Holiday in Xining
City in china — tips, highlights & best time to visit
Country
china
Type
City
Best time to travel
June to September (10-25 °C, blooming season at Qinghai Lake). July is ideal for rapeseed fields. Winter is very cold (-15 to -5 °C).
Budget/day
40-85 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Xining Caojiabao (XNN, approx. 10-14 h with a stopover in Beijing or Chengdu). Visa for China required.
About Xining
Xining is the capital of Qinghai Province and the gateway to the Tibetan Plateau — the city is located at an altitude of 2,275 meters on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and has been a melting pot of Tibetan, Mongolian, Muslim Hui, and Han Chinese cultures for centuries. The Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si), just 25 km southwest of Xining, is one of the six holiest monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school (Yellow Hats). The golden roofs, intricate yak butter sculptures, and meditating monks make Kumbum a world-class spiritual experience. The Qinghai Lake (Koko Nor), about 150 km west of Xining, is the largest inland lake in China and is situated at an altitude of 3,200 meters. In July, the shores transform into an endless sea of yellow rapeseed — one of the most spectacular natural spectacles in China. In winter, the lake completely freezes over. The Dongguan Mosque in the city center is one of the largest and oldest mosques in China (built in 1380) and the center of the Hui Muslim community. The coexistence of Tibetan monasteries, mosques, and Chinese temples in close proximity makes Xining a unique cultural mosaic. From Xining, the famous Tibet Railway (Qinghai-Tibet Railway) departs for Lhasa — the highest railway line in the world with a peak altitude of 5,072 meters, one of the most epic train journeys ever.
Top 5 highlights in Xining
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si)
One of the six holiest Tibetan monasteries: golden roofs, yak butter sculptures, and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa.
Qinghai Lake (Koko Nor)
Largest inland lake in China at 3,200 m altitude: surrounded by endless rapeseed fields in July, completely frozen in winter.
Dongguan Mosque
One of the largest and oldest mosques in China (1380): center of Hui culture with space for 10,000 worshippers.
Tibet Railway to Lhasa
Highest railway line in the world (5,072 m peak): epic 21-hour train ride from Xining to Lhasa.
Nordberg Temple Complex (Tulou Guan)
Taoist temple built into the rock face: 1,900 years old, with panoramic views over the Xining valley.
Hotels in Xining
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Xining
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Xining
Recommended travel time
June to September (10-25 °C, blooming season at Qinghai Lake). July is ideal for rapeseed fields. Winter is very cold (-15 to -5 °C).
Summer
10-25 °C, cool and pleasant at 2,275 m altitude, afternoon thunderstorms possible
Winter
-15 to -3 °C, cold and dry, plenty of sunshine
How much does a holiday in Xining cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
15-35 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
40-85 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
100-220 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Xining
Compare thousands of package holidays to Xining and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays now5 travel tips for Xining
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
China visa required — apply in advance. A Tibet Travel Permit is additionally needed for Tibet (Lhasa), only through a travel agency.
Chinese Yuan (CNY) — 1 € ≈ 7.8 CNY. Cash is important for monasteries and markets. WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate.
Be mindful of altitude adjustment — Xining is at 2,275 m. Acclimatize slowly, especially before traveling to Qinghai Lake (3,200 m) or Lhasa (3,650 m).
Book the Tibet Railway early — tickets for the Xining–Lhasa route are in high demand. Best to book through a travel agency 30 days in advance.
Visit Kumbum early in the morning — there are hardly any tourists before 9 am, and the monks during morning prayers are an unforgettable sight.
Food & drink in Xining
These specialties you must try!
