Xining Travel Guide

Xining is the capital of Qinghai province and a highland city at the gateway to the Tibetan Plateau. Since ancient times it has flourished as a transport hub where the routes linking the Silk Road and Tibet converged, and today many travelers still come here as the starting point of journeys toward the plateau and Qinghai Lake.

Taer Monastery, in the western suburbs, is known as the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, and counts as one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug tradition. Within its grounds, where the Great Golden Tile Hall and the Great Assembly Hall stand, butter sculptures, murals and appliqué work are known as the three wonders of Taer Monastery. In the city center stands the Dongguan Great Mosque, founded in the Ming dynasty, whose prayer hall blends traditional Chinese and Islamic architecture beautifully.

To the west spreads Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland saltwater lake. In summer the rapeseed flowers bloom along its shores, and the contrast between the blue of the water and the yellow of the flowers is striking. Back in the city you can enjoy a range of multi-ethnic culinary traditions, from lamb dishes shaped by Hui cooking to paozhang noodles cut short and served with broth, and Tibetan butter tea.

In the city center, the minarets of mosques stand next to modern buildings, creating a scene unique to this highland city. This land, once traveled by caravans, is now linked to Lanzhou and Xi'an by high-speed rail, and access has improved greatly. Take a slow walk through Xining, where multi-ethnic communities and plateau landscapes meet.