A Magical Self-driving Tour on the Great Northwest Loop
Hey, foreign friends! Today, I’m excited to share with you an amazing self-driving journey on the Great Northwest Loop in China. This 10-day trip, which I took with my friend Ken in August, is filled with diverse landscapes, rich cultures, and unforgettable experiences.
1. Route Overview
This route is an extended version of the traditional Qinghai – Gansu Great Loop. The first half focuses on the natural scenery of Qinghai Lake and the Qaidam Basin, while the second half features the cultural charm of the Hexi Corridor.
- First Half: Starting from Xining, we passed by Ta’er Monastery, circled Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake, and then plunged into the Qaidam Basin. Along the way, we visited Emerald Lake, Nanbaxian Yardang, Dongtai Jinaier Lake, Water Yardang, Xitai Jinaier Lake, reached Eboliang Mars Base via Mars No.1 Road, and finally crossed Dangjin Mountain Pass to enter the Dunhuang Oasis.
- Second Half: Leaving Dunhuang, we explored Mingsha Mountain, Mogao Caves, passed by Jiayuguan and reached Zhangye. We also visited some historical sites like Luotuo City Ruins, Heishui Guo Ruins, Tianluo City Ruins, and Mati Temple Ruins. Then we took the beautiful National Highway G227 back to Xining, passed through Lanzhou, and finally arrived in Yinchuan.
2. Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Xining – Qinghai Lake
- Morning: We arrived in Xining by plane, rented a blue SUV, and then went to taste the famous Qinghai Old Hot Pot. The hot pot uses high – quality broth and local ingredients, which is really delicious.
- Afternoon: We headed to Ta’er Monastery. It was built in the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The three art treasures here are butter sculptures, appliqué paintings, and murals. We also witnessed the interesting debate session of the lamas in the afternoon. The debaters used various gestures and voices to express their views on Buddhist theories, which was very exciting.
- Evening: We drove to Qinghai Lake and stayed at a hotel in Heimahe.
Day 2: Qinghai Lake – Chaka Salt Lake
- Morning: We got up early to watch the sunrise at Heimahe. Although the weather forecast was not good, we still saw a beautiful sunrise with the help of a local Tibetan boy on his motorcycle. After that, we experienced the real life of local herders near Qinghai Lake, tasted delicious yogurt, and watched the sheep – selling process.
- Afternoon: We drove along the beautiful West Ring Road of Qinghai Lake, enjoying the pure natural scenery. Then we headed to Chaka Salt Lake. The new Sky One Scenic Area here is less crowded. We took the small train and watched the sunset on the salt lake. The reflection of the sky and clouds on the lake was like a mirror, which was extremely beautiful.
- Evening: We stayed at a hotel near the Sky One Scenic Area.
Day 3: Chaka Salt Lake – Delingha – Emerald Lake
- Morning: We left Chaka Salt Lake and entered the Qaidam Basin. The scenery here changed from green grasslands to vast deserts and Gobi. Along the way, we saw some camels on the roadside.
- Afternoon: Due to the rain, we waited in the hotel for three hours. When the rain stopped before sunset, we went to Emerald Lake. The lake here has seven different colors, and the reflection of the sky on the lake is as beautiful as Chaka Salt Lake. We also watched the sunset and the starry sky here, which was really unforgettable.
- Evening: We stayed in a hotel in Dachaidan Town.
Day 4: Emerald Lake – Nanbaxian – Dongtai – Water Yardang
- Morning: After breakfast, we washed the car to prevent the salt water from corroding the car’s chassis. Then we went to Emerald Lake again. The colorful lakes here are like jewels inlaid in the desert.
- Afternoon: We drove through Nanbaxian Yardang. This place is named after eight female geological team members who sacrificed their lives here in the 1950s. The unique yardang landforms here are very spectacular. Then we went to Dongtai Jinaier Lake and Water Yardang. Although we missed the sunset at Dongtai Jinaier Lake, the starry sky at Water Yardang was really amazing.
- Evening: We stayed in a fishermen’s dormitory near Water Yardang.
Day 5: Water Yardang – Dongtai – Xitai – Eboliang
- Morning: We got up early to watch the sunrise at Water Yardang. Then we went to Dongtai Jinaier Lake again. Here, we met a beautiful Tibetan girl, which added a beautiful memory to our journey.
- Afternoon: We passed by Xitai Jinaier Lake and then took Mars No.1 Road to Eboliang Mars Base. The road here is bumpy, but the scenery is like being on Mars. We finally arrived at the Mars Base in the evening.
- Evening: We stayed in a tent at the Mars Base and watched the starry sky.
Day 6: Eboliang – Aksai – Dunhuang
- Morning: We left Eboliang and passed by Dangjin Mountain Pass. The altitude here is very high, and Ken had a little altitude reaction. Then we entered the Taklimakan Desert and drove along the desert road to Dunhuang.
- Afternoon: We visited Yangguan Scenic Area and Mingsha Mountain. The sunset on the desert was very beautiful. We also stayed at Dunhuang Villa, which has a great view of the desert.
- Evening: We had camel meat in Yueyaquan Town. The camel meat here is cooked in various ways, such as braised camel meat, marinated camel meat, and special – made camel meat strips, which are all very delicious.
Day 7: Dunhuang – Guazhou – Jiayuguan – Zhangye
- Morning: We visited Dunhuang Ancient City and Dunhuang Museum. The simulation cave in the museum is very similar to the real Mogao Caves, and we can take pictures here.
- Afternoon: We drove along the Hexi Corridor and visited some historical sites such as Xuanquanzhi Ruins, Luotuo City Ruins, and Heishui Guo Ruins. These sites are witnesses of the history of the Silk Road.
- Evening: We stayed in a hotel in Zhangye.
Day 8: Zhangye – Mati Temple – Qilian Mountains – Lanzhou
- Morning: We left Zhangye and went to Mati Temple. The cliff – side caves here are very spectacular. We also visited Qianfo Cave and the Thirty – Three Heavenly Grottoes.
- Afternoon: We drove along the most beautiful National Highway G227. Along the way, we saw the wheat waves in Biandukou, the cattle and sheep on the Qilian Mountain Grassland, and the snow – capped peaks of Gangshika.
- Evening: We arrived in Lanzhou and stayed in a hotel.
Day 9: Lanzhou – Yinchuan
- Morning: We had delicious Lanzhou beef noodles in the morning. Then we visited Gansu Provincial Museum, Zhongshan Bridge, and White Pagoda Mountain. The museum has a lot of cultural relics related to the Silk Road, and the Zhongshan Bridge is an important symbol of Lanzhou.
- Afternoon: We started our journey to Yinchuan.
- Evening: We arrived in Yinchuan and stayed in a hotel.
Day 10: Yinchuan – Home
- Morning: We visited Najiahu Mosque and Zhangyu Mosel XV Winery. The winery is a French – style castle, and we tasted two kinds of wines here.
- Afternoon: We had lunch at Lao Mao Shouzhua, where we tried copper – pot mutton hot pot.
- Evening: We started our journey back home.
This self – driving tour on the Great Northwest Loop is really a wonderful experience. It combines natural scenery, cultural heritage, and delicious food. If you have a chance, I highly recommend you to take this trip and explore the beauty of the northwest of China!
