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Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do near Haiyan [2025]
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Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot
4.7
/5
30635 reviews
8.7
From SEK 125.00
Based on 321 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609365623666
Address: BuildingNo.8, Danxia Road,Linze County, Zhangye City
Recommended sightseeing time: 3–5 hours
Highlights:
World Geopark-level Colorful Zhangye Danxia landform
Danxia landform's seven scenic wonders
Saved by 1121 users24479 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Having visited quite a few scenic spots, I must say that the Rainbow Mountains offer truly excellent value for money. The entrance fee is reasonable, and the shuttle bus within the scenic area is free, allowing you to hop on and off at any viewing point! The scenery is simply breathtaking; the sheer artistry of nature is truly awe-inspiring, giving me a renewed appreciation for the power and wonder of nature!
The Rainbow Mountains Scenic Area is located in Linze County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province. It is famous for its vibrant, colorful landforms, where red, yellow, orange, green, and other colors intertwine, like ribbons draped across the earth. Under the sunlight, the colors become even more intense and dazzling. The scenic area has several viewing platforms, offering different perspectives to appreciate this masterpiece of nature, leaving visitors in awe of nature's artistry.
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Chaka Salt Lake
4.3
/5
17187 reviews
8.6
From SEK 41.00
Based on 94 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609778246999
Address: Chakayan Lake, Ulan, Haixi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–3 hours
Highlights:
Take a Train to the Lake to See the Pure Salt Lake
Train ride to pristine salt lake
Saved by 372 users10933 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Chaka Salt Lake has a mining history of over 3,000 years and was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road and the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road. The scenic area boasts the world's largest outdoor salt sculpture art group, with lifelike salt sculptures that complement the natural landscape.
The annual lake-worshiping ceremony held on the 15th day of the fifth lunar month is also rich in ethnic cultural characteristics.
I was very satisfied with the trip. We had a relatively long time to visit the attractions, but I wouldn't recommend going to Riyue Mountain in winter. Driving on the highway is faster. We had dinner at 6:40 PM and arrived at our hotel in Xining at 9:30 PM. It snowed heavily on the way back to Xining. Thanks to the driver for his steady driving; everything went smoothly. The only downside was the strong wind at the scenic area today. I'll probably go in late October or November next time, when it's less crowded and colder.
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Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum
4.8
/5
7870 reviews
8.3
From %1$s
Based on 49 reviews
Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum/Wanda Plaza | 70.9 km from downtown
Phone +8609715317881
Address: 36 Jing'er Rd, Chengbei Qu, Xining Shi, Qinghai Sheng, China, 810016
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–4 hours
Highlights:
Tibetan music shows daily until 8/15
Open year-round, closed 3 days
Saved by 226 users7294 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Worth to visit if you are travelling to Xining. Go to South Hall instead of the free North Hall to see the cultural displays. The QR code caused us some trouble as there were 3 places that you need to scan the code. But once you scan it will showed used and will be barred from entering the other 2 locations. The staffs were friendly and quickly manually let us in.
The exhibition area is on floors 2-4. Floors 2 and 3 are relatively simple, while the 618-meter Thangka is on the 4th floor. Even a quick glance will take a long time, let alone a detailed look at each one. Your legs will definitely ache.
No.
4
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Kumbum Monastery
4.6
/5
17233 reviews
8.3
From SEK 54.00
Based on 213 reviews
68.4 km from downtown
Phone +8609712210188
Address: No. 56 Jinta Road, Huangzhong County, Xining City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–4 hours
Highlights:
Unique hilltop temple complex
Butter sculptures & Thangka masterpieces
Saved by 250 users9292 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
This place is quite nice; I highly recommend a visit. It's well worth seeing, and the scale is magnificent. The scenery is beautiful, breathtaking, and the water is crystal clear, sparkling like a newly opened mirror, its cold light just emerging from its case. The mountains, washed clean by the snow, are pristine and bright, like a beautiful woman freshly washing her face and just beginning to comb her hair. The willow branches are about to unfurl.
