As the name implies, these 1,700 year old monuments to both the devotion and engineering aplomb of ancient Buddhists, is set in a cliff side and make for a great place for a little hike close to the city.  Just 15 minutes out of town, the structures, and the walkways that join them, were recently renovated. Once you've hiked up to the pagoda at the top of the hill you'll be rewarded with some pretty good views of the city. A pretty good attraction by its own right, but the temple makes a great two-hour activity if you don't have too much time to spare. more >>

Amid vast, golden wheat fields, 26 kilometers outside of Xining, sits one of the most important monasteries of the Gelupga (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Built in 1577, the Kumbum Monastery is famed as the birthplace of Tsongkhapa—founder of the Gelupga denomination. While the monastery's natural setting and spiritual vibrancy may not be as riveting as other major Buddhist sites in China such as Datong's Hanging Temple or Hangzhou's Lingyin Temple, Kumbum is nonetheless a site of enormous historical significance. The artwork, still vivid after all these centuries, is worth a close look, as is the ornate architecture. Located to the right of the entry gate are eight "stupas," detailing the life and exploits of Sakyamuni. Further inside the gates is the  Grand Hall of Golden Tiles, which h... more >>

Inland-sea sized and sacred to both Tibetans and Mongolians (who call is Kokonor), Qinghai Lake (Qinghai Hu) can be both an endless smear of gray or a riot of color and fragrance depending on when you go.  If the weather is cloudy the lake waters tend to resemble gunmetal gray, but on a clear sunny day the lake's limpid waters are spectacular to behold. Multihued and mirror-like, they reflect the shifting hues of Qinghai's rarefied high-plains skies and capture the brilliance of the wheat and rapeseed crops gilding the hills. Historically, Qinghai Lake has served as a sort of half way marker between Tibet and Mongolia. Fittingly, this is where Mongolian leader Altan Khan made Sonam Gyatso the third Dalai Lama. Qinghai Lake is massive, so there are a few different spots you may want to check out. The most popular attraction is Niao Dao (Bird Island, admission... more >>

Xining's premier Islamic education center and the largest mosque in Qinghai Province, the Dongguang mosque, built in 1380, is a pleasant spot for a stroll, some people-watching (especially just before or after prayer times) and a taste of China's Muslim life.  Though casual visitors generally cannot enter the main building, the grounds are appealing and the friendly locals usually up for a chat. The architecture combines Muslim and Chinese features in a fascinating fashion, even if the overall fusion is a bit awkward, as if reflective of unresolved incongruities between traditional Han and Central Asian Islamic cultural characteristics. The mosque and surrounding area change during Islamic festivals, when thousands of worshippers assemble to celebrate. Eid, the festival breaking the fast at the end of Ramadan, is easily one of the best times to visit. It fell on Septembe... more >>