Treasure spot for spontaneous trips suitable for 6-8 people, a budget travel summer resort

Super comprehensive travel guide for Qarhan Salt Lake, hit the road after reading! Qarhan Salt Lake, China's largest salt lake, covers a vast area of 5800 square kilometers, 56 times the size of Chaka Salt Lake. It's beautiful with few people, as stunning as a dreamlike fairyland! Here, you can see unique landscapes like salt flowers, salt bridges, and salt sculptures. The lake water is an emerald green like apple soda, and any casual shot turns into a masterpiece. I. Transportation Guide 1. Self-driving: Starting from Golmud, take the G3011 Liuge Expressway, and you can arrive in about 1.5 hours. The road condition is good, and you can also enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Gobi highway along the way, with any casual shot becoming a highway masterpiece. Self-driving cars can only be parked outside the scenic area, and you need to transfer to the scenic area bus to enter. The seats on the right side inside the bus offer better views. 2. Public Transportation: ◦ At Zhufeng Building on the east side of Kunlun Square in Golmud city, there are factory commuter buses going there, about one every hour, with a fare of 15 - 20 yuan. ◦ Taking a taxi round trip from Golmud city costs about 150 yuan and can take you directly to the Salt Lake Museum. ◦ There is a train from Golmud to Qarhan at 9:00 every day, with a ticket price of 8.5 yuan, but it is still some distance from the scenic area after getting off the train. II. Consumption Guide 1. Ticket Price: Peak season (May - October) 100 yuan/person, off-season (November - April) prices are slightly lower. The ticket includes the scenic area bus fee. 2. Discount Policy: Children under 1.2 meters, seniors over 70 years old, soldiers, people with disabilities, etc., are exempt from tickets; students and minors aged 6 - 18 enjoy half-price tickets; tourists from Zhejiang province are exempt from tickets with their ID card, only needing to purchase the bus/sightseeing vehicle ticket. 3. Other Costs: Round trip sightseeing vehicle 30 yuan; glass boat photo 30 yuan/person; drone rental price depends on the model; there are also some local snacks and souvenirs sold in the scenic area, the prices are reasonable and not too outrageous. III. Play Guide 1. Best Time to Visit: June - October is the golden season, July - September the climate is pleasant and the lake water color is most vibrant. It is recommended to visit after 3 PM daily, when the light is soft and you can capture the most beautiful reflection effects; there are fewer people in the morning and it is quieter, but the temperature is lower. Note that when the sun is directly overhead at noon, the lake surface reflects strongly, making it easy to overexpose portraits, so remember to bring sunglasses. 2. Must-visit Attractions: ◦ Ten Thousand Zhang Salt Bridge: A road 32 kilometers long, completely paved with salt, with a hardness comparable to asphalt roads. When the road surface is damaged, pouring some brine can automatically repair it. Standing on the bridge, there is an endless salt lake on both sides, and on a sunny day, the sky is reflected in it, which is breathtakingly beautiful. ◦ Salt Flower Spectacle: Salt crystals formed by the evaporation of lake water, with strange and varied shapes, some like coral, some like pavilions and towers, and some like birds and beasts. The best viewing spot is near the Salt Lake Museum, which also houses precious "Salt Lake Oddity" crystal specimens. ◦ Lakeside Swing: White swings are set up by the lush green lake, swaying gently in the wind, creating a perfect photo atmosphere! It is recommended to wear brightly colored dresses, but remember to bring a jacket, as the wind is strong and the temperature is low by the lake. ◦ Reef Cluster: Salt reef clusters of various shapes, as if in a fantasy landscape of an alien planet, with excellent aerial photography effects, capable of capturing a spectacular scene like "Thousand Island Lake". ◦ Salt Lake Museum: Free to enter, here you can learn about the history of the salt lake's formation and the mining process. The salt flower crystals displayed in the museum are beautiful, and the "Salt Lake Oddity" at the entrance is a popular photo spot. 3. Tour Route: Take the scenic shuttle bus for 30 minutes to enter the scenic area (sit on the right side when entering). After getting off, you can choose to walk or take the sightseeing vehicle to tour the salt lake, the round trip is 4 kilometers. The sightseeing vehicle is 15 yuan/person for a single trip. It is recommended to take the vehicle there and walk back, as the scenery is better later on, and there are fewer people, making it better for photos. IV. Accommodation Guide There are almost no accommodation facilities around Qarhan Salt Lake. Most tourists choose to stay in Golmud city, where there are many cost-effective accommodation options: 1. Chain hotels like Hanting/Home Inn: Clean and hygienic, affordable prices, generally 200 - 300 yuan per night. 2. Local B&Bs: You can experience more authentic Qinghai life, and the prices are also relatively affordable, you can find decent conditions for around 200 yuan. Remember to book in advance, especially during the peak tourist season from July to September. Choose hotels close to Kunlun Square for convenient access to the early commuter bus.