SNOW-CAPPED mountains, the Gobi Desert, inland lakes … Northwest China is a treasure trove of natural wonders and a testament to the legacies of ancient civilizations. Here we take our readers on a tour of the most other-worldly sceneries in Qinghai Province, which are high on the list of must-visit places for diehard explorers.

Keluke and Tuosu lakes

(可鲁克湖和托素湖)

Located in the northeast of the Qaidam Basin and 50 kilometers from Delingha, the capital of the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai, are twin lakes Keluke and Tuosu, the former a smaller fresh water lake and the latter a bigger saltwater lake. Bayin River connects the twin lakes, one known for its luscious vegetation and the rich colors of its yellow, green and blue water, and the other, for its shiny pristine azure as its saltwater is hardly agreeable for aquatic life.

Encircling both lakes are the remarkable Yardang rock formations, standing for thousands of years as faithful guardians of the landscape.

Emerald Lake in Da Qaidam

(大柴旦翡翠湖)

Emerald Lake in Da Qaidam (also known as Dachaidan, meaning “Great Salt Lake”) District in the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is a salt lake at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters, nestled in the snowy plateau.

This dreamlike lake is not a complete lake, but a group of hundreds of salt pit lakes. The salt pools of different depths are like pieces of “emerald,” each with a different shade. Moreover, the crystal clear lake water in marvelous emerald green, blue-green and other various shades shimmers with luster as the angle of sunlight changes.

These lakes of varying sizes are all pits left behind from years of salt lake mining, like a spilled palette. The quiet surface of the Emerald Lake is like a mirror, on which are reflected the blue sky, white clouds and snow-capped mountains.

Wusute Yardang Geological Park

(乌素特雅丹地质公园)

In the northwest of the Qaidam Basin lies the world’s only water Yardang landform. Viewing from above, you will see wind-eroded rocks in various shapes floating on the shimmering water, reminiscent of yellow hills. The wind-eroded rocks, known as “Yardang” in the Uygur language, are impressive with their massive scale and miscellaneous shapes.

Five kilometers away from the Yardang wonders on water is Lonely Space, a luxury hotel that opened just last year. Its hexagram-shaped complex on the lonely Gobi Desert is a stark landscape itself, as if an alien spacecraft had made a landing away from populated areas.

Lenghu Mars Camp

(冷湖火星营地)

At the end of the 95-kilometer Mars No.1 Highway, flanked by desolate Yardang landforms, is the Lenghu Mars Camp, a new tourist attraction known for its unearthly scenery.

Legend has it that the town of Lenghu, literally, “Cold Lake,” got its name in 1956, when an oil exploration team arrived in the desolate region. A team member washed his hands in a lake and found that the water was freezing cold; hence the name.

Cold weather is one of the key features of the town lying within the city of Mangya, along with little rain and strong winds that through erosion resulted in the formation of ridges of compact sand called Yardangs.

The camp offers various experiences such as purifying water and rocket building, where participants learn about space science and simulate the experience of landing on a desolate planet for the first time.

Aiken Spring

(艾肯泉)

Some 300 km from the Mars Camp is another spectacular scene hidden away from the crowds. In Huatugou Town, Mangya City, Aiken Spring earns itself the nickname “Devil’s Eye.” The vibrant green water spewing out of the spring contains a high degree of sulfur, making the land around it barren. Viewed from above, the spring resembles the swollen eye of a mythical creature, with the bubbling water as its “eyeball.”(Li Dan)