Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains)

Most posts show Qinghai province during summer but also the late winter creates a beautiful countryside. While the lakes are frozen, you can enjoy still the monasteries, temples and mountains partially covered in snow. Riyue Mountain is beautiful during late winter days with a mixture of snow and awakening nature. Almost no tourists will come this way but you can do small hiking tour from top to top of each grass hill. Put your warm clothes on and don’t forget sun protection then you will be ready to spend some good time there without having many other people there. #winter #mountaintop #mountainhike

1. Riyue Mountain Address - Huangyuan County, Xining, Qinghai Provinve, China Highlights - Princess Wencheng statue , Temple, Museum Rating - 4star The legendary story behind this geographic travel spot is the relationship between Han-Chinese princess Wencheng and Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo from 7th century. On her way to marry the king, the queen looked into a magic mirror with a sun-moon design to see her future family. But unfortunately, she only sees herself in the mirror. Out of agony, she breaks the mirror and the Daotang River flowing in unusual east to west direction, originates from her tears. #thisischina

Princess Wencheng, on her long journey westward for a marriage alliance, carried with her a precious item known as the "Sun and Moon Treasure Mirror". It is said that whenever the princess yearned for home, she could look into this mirror and see the landscape of the Tang Dynasty. However, while passing through a mountain, the princess, longing for her distant homeland, couldn't help but take out the "Sun and Moon Treasure Mirror" given to her by the Empress before departure to gaze upon it, and instantly, the enchanting scenery of Chang'an appeared in the mirror. At that moment, Princess Wencheng, overwhelmed with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, accidentally dropped the mirror, breaking it into two halves, which landed on two small hills. The eastern half faced west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, while the western half faced east, illuminated by the light of the rising moon. Thus, the name Riyue Mountain was derived.

Time: Sunday, 2023/12/24 20:00 Venue: Qinghai Grand Theatre - Art Lecture Hall Who says there's no Christmas atmosphere in the great Northwest? Here it comes, the Xining Spring Wave Island, Gua, and Mimi Dream Band concert! Besides watching the performance on Christmas, take advantage of the weekend to check out the local attractions in Xining! 1. Ta'er Monastery Ta'er Monastery is located in Huangzhong County, Xining, with a history of over 400 years. It is one of the important monasteries of the Gelug school (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect. The monastery's architecture is magnificent, its treasures are abundant, and it offers a strong religious atmosphere, making it one of the more popular tourist destinations in Xining. 2. Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum The Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum is a comprehensive museum with a theme of Tibetan medicine and culture. It houses 16 exhibition halls, including the Silk Road and Qinghai-Tibetan Civilization, Panorama of Chinese Tibetan Art Paintings, History of Tibetan Medicine, etc. It treasures the Guinness World Record-holding Thangka masterpiece - 'Panorama of Chinese Tibetan Art Paintings', which is 618 meters long. Planned by the renowned Thangka master Zongzhe Lajie, it was completed by 400 painters over 4 years. The content encompasses the Tibetan understanding of the universe, the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, history, religion, medicine, culture, art, and folklore. The painting is detailed and colorful, a grand spectacle, and is known as a 'contemporary national treasure' and an encyclopedia of Tibetan culture. 3. Riyue Mountain Riyue Mountain is located on the way from Huangyuan to Qinghai Lake and is also a necessary route to Tibet. Legend has it that when Princess Wencheng entered Tibet, she broke the stone mirror that could not reflect her hometown into two pieces, the sun and the moon, hence the name Riyue Mountain. On both sides of the Riyue Mountain pass, there is a small peak with the Sun Pavilion and the Moon Pavilion, two iconic buildings.

Qinghai Five-Day Tour Guide🎈is here The scenery is really too beautiful!! Day1️⃣ Arrive in Xining—Mo Street/Xin Qian Night Market Day2️⃣ Riyue Mountain (🎫Ticket 40💰) 8:00-17:00—Qinghai Lake (Erlang Sword Scenic Area🎫Ticket 90💰) 8:00-18:00 Day3️⃣ Chaka Salt Lake (🎫Ticket 60💰) 7:00-19:00—Zhuoer Mountain 7:00-20:00 (🎫Ticket 60💰) Day4️⃣ Qilian Mountain Grassland—Zhangye Danxia National Geopark (🎫Ticket 75💰) 6:30-18:00 Day5️⃣ Menyuan Rapeseed Flowers 📌Important Notes: 1. Qinghai is at a high altitude, you may experience mild altitude sickness upon arrival, avoid strenuous exercise 2. Take sun protection measures, the ultraviolet rays are strong 3. There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening, remember to bring warm clothes 4. Make sure to book hotels and homestays in advance during peak season 🤩Qinghai is really too beautiful, girls let's go!

