Qinghai Lake Bird Island

More and more birds are flying to settle at Qinghai Lake, one of the highest inland lakes in China, thanks to the protection efforts of local governments. It encompasses two islands, one is Haixi Pi in the east, and in the west is the Haixi Shan, which is four times smaller than the former island but is where most of the birds of the lake congregate. When the spring and summer come, many birds fly from faraway mountains and deserts to breed here. In the noisiest months of April and May, their numbers can amount to ten thousand, 80% to 90% of which stop on the Haixi Shan and lay eggs there. With eggs interspersed all over the island, Haixi Shan is also called "Egg Island".

With the enticing natural scenery and so many beautiful wildfowl, Bird Island has been a must for many tourists traveling in Qinghai. The island has been listed as a national natural reserve mainly for the protection of birds here, but also provides an excellent place for the travelers and birdwatchers to visit.

Admission fee: RMB58/p.p

How to get:

Unfortunately there are no public buses to Bird Island. The closest you can get is to the small settlement of Heimahe, 50km away, from where a taxi will cost RMB50. From Xining there are six departures to Heimahe between 7:45 am and 3:30pm; the return schedule is similar.