Data in submission...Accommodation：Overnight in Xining
Due to Qinghai Lake’s location and massive size, it serves as a popular stopover point for many species of migrant birds, particularly on the aptly named Bird Island. The best time to visit for bird watching would be during May and June. Another great time to visit is from late July to early August to see the amazingly beautiful rape flower fields that surround Qinghai Lake.
After visiting the lake, we will travel on for another two hours or so to reach the village of Heimahe on the southwestern edge of the lake where we will spend the night.
Accommodation：Overnight by Heimahe
Accommodation：Overnight in Xining
After lunch, we will drive about an hour outside of Zhangye to visit the Zhangye National Geopark, with its spectacularly-colored landforms and unique topography. Covering an area of 322 square kilometers (124 square miles), these amazing, rainbow colored mountains developed over millions of years as deposits of sandstone and different minerals were sculpted by the elements over the millennia. There are four different viewing platforms scattered across the park, and you will get to visit each of them as shuttle buses are arranged for transport between all of them.
After watching the sunset over these incredible mountains, we will drive on to Sunan County to spend the night.
Today’s travel tips:1) As you will be outside all afternoon, be sure to use plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses, protective clothing and hats to protect yourself from the strong sunlight at the higher altitude.
2) Sunset is the best time for taking photos, with the sun setting around 7 – 8 p.m. during the summer and 6 to 7 p.m. during the winter.
Accommodation：Overnight in Zhangye
After a morning of viewing nature’s handiwork, we will drive about 90 minutes back to Zhangye to visit the Dafo (Great Buddha) Temple, the home of the largest indoor reclining Buddha in all of China. This huge Buddha measuring 35 meters (115 feet) long was constructed of of clay over a wooden frame sometime around 1100 A.D. It remains largely unaltered since the days of the Western Xia Dynasty (1038 – 1227 A.D.) and it is amazing that it has survived intact for more than 900 years. The temple also houses around 6,000 ancient Buddhist scriptures and a Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911 A.D.) mural that depicts the story of the famous Buddhist monk Xuanzhuang riding a horse with the monkey king Sun Wukong kneeling on the ground.
After visiting the Dafo Temple, we will check into our Zhangye hotel and spend the night.
Accommodation：Overnight in Zhangye
After visiting the desert, we will check into a local hotel to spend the night.
Accommodation：Overnight at local hotel
After lunch, we will drive back to Zhengye where you will have the rest of the day to rest and relax or explore around your hotel on your own.
Accommodation：Overnight in Zhangye
Today's Tips:
1) Please take care to pack all of your belongings, particularly the small things that are easy to forget about, such as phone and camera chargers, power adapters, mobile phones, wallets, etc.
2) If your flight or train is in the afternoon, please be sure to check out of your hotel room by 12 p.m.
Accommodation：None