Major city · China
Guide贵德
Day trip from Xining: 1.5 h bus each way, ¥30, last bus back 17:45. Half a day covers the Yellow River park, Qing walls and Yuhang Pavilion.Day trip from Xining: 1.5 h bus each way, ¥30, last bus back 5:45 PM. Half a day covers the Yellow River park, Qing walls and Yuhang Pavilion.
Guide (贵德, Guìdé) is a Tibetan county in Qinghai, south of Xining, near the source region of the Yellow, Yangtze and Mekong rivers. The county seat is Heyin town. New highways make it a 3-hour return day trip from Xining, and most travellers do exactly that: bus out in the morning, sights and noodles, bus back before 17:45. A night is only worth it for the Zha Chang hot springs or the hot-spring hotel pool. Search in Chinese (贵德): the English name collides with the word 'guide'.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- avoid Jan–Feb (very cold)
- Airport
- Xining Caojiabao (XNN)
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Guide110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Guide, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyLow-risk county town.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportXNN Xining Caojiabao Airport (About 90 km (56 mi) north of Guide; bus or taxi to Xining, then the West Bus Station bus to Guide.).XNN Xining Caojiabao Airport (About 56 mi (90 km) north of Guide; bus or taxi to Xining, then the West Bus Station bus to Guide.).
- Getting aroundTaxis start at ¥5 (≈ under US$1) inside the county seat; three-wheelers and trailer rides cost slightly less.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi start (within town)¥5 (≈ under US$1)
- Metro or bus rideBus Xining ↔ Guide (one way)¥30 (≈ US$5)
- Museum or sight ticketYuhang Pavilion entry¥60 (≈ US$9)
- Mid-range bedBudget hotel double room¥100 (≈ US$14)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥100–200 (≈ US$14–30) · Mid ¥200–400 (≈ US$30–60) · High ¥400 (≈ US$60)+
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- XNN Xining Caojiabao Airport (About 90 km (56 mi) north of Guide; bus or taxi to Xining, then the West Bus Station bus to Guide.)XNN Xining Caojiabao Airport (About 56 mi (90 km) north of Guide; bus or taxi to Xining, then the West Bus Station bus to Guide.)
Map of Guide
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
- Guide
- Basic guide
Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps
Guides nearby
- Kanbula · 28 km straight line
- Huangzhong · 52 km straight line
- Xining · 72 km straight line
- Tongren · 79 km straight line
- Ledu · 100 km straight line
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Feb
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Mar
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Apr
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
May
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Sep
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Oct
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Dec
not flagged
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: Apr–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)), coolest Jan (−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C) low), wettest Jul (5 rain days), driest Jan (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Guide: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C)
0 rd
Feb
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
0 rd
Mar
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
1 rd
Apr
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
2 rd
May
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
3 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5 rd
Aug
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
5 rd
Sep
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
4 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
2 rd
Nov
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
1 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
0 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Taxis start at ¥5 inside the county seat; three-wheelers and trailer rides cost slightly less. Bikes can be hired on North Street. Buses to Xining leave Guide Bus Station about every 40 min between roughly 07:00 and 18:00.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1.5 h each way
Bus from Xining West Bus Station, about 1.5 h, ¥30 (≈ US$5)
Buses run roughly 07:00–18:00; last return from Guide 17:45.Buses run roughly 7:00 AM–6:00 PM; last return from Guide 5:45 PM.
Door to door: Check
Bus or taxi via Xining, then a local bus
Better done as its own half-day from Xining.
Door to door: Check
Long-distance bus via Xining
Too far for a same-day return from Guide.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Near Guide Bus Station
Budget hotel with doubles about ¥100 after bargaining, roughly 50 m from the bus station; takes foreign guests.
Wen Quan Binguan (hot-spring hotel)
The upmarket option, doubles from about ¥200, with a hot-spring heated pool and spa; bargain hard outside summer.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥100–200 (≈ US$14–30) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥200–400 (≈ US$30–60) excl. bed
- High
- ¥400 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
Prices of common things
| Bus Xining ↔ Guide (one way) | ¥30 (≈ US$5) |
| Taxi start (within town) | ¥5 (≈ under US$1) |
| Budget hotel double roomAfter bargaining | ¥100 (≈ US$14) |
| Hot-spring hotel double roomFrom | ¥200 (≈ US$30) |
| Yuhang Pavilion entry | ¥60 (≈ US$9) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The last return bus to Xining leaves Guide at 17:45 — book your return when you arrive.The last return bus to Xining leaves Guide at 5:45 PM — book your return when you arrive.
- Zha Chang hot springs water is very hot in summer; locals say winter is better. Entry is charged; check the current fee.
- Yuhang Pavilion entry is ¥60 (≈ US$9).
- The old town inside the walls was rebuilt in the 2010s; expect new temples and a museum rather than historic streets.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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Guide贵德
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
Embassy
No consulates in Guide; US consulate-general in Chengdu, most others in Beijing or Chengdu (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Xining → Guide: about ¥30 (≈ US$5), 1.5 h
- Taxi within Guide: starts at ¥5 (≈ under US$1)
- Taxi to Zha Chang hot springs: about 20 km (12 mi) out of town; agree the price firstabout 12 mi (20 km) out of town; agree the price first
Say or show
- 对不起 — Excuse me / Sorry (duìbuqǐ)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xièxiè)
- 多少钱？ — How much is it? (duōshǎo qián?)
- 可以刷卡吗？ — Can I pay by card? (kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?)
- 厕所在哪里？ — Where is the toilet? (cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?)
Search in Chinese (贵德) — the English name collides with the word 'guide'.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Guide. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (very cold) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Guide
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