Entering summer, the northwest is like a fairyland, and as the gateway to this paradise, Qinghai is so breathtaking that one forgets the passage of time. Snow-capped mountains, lakes, grasslands, deserts, Yadan landforms, temples, prayer flags…
Countless unique landscapes make Qinghai a place worth exploring in depth. Here, you can easily encounter breathtaking scenery: lakes, flower fields, deserts, and starry skies, along with six vibrant colors: blue skies, green lakes, white mountains, golden deserts, green grasslands, and yellow rapeseed flowers. Walking on this vast land, the vitality and colors continually surprise you. Qinghai is a place you’ll fall in love with and never want to leave. In July, Qinghai Lake is romantic and poetic, with vast fields of rapeseed flowers along the lakeshore, blue water blending with the sky, and smoke rising from small wooden houses by the shore, resembling a pastoral landscape painting.
Qinghai Lake or Ch’inghai Lake, also known as Lake Koko Nor, is the largest lake in China (the size of Rhode Island or three Greater Londons). Located in the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau, this huge alkaline salt lake is usually No. 1 on “Most Beautiful Lakes in China” lists.
Fairy Bay Area – The Sea of Flowers
Fairy Bay Area is a wet land located in the northern coast of Qinghai Lake. There are two legends about how Fairy Bay Area got its name. In one old legend, the queen of the west area fell in love with the King of Central Plains. The queen always served a feast for the king in Qinghai Lake with pretty fairies singing and dancing for them. Another ancient poem showed that the Queen of the west had been waiting for the king of Central Plains in Qinghai Lake for thousands of years but he never kept his appointment. The sad queen left for Heaven, but she ordered the fairies to guard Qinghai Lake. Later, these fairies masqueraded as swans living in Fairy Bay Happily. Might be attracted by these beautiful swans, a dozen of other birds also prefer Fairy Bay as a habitat.
Apart from various birds, different kind of flowers blooms here from every June to October. Just like a carpet waved by fairies, Fairy Bay presents on white, yellow, orange, pink, red etc., really deserving its name of Flowers’ Ocean. Because of the magic legends and amazing landscape, local people regard it as sacred ground and several solemn rituals are held here. So, you can feel a strong cultural fragrance.
There’s a Tibetan folk custom that Buddhists should walk around the lake in the Year of Goat, circle the mountains in the Year of Horse, and circle the forest in the Year of Monkey. Some believe it’s a decree left by Buddha. Qinghai Lake is a sacred lake for Buddhist pilgrimages. Especially in Horse years of the 12-year cycle, many Buddhists will take a kora around the Qinghai Lake which is believed to be helpful to lead a safe and happy life. By traveling to Qinghai Lake you can get close to the devoted Tibetans and appreciate Tibetan culture. When the weather is warm in the summer months, there are ethnic festivals of the Tibetans and Muslims. Nowadays, there are still lots of minority tribes and herdsman families living beside the Lake. You can feel the strong nomadic ethnic culture there.
Besides Qinghai Lake, there are many lakes in Qinghai, such as Chaka Salt lake, ChaErHan Salt lake, etc.
Qinghai has many mountains, 3,600 mountain peaks, clustered together, resemble giant petals in full bloom, tracing graceful arcs across the sky. Up close, they resemble ancient castles, pyramids, animal shapes, and cylindrical pillars. Being there feels like entering a maze, making it difficult to distinguish directions.
In July and August, large fields of rapeseed flowers bloom beneath Zhuo’er Mountain. Standing at the top of the mountain, the view is incredibly expansive and unobstructed. As far as the eye can see, the earth is covered with a golden-yellow carpet.
This summer, embark on a pilgrimage to Qinghai.
On this vibrant land, there exists a power, ancient and resolute, with the solemn sound of bells echoing in all directions, suppressing all disturbances. The 400-year-old Kumbum（or Ta’er Monastery ) is one of the most important temples of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Entering the incense-filled Ta’er Monastery, one begins to feel detached from the mundane world. Devout followers, serene temples, and vivid Buddha statues all convey the weight of faith. The monastery’s buildings are grand, blending Han palace and Tibetan flat-top styles. With over 4,500 rooms, it forms a unique architectural complex that integrates Han and Tibetan craftsmanship.
The most captivating event is the annual “Shai Da Fo” or “Shai Da Thangka,” also known as the “Buddha Exhibition Festival.” This involves displaying a large Buddha image outdoors to prevent mold and insect damage, and more importantly, as a special way for monks and followers to pay homage to the Buddha. The image is actually a special type of large Thangka, a rare treasure among scroll paintings. The best time to unfold the Buddha image is at dawn when the first rays of sunlight hit the earth, hence the name “Shai Fo,” which means “Sun Buddha.”
Held twice a year during the lunar fourth and sixth months, the festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and nirvana of Shakyamuni, the emergence of Maitreya, and the birth and nirvana of Tsongkhapa. By displaying the Buddha image, followers can gaze upon it, receive its blessings, and protect it from damage. Ta’er Monastery has four large embroidered Buddha images: “Lion’s Roar,” “Shakyamuni,” “Tsongkhapa,” and “Vajrasattva,” with only one displayed each time on the monastery’s hillside. The ceremony is grand, attracting many spectators and creating a spectacular scene.
Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/07/15/discover-the-beauty-of-qinghai-this-summer/
Source: https://www.chinahighlights.com/xining/attraction/qinghai-lake.htm, https://www.chinadiscovery.com/qinghai/xining/qinghai-lake.html, photos from https://fashion.sina.cn/l/ds/2022-07-06/detail-imizmscv0155077.d.html
Peace LiLy 