Most of Qinghai sits more than 2,000 metres above sea level, and its calling card is a lake so big you can't see across it. Qinghai Lake is China's largest lake, and its blue water against snow-dusted mountains is the kind of view that photos undersell. A few hours away, Chaka Salt Lake takes the opposite approach: a flat, mirror-still sheet of brine and salt crust that reflects the sky back at you almost perfectly on a calm day.

There's a comfortable place to sleep whichever route you take through the province, from a night in the capital before you head out to the lake, to a longer loop out toward the salt flats and the Qaidam Basin.

Where to stay in Qinghai

• Xining: the provincial capital and the easiest base, with the widest hotel choice, the main train station, and Qinghai Lake within day-trip reach.
• Golmud: a desert rail town on the edge of the Qaidam Basin, and the usual staging point for a Chaka Salt Lake run or a longer trip further west.
• Chaka township: right on the salt lake itself. Rooms here are simple and few, but you're a short walk from the boardwalk, which matters if you want the mirror effect at sunrise before the tour buses arrive.
• The villages along Qinghai Lake's shore: basic guesthouses dot the lakeside road, useful if an early-morning view of the water and the bird colonies matters more to you than hotel amenities.

How much is Qinghai accommodation?

A comfortable hotel room in Xining runs from around AU$45 to AU$60 a night, with genuine four- and five-star options from about AU$90.

• Backpackers/Hostels: from AU$6-15 a night. Simple, shared-style rooms near the Xining or Golmud train stations.
• Budget hotels/Guesthouses: from around AU$20-30 a night. No-frills but clean, including the small lakeside and salt-lake-town stays where choice is limited by design.
• Mid-range: from about AU$45-60 a night. International mid-tier brands such as Fairfield by Marriott Xining, all in the capital.
• Business/Upper mid-range: from around AU$80-95 a night. Holiday Inn Express Xining Railway Station or DoubleTree by Hilton Qinghai - Golmud, handy if you're stringing together train or road legs.
• Boutique/Luxury: from roughly AU$100+ a night. Sofitel Xining and its sister property The Sebel Xi Ning, both with full spa and dining facilities to wind down in after a day at altitude.

Top-rated hotels in Qinghai

• Sofitel Xining: a genuine five-star with nearly 500 rooms and an indoor pool, a rare full-service stay this far inland.
• Fairfield by Marriott Xining: reliable mid-range comfort in the Chengbei district, a solid base for early starts to the lake.
• Holiday Inn Express Xining Railway Station: about as convenient as it gets if you're arriving or leaving by train.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Qinghai - Golmud: 112 rooms with a pool and gym, easily the most comfortable stay in the desert basin towns.
• Chaka Salt Lake Yinhu Hotel: a simple, budget-friendly option right in Chaka township, on the doorstep of the salt lake itself.

Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Qinghai

• Xining sits above 2,000 metres and the lake country beyond it is higher again. Take your first day easy, drink more water than feels necessary, and skip strenuous exercise straight off the train or plane.
• Aim for June to September. Roads out to Chaka Salt Lake and Qinghai Lake can be affected by cold and snow outside that window, and the salt lake's mirror effect is more reliable with the shallow water layer that the warmer months bring.
• Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake are roughly three to four hours apart by road via Xining or Golmud. A rental car or a booked day-tour vehicle is usually simpler than working it out by public transport.
• Nights drop cold fast at this altitude, even in summer. When you're comparing budget guesthouses, check reviews mention working heating rather than assuming it's included.
• Pack for sun and cold on the same day. The thin air means strong UV even when the temperature is low, so sunscreen and a warm layer both earn their spot in the bag.

Qinghai's food is shaped by what actually grows at this altitude. Barley, yak meat, and yak butter and yoghurt turn up across menus, usually alongside hearty hand-pulled noodles, which are common right across the region. It's simple, warming food, built for a cold climate rather than a photo.

If you're weighing up other parts of China for the same trip, Traveloka's guides to Beijing and Shanghai cover two very different sides of the country.