Major city · China
Ledu
Half a day for Qutan Temple and the pottery museum, then move on to Xining or Tongren. Not a base.
Ledu is a small city in eastern Qinghai, best known for the Ming-dynasty Qutan Temple with its colourful murals and the Liuwan Ancient Painted Pottery Museum. The town itself is compact and quiet; most travellers stop for a few hours between Xining and Tongren or on a Qinghai loop. One night is enough if you arrive late.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (cold, some sites may have reduced hours)
- Airport
- XNN
- Nights
- 1
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
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Ledu110 ▾
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 Ledu, 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
- SafetyLedu is safe for tourists.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 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.
- AirportcheckXNN Xining Caojiabu Airport (About 1 h by taxi or bus; check connections to Ledu.).
- Getting aroundLedu is walkable for the main sights.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealNoodle bowl (beef or lamb)¥15–25 (≈ US$3–4)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi within town¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3)
- Metro or bus rideLocal bus ride¥1–2 (≈ under US$1)
- Budget bedBudget double room, a night, per roomCN¥150 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBudget double room, a night, per roomCN¥250 (≈ US$35)
- High-end bedBudget double room, a night, per roomCN¥400 (≈ US$60)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥200 (≈ US$30) · Mid CN¥400 (≈ US$60) · High CN¥700 (≈ US$100)
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 Caojiabu Airport (About 1 h by taxi or bus; check connections to Ledu.)
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
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Apr
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
May
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jun
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jul
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Aug
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Sep
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Oct
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Nov
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Dec
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)), coolest Jan (−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C) low), wettest Jul (12 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Ledu: 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)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
2 rd
Feb
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
3 rd
Mar
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
4 rd
Apr
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
5 rd
May
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
7 rd
Jun
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
10 rd
Jul
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
12 rd
Aug
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
11 rd
Sep
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
9 rd
Oct
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
5 rd
Nov
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
2 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
2 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
Ledu is walkable for the main sights. Taxis and local buses connect the train station to the centre; negotiate the fare before getting in.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 2 h
Bus from Ledu bus station, about 1.5 h
Regong art and Rongwo Monastery; a full day.
Door to door: About 1.5 h
Train or bus, about 1 h
Capital city with markets, museums and the Dongguan Mosque.
Door to door: About 2.5 h
Bus via Xining, about 2 h total
Kumbum Monastery (Tar Temple); combine with Xining.
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.
City centre near Qutan Temple
A few budget hotels and guesthouses; walkable to the main sights.
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
- ¥200–350 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥350–600 (≈ US$50–85) excl. bed
- High
- ¥600 (≈ US$85)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hostel dorm bed1 × 1 night × CN¥80 | CN¥80 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × CN¥200 | CN¥200 |
| Bus Xining–Ledu one way1 × CN¥30 · check | CN¥30 |
| Qutan Temple entry1 × CN¥30 · check | CN¥30 |
| Liuwan Museum entry1 × CN¥30 · check | CN¥30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥37 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥407 per person per day, bed included | CN¥407≈ US$60 |
2026 estimate in CNY; flights and long-distance buses excluded.
Prices of common things
| Noodle bowl (beef or lamb) | ¥15–25 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Bottled water | ¥2–3 (≈ under US$1) |
| Local bus ride | ¥1–2 (≈ under US$1) |
| Taxi within town | ¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Qutan Temple may close for renovations: check the official site before visiting.
- Liuwan Museum hours can be irregular; call ahead or ask at your hotel.
- Few English signs; have your destination written in Chinese.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
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Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
LeduLedu
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请带我去这个地址Please take me to this address
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
Embassies are in Beijing; consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang and Hong Kong.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Xining → Ledu by bus: about ¥30 (≈ US$5), about 1 h (check)
- Ledu → Tongren by bus: about ¥40 (≈ US$6), about 1.5 h (check)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xiè)
- 多少钱？ — How much? (duō shǎo qián?)
- 厕所在哪里？ — Where is the toilet? (cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ?)
- 我不明白 — I don't understand (wǒ bù míng bái)
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 Ledu. 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: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, some sites may have reduced hours) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 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 Ledu
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