The Qinghai lake

The Qinghai lake in some figures :

Circumference: 360 km

Altitude: 3266 meters on the Tibetan plateau, which makes it one of the highest lakes in China and in the world.

Maximum depth: 27 meters

Average temperature over the year: 5.6°~8.5°. 

Average winter temperature: -20° ~ -7°.

A sacred land

Located in the northwestern province of the same name, Qinghai Lake is the largest salt lake in China. Known for its annual cycling race, it is above all a sacred lake, as much for the Mongols as for the Tibetans. The Mongols call it the « Lake of the Blue Sea » or « Kokonor » and the Tibetans call it « Blue Lake » or « Tso Ngönpo ». As every time there is a natural phenomenon out of the ordinary, it becomes the object of religious mystifications. Thus, the adepts of Tibetan Buddhism and Mongolian Tengrism leave throughout the year on pilgrimage and the custom requires 23 days on foot and 18 on horseback to go around the lake.

A land of breeding

From the beginning, pastoral activity has been the main activity on these shores. Sheep and yaks for meat and wool, cashmere goats, these animals are everywhere and they are raised as much by sedentary people as by nomads.

The meat has an excellent reputation for the particular taste it has because of the salinity of the lake.