Chaka Salt Lake
茶卡盐湖 · Chákǎ Yánhú
A working salt lake at about 3,060 m whose thin layer of water mirrors the sky on calm days, walked on salt paths or crossed by a small train.
Booking recommendedBring your passport2–3 hours at the lake; a 12-hour day from Xining
Tip
Wear shoes you don’t mind ruining, or rent boot covers at the entrance: the salt is sharp and wet. Sunglasses are essential against the white glare. Go early or late on a still day for the best reflections.
- Opening hours
- Peak season roughly 07:30–19:30 (in September tickets stop at about 19:20); shorter hours in winter To be confirmed
- Price
- About ¥60 (half price in some off-season periods); the small train is extra (about ¥60 one way, ¥100 return) To be confirmed
- How to book
- Buy real-name tickets with your passport on the official website (chakasl.com), Trip.com or at the gate; book ahead for July–August and October holidays.
- Getting there
- About 300 km west of Xining, 4–4.5 hours by car via Qinghai Lake. Buses from Xining’s long-distance bus centre to Chaka town take about 4.5 hours; some trains stop at Chaka station in summer. Most visitors join a Qinghai Lake + Chaka tour or hire a car, often staying a night in Chaka To be confirmed
- Address in Chinese
- 青海省海西蒙古族藏族自治州乌兰县茶卡镇盐湖路9号
Photo: Liuxingy · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Checked against these sources on 2026-10-02. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Not yet confirmed by an official source: Opening hours, Price, Getting there
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