If you're driving to Kumbum Monastery, you can directly reach the East Gate, avoiding the 10-kilometer sightseeing bus within the scenic area. After booking tickets online, you'll need to exchange them for paper tickets. The monastery itself is very beautiful and worth exploring at your leisure.
No.
5
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Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park
4.5
/5
2444 reviews
8.0
From SEK 108.00
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609312123999
Address: 甘肃省兰州市永登县树屏镇杏花村
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5–1 day
Highlights:
Geological & rural tourism destination
Danxia trail: 1.6 miles views
Saved by 256 users2110 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The scenery was so beautiful that we kept taking photos and lost track of time. Around 6 pm, we got off at the "Daydream Cinema," but there were no more buses or minibuses, and no staff members were around. No one had reminded us of the last shuttle bus time, so the two of us had to walk to the visitor center, about 4.5 kilometers away. The wind was strong, the temperature was -1.5 degrees Celsius, and it got dark quickly. The further we walked, the more scared we became. We tried calling the scenic area, but no one answered. Finally, we called 110 (the police emergency number) and asked them to contact the scenic area staff. After hanging up, a Li Auto electric scooter passed by, and the driver stopped and readily gave us a ride to the parking lot. We chatted along the way, and the driver said he was from the Space Capsule Hotel. His surname was Wang; he was probably the owner or manager. We were extremely grateful to him and will definitely stay there again next time! The first photo was taken on the way to the visitor center.
Key viewing platforms: Nine-Colored Danxia (360° panoramic view of the colorful hills, best spot for drone aerial photography), Danxia Peak Scenic View (climb the 2550-meter Danxia boardwalk to the highest point and experience the awe-inspiring "mountains like sea waves and rocks like whales"), and Silk Road Sunset (capture the epic scene of "the setting sun over the long river" at dusk, with Danxia and the Yellow River in the same frame).
No.
6
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Qinghai Lake Erlangjian Scenic Area
4.3
/5
5825 reviews
7.9
From SEK 54.00
58.2 km from downtown
Phone +8609748519826
Address: 109 National Rd, Gonghe Xian, Hainan Zangzuzizhizhou, Qinghai Sheng, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–4 hours
3292 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
Verified user reviews
Located on the southeastern shore of Qinghai Lake, the scenic area features a long, narrow peninsula jutting into the lake's center, resembling a sword. The lake's clear waters, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and distant snow-capped mountains, create a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. From June to July, visitors can witness the spectacular migration of the naked carp, and numerous migratory birds inhabit the lakeside grasslands.
The Erlangjian Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake is located on the southern shore of Qinghai Lake. Flowers abound in the area, creating a vibrant display of color.
The Erlangjian Peninsula is accessible by speedboat. The waters of the peninsula are even bluer and clearer, lapping against the shore, and seagulls play in the blue sky and on the lakeside, creating a true paradise on earth.
No.
7
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Xining Wildlife Park
4.6
/5
3378 reviews
7.8
Based on 9 reviews
72.2 km from downtown
Phone +8609718149850
Address: No. 9 Xingzhi Road, Chengxi District, Xining City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–3 hours
Highlights:
Simulated alpine rocks for snow leopards
Wildlife viewing & educational experience
2317 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
Verified user reviews
The park exhibits over 180 species and more than 3,000 wild animals, making it the world's only zoo that integrates captive-bred populations of snow leopards, Himalayan vultures, and Pallas's cats.
Guests can see rare animals unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, such as snow leopards, Tibetan antelopes, and wild yaks, as well as introduced species like hippos and giraffes.
It was so much fun…a really fun and interesting zoo.
The only downside was that I didn't get to see "Teacher Xiao Liang." Apparently, Tibetan foxes aren't on display anymore because they're afraid of people…
No.
