Introduction of Golmud

Golmud, located in Qinghai Province on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, is an important transportation hub connecting northwestern China with Tibet. The city lies approximately 1,165 kilometers north of Lhasa, 781 kilometers west of Xining, and 524 kilometers south of Dunhuang, at an elevation of around 3,000 meters (9,840 feet). Golmud is also the starting point of the Qinghai–Tibet Railway, the world’s highest railway, making it a major gateway for travelers heading to Lhasa and the Tibetan Plateau.

The name “Golmud” comes from the Mongolian language and means “a place where rivers gather.” Covering approximately 124,500 square kilometers, the city is situated in the central-southern Qaidam Basin, surrounded by the magnificent Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges. This remarkable landscape features snow-capped peaks, glaciers, rivers, lakes, wetlands, oases, and vast desert expanses, creating one of China’s most distinctive high-altitude environments.

Golmud is especially famous for the Qarhan Salt Lake, China’s largest salt lake and one of the world’s largest inland salt deposits, covering an area of approximately 5,856 square kilometers. The spectacular salt flats have earned the city the nickname “Salt Lake City.” Combining dramatic plateau scenery, unique geological landscapes, and its strategic role on the legendary Qinghai–Tibet route, Golmud offers visitors an unforgettable introduction to the natural wonders of western China.

The main attractions of Golmud

ChaKa Salt Lake

The Caka (meaning the sea of salt in Mongolian language) Salt Lake cocers and area of 105 square kilometers, and is a tyical chloride salt lake. The salt from Caka are sold in 20 provinces and cities, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as in Japan and Nepal, and the Middle East. Tourists can take the train to the salt farm, watching the mining of salt, and admiring various salt crystals in the shape of pearls, corals, snowflakes, and mushrooms.

The Salt Bridge

The world-known Charhan Salt Lake vocers an area of 5, 868 square kms with 6 billion tons of mineral deposits. It leads the way in China in the deposits of potassium, magnesium, lithium, and sodium, and is the largest peopoldite producer in the country. The Qinghai-Tibet Highway, the highest of its kind in the world, runs through the salt lake. The colorful world of salt forms a unique view on the highland, lake, attracting visitors from all parts of the world. The lake has been prestigest as the King of Salt Lake. The Salt Bridge, 60kms north of the downtown area, stretches 32 kms, spanning over the salt lake. Entirely laid with salt, the bridge is straight, flat, and smooth.

Mt. Kunlun

Mt. Kunlun has been known as the Forefather of Mountains in China. The name of the mountain can be found in many Chinese classics, such as The Classics of Mountains and Rivers, Commentary on the Waterways Classics, and Canonization of the Gods (or Gods and Heroes). As legend has it, the goddess of Kunlun is Queen Mother of the West. The adobe of immortals in many ancient books is said to be the Heihai, or the Black Sea - the source of the Kunlun River, 4,300 meters above sea level, with an area of 60 square kilometers. The river region is an ideal home to birds and wild animals, such as wild donkeys, sheep, and brown bears. There are precious murals in Yeniugou, or Wild Bull Ditch. Textual research shows that this is where Taoist rites were performed during the late Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Kekexili Nature Reserve:

Kekexili Nature Reserve was established with ratification of the government of Qinghai in October 1995. promoted to be a state one in December 1997 Location: From Yushu Autonomous Prefecture of Tibetan ，Qinghai. Its altitude: the average altitude is 5000 meters, and the highest peak inside is 6868 ms. It is one of the largest nature reserve in China as well as the highest sea level. Many wonders of nature exist in it, the valley, glaciers, salt lakes,hot spring, and wild animals.

Golmud Climate