Xining, Qinghai Province, as a shining pearl on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has many unique natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Xining boasts a wealth of diverse tourism resources, from natural wonders to cultural landmarks, all of which are so captivating that visitors find it hard to leave. I hope this information can help you better understand this beautiful city of Xining. The following is a brief introduction and characteristic summary of the main tourist attractions in Xining:

Main History
Established as Xiping Post in the Western Han, renamed Xiping Commandery in the Eastern Han, and called “Xining” from 1104 CE. It became the provincial capital of Qinghai in 1929 and was liberated on September 5, 1949. Today it is known as “China’s Summer Capital.”

Latitude & Longitude
City centre: 36°37′02″ N, 101°46′34″ E.

Total Area
7,660 km² (urban core 476.5 km²).

Permanent Resident Population
≈ 2.46 million (end-2023).

Airport
1 civil airport: Xining Caojiabao International Airport (XNN).

Main Railway Stations
3 stations: Xining Railway Station, Xining West (passenger), and Xining North (mainly freight).

Metro Opening & Network
First metro line opened 28 September 2023; as of June 2025 one line (Line 1) is in operation.

Geographic Position in China
Eastern Qinghai, middle Huangshui River valley, on the north-eastern edge of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, 220 km west of Lanzhou.

Geographic Features
A narrow east-west valley basin at 2,261 m above sea level, higher in the south-west and lower in the north-east, encircled by mountains with the Huangshui River running through the city.

Climate Characteristics
Plateau continental semi-arid: cold winters, cool summers, large diurnal temperature range; 2,510 hours of annual sunshine and summer mean 17–19 °C, earning the nickname “China’s Summer Capital.”

Months of the Four Seasons
Spring: April–May
Summer: June–August
Autumn: September–October
Winter: November–March

Annual Average Temperature
≈ 5.5 °C.

Annual Average Precipitation
≈ 500 mm.

Best Times to Visit
May–October: cool and comfortable, ideal for escaping summer heat.

Peak Tourist Seasons
July–August (summer escape) and October Golden Week.

Major Tourist Attractions 
Kumbum Monastery (Ta’er Temple), Qinghai Lake (Er Lang Jian), Dongguan Great Mosque, Beishan Tulousi Temple, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park, Dan Gar Ancient City.

Main Shopping Streets
Shuijing Lane Pedestrian Street (Shuijing Lane, Chengzhong District) and Mojia Street (Mojia Street, Chengzhong District).

Signature Specialties
Hand-pulled lamb, yak yoghurt, sweet fermented barley, cold-skin noodles, Gya-thuk (small noodle pieces), Gou-jiao-you oil cake.

Qinghai Lake: China's largest inland lake, with different scenery in four seasons, is an excellent representative of natural scenery.

Kumbum Monastery: a sacred place of Tibetan Buddhism, the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, full of strong Buddhist cultural atmosphere and artistic attainments.

Dongguan Grand Mosque: A landmark building in Xining, a good place to learn about Islamic culture and taste Qinghai cuisine.

Tibetan Medicine Culture Museum: A treasure house that showcases Tibetan medicine and culture, and allows visitors to experience the profound heritage of Tibetan culture.

Laoye Mountain: it is a good place for climbing and sightseeing with natural scenery and historical and cultural relics.

Mount Sun and Moon: A must-visit destination in Qinghai for those traveling to Tibet, where grasslands, prayer flags, and beautiful scenery complement each other.

Xining Wildlife Park: the largest in the northwest region, where you can get close to rare wild animals.

Nanshan Park: an oasis in the city, providing an excellent environment for leisure and relaxation.

People's Park: an oasis in the city center, suitable for family outings and leisure activities for citizens.

Qinghai Xinhualian Dreamland: a comprehensive park integrating amusement, leisure and culture, suitable for tourists of all ages.

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