8
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Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains)
4.4
/5
1469 reviews
7.7
From SEK 41.00
Based on 27 reviews
51.3 km from downtown
Phone +86097117797222532
Address: 40 km southwest of Wuyuan County, Xining City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
Diverse landscapes & fluttering prayer flags
Yak rides & highland photography
Saved by 136 users815 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The Qinghai-Tibet border landscape is breathtaking, the fluttering prayer flags create a wonderful atmosphere, and the legend of Princess Wencheng adds to the charm! A must-see for anyone passing through, the scenery is magnificent, the Tibetan culture is rich, and the price is great!
Since ancient times, Sun and Moon Mountain has been a crucial mountain pass along the Qinghai Road of the Silk Road, the Tang-Tibet Road, and the Tea-Horse Road. Legend has it that Princess Wencheng, while traveling through this area on her marriage to Tubo, cast aside the Sun and Moon Mirror to overcome her homesickness, hence the name Sun and Moon Mountain. This area also marked the boundary between the Tang and Tubo regions, and was the site of important historical events such as the Chiling Trade.
The scenic area boasts attractions such as the Sun Pavilion, the Moon Pavilion, the statue of Princess Wencheng, the Princess Spring, and the Tang-Tibet Road. The area also houses cultural venues such as the Qinghai Ancient Road Museum and the Princess Wencheng Memorial Hall, enriching its history and culture.
No.
9
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Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon
4.7
/5
2894 reviews
7.6
From SEK 175.00
Based on 28 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609368830066
Address: Pingshanhu Township Government, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Recommended sightseeing time: 3–5 hours
Highlights:
Panoramic view of stunning canyon
2.5-mile glass walkway overlooks canyon
Saved by 237 users2204 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
It's worth going; the in-depth tour is quite fun. The last part, climbing the big stairs, was a bit daunting for a larger person, but once you get to the top, it's not so bad, haha. Being panting the whole way was totally worth it!
Zhangye Pingshanhu Grand Canyon is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Located in Pingshanhu Mongolian Township, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, it is about 56 kilometers from the city center, covering an area of 100 square kilometers, with an altitude ranging from 1500 to 2550 meters.
The Grand Canyon was formed over millions of years by crustal uplift and wind and water erosion. It is a red-bed landform, a combination of Danxia, Yardang landforms, and canyon wonders. The rock strata within the canyon range from the Cambrian to the Cenozoic eras, earning it the title of a "living textbook of geological history." The scenic area features attractions such as Nine Dragons Converging at the Sea, General Stone, and a narrow gorge, combining natural beauty...
No.
10
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Gansu Provincial Museum
4.6
/5
3846 reviews
7.4
Based on 134 reviews
Gansu Provincial Museum/Lanzhou Center | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8609312339131
Address: No. 3 Xijin East Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou City
Recommended sightseeing time: 3–4 hours
Highlights:
Paint pottery & experience history
Archaeology & artifact restoration workshop
Saved by 122 users2472 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The number of visitors was absolutely enormous; you were basically just being pushed around by the crowd. I saw the Flying Horse of Gansu and the Little Girl with the Curtain-like Hairpin. There weren't many exhibits inside; pottery made up a large portion. Overall, it was alright. I hired a guided tour, so at least I didn't just wander around aimlessly.
Whenever I travel to a new place, I always want to visit a museum to learn about its history. I booked free tickets in advance through the official WeChat account, and there's a free locker on the left side of the entrance, which was very convenient. I was surprised by how many visitors usually visit the Gansu Museum, and there was a long line right at the entrance. The main areas of interest are on the second and third floors. The Gansu Museum is very famous for its cultural and creative products, and the prices are quite high, so I bought one as a souvenir. The most famous exhibits are undoubtedly the Horse Stepping on Flying Swallow and the glass lotus flower tray. I was lucky enough to see them in person, and I was truly impressed by the wisdom and exquisite craftsmanship of the ancients. There aren't many other exhibits. Since visiting the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, I feel like every museum's artifacts are younger. Across from the Gansu Museum is a large shopping mall, Lanzhou Center, which you can also visit.
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