Chaka Salt Lake: This Healing Green Is Worth Taking 10,086 Photos! Who Gets It! The Green of Chaka Salt Lake Truly Touches the Softest Part of the Heart

📍🍏Chaka Salt Lake: This Healing Green Is Worth Taking 10,086 Photos!

Who gets it! The green of Chaka Salt Lake really strikes the softest spot in the heart 🥹 It’s not a monotonous color block, but flowing jade, spilled green apple juice, shimmering with layers of soft light under the sun. Calling it a "fallen emerald from the heavens" still doesn’t do it justice—this is clearly nature’s hidden palette in the Gobi Desert, healing the soul with every glance.

As the most surprising stop on the Northwest Loop, its shock lies in the details: the 32-kilometer-long Wan Zhang Salt Bridge stretches straight to the horizon, with the roadbed entirely paved with salt; salt flowers bloom like white coral in the lake, natural sculptures crafted by nature; even the wind’s ripples on the lake tint the green into varying shades of poetry. No wonder cameras can’t stop clicking—every shot is a masterpiece without filters!

🔥 Super Practical Travel Guide (Avoid Pitfalls + Great Shots)

1. Core Itinerary Planning (No Wasted Trips)

- Must-buy transport: Admission is free, but you must buy the sightseeing bus ticket (includes Thousand-Island Salt Flowers + Salt Culture Museum). The scenic area is huge and impossible to explore on foot. If you have good stamina, add an electric cart to reach the “Heart of the Salt Cliff” for secret photo spots.
- Highlight route: Take the small path on the left at the entrance → turn left at the end for aerial shots → turn right to the core area “Bishui Yaotai” (lake + Ferris wheel perfect combo) → return via the main road to check out the salt swing → finally visit the Salt Culture Museum to get free edible salt.
- Golden time: Before 9 AM or after 4 PM! The light is soft and non-reflective, the lake’s apple green is richer, and you can avoid crowds for solo shots.

2. Photo Tips for Great Shots

- Best spots: ① Apple-green main lake area (drone shots look like a jade chessboard); ② Salt Flower Viewing Platform (salt pillars turn pink at sunset); ③ Bishui Boardwalk (Tiffany blue lake water is super fresh); ④ Wan Zhang Salt Bridge (low-angle shots for road extension effect).
- Outfit formula: Bright-colored dresses (red/yellow against green lake is stunning) + Martin boots (salt crust is sharp and scratch-proof) + sunglasses + straw hat (UV rays are insanely strong).
- Must-have gear: Waterproof phone case (saltwater is corrosive), power bank (cold drains battery fast), and a denim jacket for morning and evening temperature changes.

3. Pitfalls & Precautions

- ❌ Never step on the salt crust! It’s only 30 cm thick, with deep water underneath. Violators face a 500 RMB fine; also, don’t walk barefoot on salt stones—they’re as sharp as blades. Bring thick waterproof shoe covers.
- ❌ Few and expensive food options inside the park; it’s recommended to bring your own snacks and picnic by the lake for double the happiness.
- ❌ The salt factory area is a no-fly zone; drones are limited to 150 meters max altitude throughout the park. Confirm the area before takeoff.

4. Transportation & Accommodation Tips

- Transport: One hour self-drive from Golmud (G3011 Liuge Expressway), or shared rides from the city cost 80-100 RMB per person. Don’t trust scalpers offering “ticket-evading shortcuts.”
- Accommodation: For lake views while lying down, choose the Salt House Hotel in the scenic area (floor-to-ceiling windows with Milky Way views). For cost-effective options, the Kaibang Hotel in Golmud city is close to the salt lake and comfortable to stay.