When to go & weather

Weather

Qīnghǎi’s climate is determined by the high altitude – wherever you go, it’s likely to be cold and arid, though during the day the sun can get pretty intense. Summer (June to September) is the best time to visit.

The east and south are high, grassy plateaus, with elevations varying from 2500m to 5000m. Both the Tanggula Range along the border of Tibet and the Amnye Machen Mountains in the east have peaks at more than 6000m.

Northwestern Qīnghǎi is a large basin consisting mainly of barren desert, salt marshes and saline lakes. The Kunlun Mountains along the border with Xīnjiāng have summits that top out at a dizzying 6860m.