9-Day Cycling Itinerary – Qilian Mountains to the Border of Qinghai-Tibet/Loess Plateau

Route Map about the Journey

Driving Itinerary

• Day 1: Lanzhou – Gulang-Wuwei (280KM)
• Day 2: Wuwei-Yongchang-Zhangye (255KM)
• Day 3: Zhangye – Jiuquan – Jiayuguan (230KM)
• Day 4: Jiayuguan – Guazhou-Dunhuang (386KM)
• Day 5: Dunhuang – Daxiadan (340KM)
• Day 6: Da Qaidam -Golmud (190KM)
• Day 7: Golmud-Dulan (334KM)
• Day 8: Dulan – Chaka Salt Lake – Daotang River (327KM)
• Day 9: Daotang River – Sun Moon Mountain – Lanzhou (407KM)

Main Attractions Along the Journey

Mandarin duck in the sea of flowers

The Huahai Mandarin Duck is located in the heart of the Qilian Mountain grassland, one of the six most beautiful grasslands in China. It is like a bright pearl, inlaid between the snow-capped mountains and the grassland. The lake is surrounded by eight-fold lotus-like hills and formed by 108 springs. It contrasts with the Gangshika Snow Peak and forms a beautiful picture. The surrounding wetlands are lush with grass and water, and there are many cattle and sheep. Hundreds of birds are playing on the lake, and the pairs of mandarin ducks are the most eye-catching.

Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes

Mogao Grottoes, commonly known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, are located in Dunhuang at the western end of the Hexi Corridor. It was first built during the Former Qin Dynasty of the Sixteen Kingdoms, and has been built over the course of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Northern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Western Xia, and Yuan dynasties, forming a huge scale with 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and 2,415 clay sculptures. It is the largest and most content-rich Buddhist art site in the world. It is known as one of the four major grottoes in China, along with the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan, and the Maijishan Grottoes in Tianshui, Gansu.

Chaka Salt Lake

Chaka Salt Lake is located in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It is known as the “Mirror of the Sky” and has beautiful scenery. It is the most beautiful in July and August. It is the birthplace of salt culture and has entertainment projects such as salt sculpture. You can walk along the lakeside, go deep into the lake or admire the salt sculptures, as if you are in a fantasy world. When visiting Qinghai, almost no one will miss the famous Chaka Salt Lake. It was rated as one of the “55 Places to Visit in a Lifetime” by the National Geographic Tourism Magazine and one of the “30 Most Beautiful Places in China” by CNN in the United States. July and August every year is the most beautiful season for Chaka Salt Lake.