Qinghai Lake Family Trip! Healing fun for kids at desert and lake spots

📚Complete Guide to Qinghai Lake Family Trip
🚙Itinerary
Start from Xining and head straight to Jinsha Bay, which is truly a paradise for kids! You can take your child to experience sand sliding, watching the little one scream with joy as they slide down on the board, full of laughter; you can also hold hands and ride camels together, slowly walking in the desert, letting your child feel the magical scene of the desert and lake being so close.

Next, go to Haiyan Bay, find a quiet lakeside corner, sit on the grass with your child, feel the lake breeze, watch the shimmering water in the distance, enjoy this rare tranquility, and take the opportunity to tell your child some fun facts about lakes.

At Sand Island, walk slowly with your child along the dunes, looking for birds resting here. When your child sees a bird flying right in front of them and excitedly points it out, it’s incredibly heartwarming. Then head to Fairy Bay, a bird paradise where many migratory birds come every year. Get your camera ready to capture warm moments of your child with flocks of birds, and observe the unique beauty where wetlands and lake water merge together.

Afterwards, visit Quanjixiang Fish Viewing Platform, take your child to watch the spectacular migration of naked carp in Qinghai Lake, and tell them the story of how these fish swim upstream to reproduce, letting your child feel the power of life.

Next, go to the Cliff, hold your child’s hand (be sure to stay safe and hold tight), and look down at the deep blue lake together, letting your child experience the vastness of nature. Your child will surely exclaim, “Mom, this lake is so big!” Then visit Cormorant Island, watch the large groups of cormorants from afar, and introduce your child to the habits of these birds to satisfy their curiosity.

Then head to Garila Monastery, walk gently into the temple with your child, feel the power of faith and peaceful atmosphere, and teach your child to maintain a sense of reverence. Next, go to Donggeer Viewing Platform, let your child stand on the platform and take in the magnificent scenery of Qinghai Lake, cultivating their appreciation for nature.

Finally, pass through Heima River and Jiangxi Valley, arriving at Erlangjian, Swan Lake, and Jiayi Village. At Erlangjian, accompany your child to play by the lake (watch the water temperature to avoid catching a cold); at Swan Lake, watch the elegant swans; at Jiayi Village, experience local customs, let your child play with local kids, and feel different lifestyles.

🏨Accommodation Tips
For family trips, accommodation should be comfortable and unique. We recommend a top luxury wild resort near Qinghai Lake—Qinghai Lake Wild Luxury Resort (book in advance according to your travel dates). The hotel has an excellent location with beautiful lake views right from the window. The rooms are cozy and comfortable, with special family rooms equipped with children’s toys, small tents, and other facilities, making your child feel like they are living in a fairy tale. The hotel also has a family activity area where you can take your child to participate in crafts, family cycling, and other activities during the day, and at night watch the stars together on the hotel’s viewing platform, letting your child experience the romance of the plateau starry sky.

🍰Food Recommendations
🥘Hand-pulled lamb: When feeding your child, choose the most tender parts, which are fresh and free of gamey taste. Dip in a little pepper salt, cut into small pieces for your child to eat bite after bite, very satisfying😋.
🍜Qinghai local hot pot: Various fresh ingredients stewed together, the soup is fresh and delicious, perfect for sharing with the family. Serve your child a warm bowl of soup with soft vegetables and meat, nutritious and tasty🥢.
🥟Dog Urine Cake: The funny name attracts your child’s attention. It’s crispy with a light oily aroma, cut into small pieces for easy grabbing, your child will find it very novel😃.
🍵Butter Tea: Salty and rich, drinking some butter tea on the plateau can help relieve altitude sickness. On cold days, a cup warms your child’s body and helps them adapt to the plateau climate🥤.

💰Cost Breakdown
🎫Tickets: Some Qinghai Lake attractions charge admission, like Erlangjian Scenic Area. Children under 1.2 meters are free, 1.2 - 1.4 meters half price, adult tickets about 150 RMB each. Family trip ticket costs around 200 - 300 RMB🎫.
🍱Food: Sampling local specialties with your child, considering their taste, the selection will be richer. About 100 - 150 RMB per person per day, estimated 300 - 450 RMB for 3 days.
🚗Transportation: For family trips, car rental is recommended for convenience and flexible itinerary. Car rental around the lake costs about 500 RMB per person. Public transport is cheaper but requires more attention to child safety🚌.
🏨Accommodation: Top luxury wild resort prices are relatively high, about 800 - 1200 RMB per person per night. For 2 nights, estimated 1600 - 2400 RMB.
Total cost per person is about 2600 - 3600 RMB (excluding round-trip major transportation).

🕳️Avoid Pitfalls
⚠️When playing by the lake, always watch your child closely. Do not let them enter herders’ grasslands casually to avoid unnecessary disputes. If needed, communicate and pay the herders in advance, setting a good example for your child to follow local rules💰.
⚠️When buying local specialties like Tibetan rugs or yak jerky, choose official stores, pay attention to quality and price, and avoid buying too many snack-type specialties for your child to prevent affecting their normal diet🛍.
⚠️Qinghai Lake has strong UV rays. Make sure your child has full sun protection: apply child-specific sunscreen, wear sunglasses, a sun hat, and long sleeves to prevent sunburn🧴.
⚠️On the plateau, avoid letting your child do intense exercise. Watch their physical condition carefully. If altitude sickness symptoms appear, take measures promptly and seek medical help if necessary.

✌️Scenic Photo Spots
📸Cliff: Hold your child and take photos with the deep blue lake and cliff as the background. Let your child lean on you; the photos will be full of warmth and atmosphere.
📸Fairy Bay: When migratory birds are flying, let your child stand by the lake with arms wide open, capturing photos of people, birds, and lake scenery. The scene is healing and beautiful, and will be very memorable when your child grows up.
📸Erlangjian: Hold your child’s hand by the lake, let them point to the vast lake surface, and take panoramic photos of Qinghai Lake, capturing beautiful moments between parent and child.
📸Sand Island: Sit with your child on the dunes, with the desert and lake behind you, capturing interactive moments like fixing your child’s hat or making peace signs together, full of happiness.