Xining and sorrounding Travel Guide

Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai, is the biggest city on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It lies in the eastern part of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, and the upper reaches of Shuang Shui River. The City of Xining acts as one of the major gateways to the Tibetan Plateau.

It is located in northeastern Qinghai at a flatland as a junction of Huangshui and other three rivers, surrounded by mountain ranges. Xining has been an important historical city in northwestern China for more than 2,100 years. During ancient time, it played as the guarding frontier city, also an important stopover along the ancient Silk Road, as well a trading center for Tang Empire and Tubo Kingdom(Tibet).

It is an ancient highland city on the Yellow River which offers many scenic spots and historical sites. Although the city itself has a strong Islamic flavor, as it is home to many Hui people, you will start getting a more Tibetan feel as you move away from the city.

Xining used to be the thoroughfare of the Silk Road, and the vital town connecting Central Plains and west border areas. Moreover, it was the only way which must be passed to Tang-Bo Ancient Road. Even in the present day, Xining is the important communications hub, being the terminal point of Lanzhou-Xining Railway, the starting point of Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Qinghai-Tibet Highway. As a matter of fact, what makes this ancient town steeped in a heritage of culture is its location - close to Huangshui River. It is this main tributary that created the celebrated Hehuang culture of the upstream of the Yellow River.

Xining was once an important stop on the century-old Silk Road that ran through Tibet. The boom of the Silk Road in the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) was a major factor for the city's rise. But the city's important role gradually declined as the trade route fell into disuse.

● Highlights of Xining

Xining's importance in the old trade route meant that it has a lot of historical sites, and has been a gateway to the West for a long time. In previous centuries, people passing through Xining were either doing so with commercial purposes, or religious.

Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Monastery)

In Xining visitors can find Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum), one of the two most important Tibetan monasteries outside the Tibetan Administrative Region.

Dongguan Great Mosque

The Xining Great Mosque is a large and beautiful mosque with a huge courtyard full of greenery, and was recently restored. The original building was built in the 14th century. It is an important building for the large muslim population of Xining, and you can't visit during prayer time.

Qinghai Lake

Qinghai Lake is the largest inland salt-water lake in China, and Bird Island, on the west shore of Qinghai Lake, is also worth a visit for its astonishing scenery.

Qinghai Provincial Museum

A museum exhibiting Qinghai history through beautiful artefacts, based on a pleasant square in the city. Not all exhibitions have English signs.

● Xining Food&Drinks

As the capital of Qinghai province, Xining almost boasts all varieties of local flavors. Xining's cuisine is distinct from other varieties of Chinese cities using mainly food products native to the area. Food here is substantial, but quite inexpensive.

In Xining, some restaurants serve varieties of 'plateau flavor', such as Feng'er Liji (a round lamb tenderloin), Danbai Chongcao Ji (a medicine cuisine made of chicken, Chinese caterpillar fungus and eggs), Jinyu Facai (pork wrapped in flagelliform nostoc and shaped as a goldfish) among others. These dishes are often cooked by the locals at home.

There are also many small restaurants offering noodles. Gan Ban is a very common noodle dish. Perhaps Mian Pian, which means "noodle leaves" is the most common noodle plate among the Qinghai people. On the streets, many Muslims sell spicy lamb brochettes. Due to the cold climate, residents of Xining are also fond of strong spirits—Xining has the reputation of being one of the heaviest regions of alcohol consumption in China.

● Best time to visit

Although as a remote city in the wild northwestern China, Xining has a pleasant milder climate mostly because of its surrounding mountain ranges with green plants which also prevent the cold and dry air flowing into Xining flatland. The average elevation of Xining is 2,275 meters. Xining is featured in a semi-arid climate – low air pressure, rich and long sunshine, little precipitation. There usually a big temperature gap between day and night.

Generally speaking, Summer and Autumn, briefly from June to October, is the best time to visit Xining and around. But if possible, avoid visit in July and August to get rid of crowding tourists.