Overview
Qinghai is a high-plateau province in west-central China, named after the vast Qinghai Lake, a land of grasslands, salt lakes and Tibetan culture.
Province
Qinghai
青海省 · Capital: 西宁
Map & Prefectures
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Prefecture-level cities
Read articles about Qinghai →About Qinghai
Geography
A cold, arid plateau at 3,000 m above sea level, Qinghai holds the headwaters of the Yellow, Yangtze and Mekong rivers and the enormous Qaidam Basin.
History
Historically the territory of the Tuyuhun and Tibetan peoples, Qinghai became a province in 1928 and remains a frontier of Tibetan and Mongol herding cultures.
Culture
Qinghai is home to Tibetan, Hui, Mongol and Tu peoples; the Ta'er (Kumbum) Monastery and the annual Tibetan festivals are cultural anchors.
Cuisine
The cuisine is高原 (highland) and halal-influenced: yak meat, tsampa, mutton and wheat noodles, with butter tea among Tibetan communities.
Highlights
Highlights: Qinghai Lake, the Ta'er Monastery, and the source rivers of the "Three Rivers."