Sun and Moon Mountain is one of the famous mountains in China. It has a beautiful story that can be traced thousands of years ago. It is sorrounded by huge mountains and a beautiful platue where it is covered by snow during winter. Riyue Mountain was called Russet Ridge during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) because of its grassless russet mountaintop. Legend has it that in the 641 during Zhenguan Period (627-649), when Princess Wencheng left for Tubo to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, she was very sad and painful. So the Emperor of Tang Dynasty gifted her a sun-and-moon treasure mirror and said to her that if she looked in the mirror at the boundary of Tang Dynasty and Tubo (Tibet), she would see her hometown and her parents. When Princess Wencheng reached the boundary, she took out the mirror and looked in it immediately. However, what she could see nothing in the mirror but a thin face of herself and the setting sun shining on Russet Ridge. She came to realize that the Emperor of Tang Dynasty had cheated her for the friendly relationship and the long-term peace between Tang Dynasty and Tubo. Princess Wencheng was so angry and sorrowful that she threw out the mirror. The mirror was broken and the fragments were just landed on the two hills. The east half piece of the mirror faced the west reflecting the rays of the setting sun and the west half piece of the mirror faced the east reflecting the rising moon. Hence, the name, sun and moon mountain, was came out.

Recently, there are more friends asking about the scenery and temperature of Qinghai tourism. Today, I will focus on the following points: 1. It's not cold in Qinghai in autumn. You can wear autumn clothes during the day and a thick coat in the morning and evening. You can rush to it recently; 2. In terms of scenery, except for the grass changing color, there is basically no impact. And the autumn scenery is also very good; 3. The route is still the Qinghai-Gansu grand loop, which crosses many scenic spots and has a rich itinerary; 4. By the way, Gansu is now in the cool autumn, and the temperature is very comfortable; What about the temperature and clothing preparation for traveling to Qinghai and Gansu in September or National Day? 1. In Qinghai in September, the temperature is cool in the morning and evening, and there may even be occasional snow, so a winter coat is necessary. But the daytime temperature is over 10 degrees, and autumn clothes can also be worn; 2. The scenic spots in Gansu, such as Dunhuang and Zhangye, have a very comfortable temperature. Autumn clothes are mainly worn, and summer clothes can also be worn during the day; Which places in the northwest are worth going in autumn? 1. Qinghai Lake & Chaka Salt Lake 2. Emerald Lake 3. Zhangye Danxia 4. Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain + Mogao Grottoes 5. Jinta Populus Euphratica Forest About the route: Qing, Tea, Qi, Zhang 5 days and 4 nights tour D1. Xining Airport/Train Station Pick-up D2. Xining - Riyueshan (car view) - Daotang River (passing by) - Qinghai Lake - Chaka D3. Chaka - Chaka Salt Lake - Gangcha Grassland - Dadongshu Mountain Pass - Binggou Forest Sea - Zhuoer Mountain - Qilian County D4. Qilian - Qilian Grassland - Biandukou - The most beautiful 227 National Road - Zhangye Danxia D5. Zhangye - Menyuan Rapeseed Sea (car view) - Daban Mountain - Heiquan Reservoir - Xining Explore Qinghai · Maldives 6 days and 5 nights D1. Xining--Qinghai Lake--Chaka Salt Lake--Delingha D2. Delingha-U-shaped net red road-Dongtaijinnai Lake (passing by)-Water Yadan-West Taijinnai Lake-South Baxian Yadan-Dachaidan D3. Dachaidan-Emerald Lake--Petroleum Town-Dunhuang D4. Dunhuang-Mogao Grottoes-Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring-Dunhuang D5. Dunhuang-Guazhou Tasting Melon-Jiayuguan-Zhangye Danxia-Zhangye D6. Zhangye--Biandukou-Qilian Mountain Grassland-Gangshika Snow Peak (view from a distance)-Menyuan Hundred Acres of Rapeseed Sea (passing by)-Xining Explore Qinghai · Water Yadan 7 days and 6 nights D1. Xining Airport/Train Station Pick-up D2. Xining--Qinghai Lake--Chaka Salt Lake--Delingha D3. Delingha-U-shaped net red road-Dongtaijinnai Lake-West Taijinnai Lake-Water Yadan-South Baxian Yadan-Dachaidan D4. Dachaidan-Emerald Lake--Petroleum Town-Dunhuang D5. Dunhuang-Mogao Grottoes-Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring-Dunhuang D6. Dunhuang-Guazhou Tasting Melon-Jiayuguan-Zhangye Danxia-Zhangye D7. Zhangye--Biandukou-Qilian Mountain Grassland-Gangshika Snow Peak (view from a distance)-Menyuan Hundred Acres of Rapeseed Sea (passing by)-Xining Explore Qinghai · Jinta Populus Euphratica Forest 8 days and 7 nights D1. All over the country—Xining D2. Xining-Riyueshan (car view)-Qinghai Lake-Chaka D3. Chaka-Chaka Salt Lake-Golmud D4. Golmud-Chaerhan Salt Lake-U-shaped net red road-Water Yadan-Dachaidan D5. Dachaidan-Dachaidan Emerald Lake-Borozhuanjing (Petroleum Town)-Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring-Dunhuang D6. Dunhuang-Mogao Grottoes-Jiayuguan D7. Jiayuguan-Jinta Populus Euphratica Forest-Zhangye Danxia D8. Zhangye-Biandukou-Qilian Grassland-Daban Mountain-Heiquan Reservoir-Xining Explore Qinghai · Chaerhan Salt Lake 8 days and 7 nights D1 Xining Airport/Train Station Pick-up D2. Xining—Qinghai Lake—Chaka—Delingha D3. Delingha—Chaerhan Salt Lake—Dachaidan D4. Dachaidan—U-shaped net red road—Water Yadan—West Taijinnai Lake—Dachaidan D5. Dachaidan—Emerald Lake—Borozhuanjing (Petroleum Town)—Dunhuang D6. Dunhuang—Mogao Grottoes—Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring—Shazhou Night Market—Dunhuang D7. Dunhuang—Guazhou—Jiayuguan City—Zhangye Danxia—Zhangye Danxia D8. Zhangye—Biandukou—Qilian Grassland—Menyuan Rapeseed—Daban Mountain—Heiquan Reservoir—Xining

