and have time to explore Xining during the day.
Dates:
Date 1: July 10 – July 15
Date 2: July 25th – July 30th
Date 3: August 2 – August 7
Date 4: August 8th – August 13th
Price:
￥6580
Price Includes:
- 【Personal equipment】: high-quality mountain / flat handlebar road bike, helmet, riding vest, bandana, raincoat, cushion, pannier bag, front bag （can be claimed after application）.
- 【Excellent cycling team leader】: arrange food and lodging, lead the team to lead the ride, bike maintenance
- 【Logistic Support Vehicle】: 1:1 seat bus/multi-functional large space logistic vehicle + logistic support vehicle. Rescue, load luggage, reduce weight.
- 【5 nights accommodation】: Xining + Xihai Town + Jiangxigou + Chaka Salt Lake + Gangcha. Local high standard comfortable double room.
- 【Round-trip transportation】: bus / logistics support vehicle services, 1:1 independent seats.
- 【Exclusive gift】: certificate, insurance, medals.
- 【Public equipment】: selfie stick * 1, music player * 1, oxygen tank * 1; walkie-talkie, tire repair tools, first aid kit (external medicine, high altitude sickness drugs; if you need other drugs, please bring your own).
- 【Meals】: 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners (from 15 with roasted whole sheep, less than 15 roasted lamb chops).
- 【Supplies】: water, snacks, fruit;
- 【Activities】: tour guide; scenic spot tickets; saline planting; rape flower scenic spot tickets; Chaka Salt Lake tickets; tsampa making experience; bonfire party; roasted sheep
- 【Pick-up service】: Pick up: Xining – Xihai Town Return: Xihai Town – Xining / Airport
- 【Photography】: Photography and short video after the tour.
Price does not include:
- Transportation: before or after the trip itinerary to or from Xining
- Scenic area tickets: does not include unmentioned scenic area tickets (if you want to visit the scenic areas that require separate tickets, please book in advance at your own expense, or make separate arrangements for the purchase of tickets);
- Private consumption: such as beverages and alcohol, laundry, private transportation costs, etc.;
- Single room charge: accommodation arrangements are double standard room, if there is a single person will be arranged suite / triple room, if you request a single room, you need to supplement the difference: single room 800 yuan / person.
Refund Policy, Gear Advice & Reminder
Refund Policy:
- One date change or full refund can be made 10 days prior to the start of the event.
- 5-9 days prior to the event start date, cancellation or change will deduct 20% of the event fee.
- 1-4 days prior to the event, 40% of the event fee will be deducted for cancellations or changes.
- If you withdraw before the start of the activity, you can find someone to take your place without any deduction, but if you withdraw after the start of the activity due to your own reasons or do not participate in the activity, the fee will not be refunded.
Essential and Suggested Gear to Prepare:
Essential:
warm clothes and pants, small backpack, sunscreen, personal medicine. (Please bring long underwear after September).
Suggested:
dry food, snacks, quick-drying clothes and pants, jacket, cycling pants, cycling goggles, lip balm, camera, portable water bottle, umbrella, smart phone （with cycling positioning software installed）,2 pairs of sneakers (in case it rains, have a few pairs of socks).
Reminder:
- We recommend spending two to three days in Xining to get used to the higher altitude and avoid high-altitude-sickness. Xining is a quiet city with several parks, museums and nearby monasteries to spend some quality time with family and friends.
- This is not an average tour. It is far from modern civilization and rustic. Be open minded and do not expect five-star hotels, roads or service. North West China is mostly rural; therefore, we will encounter simple shepherds, farmers, drivers and hotel staff. Locals are friendly and helpful, treat them with respect and healthy curiosity. Ask before you take pictures of or with them.
- Tourism is not as developed, you may want to bring your own sleeping bag, or bedsheets, towels and toiletries.
- This is an extreme outdoor experience, remember you are 3,200 m above sea-level), surrounded by mountains 4 to 5,000 meters high. You may have spring, summer, winter and autumn in one day and back. Be ready for physically and mentally challenging times while we ride.
- Follow the instructions of the team leader. Leave only footprints behind, and take only pictures as memories.
- Many places are holy to the Tibetans and their religion, please ask before entering any sights. The lake is sacred for the Tibetans; therefore, swimming and fishing is not allowed.
- Participants over 60 need a health certificate and sign a disclaimer. If you suffer from High Blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, or cardiorespiratory illnesses, please ask your doctor if you are fit to participate.
- In the event of sudden illness or accidental injury, the team leader has the right to decide whether to terminate these activities according to the situation at that time.
- Qinghai Plateau cool in summer, with strong ultraviolet rays, usually the climate is dry in summer, and temperatures are about: 6-28 degrees, mornings and evenings are cold/cool
- Pay attention to timely adjust your clothing. We advise to be an ‘onion’ have multiple layers.
- Daily schedule is subject to change and the team leader may adjust the schedule according to needs and conditions.
Please scan the QR code for registration
Check out our other summer programs via the link below:
