海西蒙古族藏族自治州

Why this place

Haixi is the Mongol and Tibetan prefecture in western Qinghai, and it is mostly the Qaidam basin: a high desert of salt flats, oil, potash and strange landforms. It contains the Chaerhan salt lake — China's largest — and the yardang 'ghost city' wind-eroded landscape.

What to see

• The Chaerhan Salt Lake and the salt bridge — a road built on salt across the lake
• The Yardang landforms (the 'ghost city') at Dunhuang's edge, wind-carved into shapes
• The Qarhan and the Gobi desert country, and the Kunlun Mountains to the south
• Delingha and the Mongol-Tibetan culture of the oases

What to eat

• Plateau and desert food: mutton, barley and the local 'qaidam' dishes
• Haixi is known for its 'nuomuhong' and its salt-lake products

Best time

June–September