🚗🚗🚗Travel Route: Day1: Caojiabao Airport→Ta'er Monastery→Riyue Mountain Day2: Qinghai Lake Erlang Sword Scenic Area→Chaka Salt Lake→Gangcha Fan Domain Tibetan City Linka Hotel Day3: Binggou Forest Sea→Zhuoer Mountain Day4: Qilian Grassland→Gangshika Snow Peak→Gangshika Rainbow Icefall→Caojiabao Airport Transportation: 4 days to walk the small loop is enough, we see the scenery during the day, rush the road from 7-11 pm, the road conditions in Qinghai are quite good, but most of them are two-way two-lane, many large vehicles, sometimes need to overtake. After dark, 80% of the road sections have no street lights, all rely on car headlights for lighting. Fortunately, both of our cars have a driving age of over 15 years, and we have some experience in off-road and night driving. It is not recommended for babies with a driving age of less than 10 years. In addition, it is recommended to use turbocharged vehicles in the plateau area, because the oxygen is thin, the naturally aspirated engine will be underpowered, and the performance of climbing and overtaking is not good. Mid-September weather: around 4-15, the daytime temperature is around 12, the temperature is similar to the early winter in Shenzhen, storm jacket, knitwear, and thin down jacket, jeans, storm pants Environment: The average altitude of Qinghai Province is above 3000, and the altitude of the passing points is Ta'er Monastery 2600-Riyue Mountain 3520-Qinghai Lake 3200-Chaka Salt Lake 3061-Zhuoer Mountain 3100-Gangshika Rainbow Ice Glacier Waterfall 4100-Qilian Grassland 3200, you must do what you can when you are active on the plateau, do not do vigorous exercise, do not run and jump, if you have chest tightness, headache, you must speak up in time. Religion: Qinghai is the main settlement of Tibetans, Mongolians, and Hui people. All temples can be photographed outside, but not inside. Some exhibition halls can, pay attention to on-site prompts. Tibetan compatriots can peek at the long heads, do not stare or confront, and the prayer wheels are pushed in a clockwise direction. In short, maintain national unity, full of courtesy, I have the world haha. Travel is the experience of life, not the punch card of sightseeing. Come, let me show you the highlights of each scenic spot. Ta'er Monastery: One person, three unique, eight towers One person (the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism), three unique (butter flowers, murals, pile embroidery), eight towers (record the important events of Buddha's life). Riyue Mountain: Princess, mirror, dividing line Princess (the last stop of Princess Wencheng's marriage to Tibet in the Tang Dynasty), mirror (the origin of Riyue Mountain, the mirror in Princess Wencheng's arms was broken into two pieces), dividing line (it is the dividing line between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the dividing line between farming and nomadic). Qinghai Lake: Saltwater lake, Huang fish, Cangyang Gyatso Saltwater lake (the largest inland saltwater lake), Huang fish (the Huang fish of Qinghai Lake from June to October every year, desperately return to the freshwater river to spawn), Cangyang Gyatso (the end point of the sixth Dalai Lama in the world, one version is 23 years old He died of illness by Qinghai Lake, and another version disappeared by Qinghai Lake and died in his hometown at the age of 62). Chaka Salt Lake: The smallest, salt sculpture, mirror of the sky The smallest (Chaka Salt Lake is the smallest of the four major salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin), salt sculpture (there are large outdoor salt sculptures next to the salt lake, which is very shocking), the mirror of the sky (because the white salt is the bottom and the water surface is the mirror, it can perfectly reflect the snow mountain white cloud). Zhuoer Mountain: Queen, lover Queen (because the mountain is a Danxia landform showing bright red, Zhuoer Mountain is also called the Red Queen), lover (the Qilian Mountain Mountain God Ami Dongso-Niu Xinshan across the river from Zhuoer Mountain, it is said to be the original form of the Dragon God Princess of Zhuoer Mountain Lover, because of parental opposition, the princess finally turned into Zhuoer Mountain to wait for her lover). Gangshika Snow Peak: Icefall, Snow Peak Icefall (After snowing, icefalls will form on the slope. Due to the different colors of the gravel on the mountain, different colors will be presented. Unfortunately, it cannot be seen in September, probably after November), Snow Peak (It is said to be one of the filming locations of 'The Climber', at an altitude of 3806 meters. You can clearly see the looming snow cap).

Riyue Mountain is located in the southwest of Wuyuan County, in the southeast of Qinghai Lake, 40km away from Wuyuan County, 100km away from Xining City Center, and the highest altitude is 4877m. This scenic spot is generally just going through Qinghai Lake. If you are not interested in history, there is no need to buy tickets to go in. Riyue Mountain is to buy tickets, adult 40 yuan, personally feel that the scenic spots on the mountain is not very necessary to enter, the Japanese pavilions and moon pavilions in the scenic area are antique buildings, not monuments. In the scenic area, there are also services such as riding yak, hiding clothes and taking photos, all of which need to be paid separately, and some buy souvenirs, but the price is not affordable. Riyue Mountain has always been the throat of the mainland to Tibet. It was once the boundary between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo. According to legend, Emperor Taizong made Princess Wencheng marry Tubo to quell the war and accompany Bao Jing. When he arrived at Riyue Mountain, Princess Wencheng threw out the mirror and landed on two hills. The half of the east side faces the west, reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun. The half of the west side faces the east, according to the rising moon. Riyue Mountain is named after this. Today, two pavilions, the Japanese Pavilion and the Moon Pavilion, were built on the Sun and Moon Hill to commemorate this magical legend. This is the Japanese pavilion. It is said that Princess Wencheng passed by this place. Colorful prayers can be seen everywhere. The reason why it is called the scriptures is because these plaques are printed with Buddhist scriptures. In the eyes of those who believe in Tibetan Buddhism, the prayers that dance with the wind are swaying once, and they are constantly conveying to God. People's wishes, pray for the blessing of God.