National park · China
Qinghaihu National Park青海湖国家公园
Visit Qinghaihu National Park: buy a ¥100 entry ticket, take a bus or hired car to Heimahe (south shore) or Gangcha (north shore), and hike Bird Island (2 h) in May–Oct; for a multi‑day bike loop (360 km (224 mi)) allow 3–4 days and start in June.Visit Qinghaihu National Park: buy a ¥100 entry ticket, take a bus or hired car to Heimahe (south shore) or Gangcha (north shore), and hike Bird Island (2 h) in May–Oct; for a multi‑day bike loop (224 mi (360 km)) allow 3–4 days and start in June.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
5,000 km² (1,931 sq mi)1,931 sq mi (5,000 km²)
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8
- 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.
- Qinghai ↗Foreign travelers need a Tibet Travel Permit for any train to Lhasa; obtain it in Xining or major cities before departure.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 5,000 km² (1,931 sq mi)1,931 sq mi (5,000 km²)
- check
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Qinghaihu National Park protects China’s largest inland salt lake and its surrounding steppe, offering bird‑watching on Bird Island and a 360 km high‑altitude bike loop around the lake.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2000.
Size and age
5,000 km² (1,931 sq mi)1,931 sq mi (5,000 km²) · national park since 2000
check
Why go
- Bird Island hosts over 100 000 migratory birds, a top spot for bird‑watching.
- The 360 km (224 mi) lake‑circumference bike loop offers expansive high‑altitude scenery.The 224 mi (360 km) lake‑circumference bike loop offers expansive high‑altitude scenery.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecAvoid
- JanVery cold, ice on lake.
- FebCold, limited access.
- MarEarly bird season, still cold.
- AprBirds arrive, weather improves.
- MayPeak bird‑watching, mild temps.
- JunPeak bird‑watching, good for biking.
- JulRainy, occasional storms.
- AugRainy, some trail closures.
- SepBirds still present, cooler.
- OctBirds depart, pleasant weather.
- NovCold, fewer birds.
- DecIce, limited services.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Migratory waterfowl (geese, swans, gulls)May–Sep · Peak numbers on Bird Island. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Wild ducksMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Heimahe pier | Southern shore entry point, ferry dock, Bird Island trailhead. | Ticket required. |
| Gangcha pier | Northern shore entry point, ferry dock. | Ticket required. |
| Bird Island | Western edge of lake, bird‑watching area, 2 h walk from pier. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Lake‑circumference road | Paved route for the 360 km (224 mi) bike loop.Paved route for the 224 mi (360 km) bike loop. | Open to cyclists; no permit. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
4 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre points for orientation.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (scenic area pier) | CNY 100 (≈ US$14) | person | covers Bird Island access. |
| Ferry between Heimahe and Gangcha | CNY 110 (≈ US$16) | person | Return trip. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- CN¥100≈ US$14
- CN¥110≈ US$16
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Check with the park or your operator before you go.
Park rules
- Pets
- Not allowed in the scenic area.
- Camping
- Only in designated sites; no wild camping.
- Fires
- Prohibited in all park zones.
Where to stay
Near the park
Heimahe guesthouses
Simple rooms, basic amenities.
Near the park
Hudong Muchang pastures
Rural homestays, limited services.
Safety
Bird flu low
Altitude medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Heimahe pier accessible by car; short walk to Bird Island is flat.
- Bike loop includes steep sections; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails; do not disturb nesting birds.
- Use refillable water bottles; no single‑use plastics.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Qinghaihu National Park?
Entry to the scenic area pier is ¥100 per person; the ferry between Heimahe and Gangcha is ¥110 return.
What are the best hikes in Qinghaihu National Park?
The 2‑hour walk to Bird Island and the 360‑km lake‑circumference bike loop are the main routes; Bird Island is best May–Oct.
When is the best time to visit Qinghaihu National Park?
May through October offers the best bird‑watching and milder weather; July–August can be rainy.
Can I camp inside the park?
Camping is only allowed in designated sites; wild camping is prohibited.
Is a permit required for the bike loop?
No permit is needed; just the entry ticket for the scenic area.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Qinghaihu National Park
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