Qinghai Province is located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It has rich tourist resources, including Qinghai Lake, the largest inland salt lake in China, the wellknown Bird Island in the,northwest of Qinghai Lake, the Nature Reserve in Xunhua, Kumbum Monastery, one of the six largest monasteries of the Ge-lug-pa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Liuwan Ancient Tombs, the largest and best preserved tombs in ancient China, Qutan Temple built some 500 years ago, Qaidam Basin, one of the four largest basins in China, and other places of interest, such as Dulan International Hunting Ground, Kanbula National Park, and Wufeng and Laoye mountains.

Qinghai Province is one of the five largest pasturelands in China. The galloping horses, numerous yaks, snow-white sheep, and herdsmen's tents form a beautiful, tranquil landscape on the boundless pastureland. Qinghai is very proud that the worldfamous Changjiang (Yangtze) and Huanghe (Yellow) rivers descend from its territory. The spectacular view at the source of the Changjiang River is the serac forest stretching five kms. The magnificent scene at the source of the Huanghe River is lakes and streams crissingcrossing the green grasslands. In Ecotour China'99, Qinghai will offer more chances to display its beautiful scenery.

Qinghai Province is attractive not only for its beautiful scenery but also for its colorful local customs. It is mainly inhabited by the Tibetans, the Huis, the Mongolians, the Manchus, the Tus, and the Salars, who are diligent, bold and unconstrained, and talented singers and dancers.

In recent years, Qinghai Tourism Administration has opened more routes, including Trekking on the Roof of the World from Xining to Lhasa, the South Silk Road from Xining to Dunhuang, and the Ancient Road from Xining to the Yushu Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, in addition to other special-interest tourist routes, such as the Natural Landscape, the National Park, the Bird Island, and Mountaineering.

The 4,635-square-km Qinghai Lake in the northeast part of the province is the largest inland saltwater lake in Chin. The 0.8-square-km Bird Islet is a paradise for more than 100,000 migratory birds, including bar-headed geese, brown-headed gulls, swans, and wild ducks. May through October is the best season for bird-watching tours.

The mountain was known as Chiling Range in ancient China. Legend has it that in the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong granted Princess Wencheng a mirror named the Sun and the Moon before she married King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet. The mirror was said to see Chang'an, then capital, and her relatives. When she passed through Chiling Range, the princess threw the Sun and the Moon onto the mountain. Hence the name. To commemorate Princess Wencheng, the local people built two pavilions named the Sun and the Moon respectively. At the northwestern foot of the mountain a river runs westward. Hence its name. It is said that the river water was tears of Princess Wencheng who suffered from homesick. Worried that someday the river would have reached Chang'an if it run eastward, the princess prayed for turning its flow back. God was deeply moved and changed the flow of the river.

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.

Located in the east of Jishi Town, Xunhua County, 150 kms from Xining, the pond covers and area of 20hectares, and is 30meters in depth. The pond is surranded by ancient trees of 550 species, including spruce and Huashan pines. Among the dense forest, there are rare animals and birds, such as blue sheep and snow cocks. An ideal health resort, the place has become a state nature reserve.

The Changjiang (Yangtze) River descends from the glaciers at the northwestern foot of the snow-capped Geladandong, the main peak of Tanggula Mountains. Twenty-one ice peaks tower 6,000 meters above sea level, forming the Tuotuo River, the origin of the Yangtze. Standing among the forest of ice peaks, people can enjoy the superlative craftsmanship by nature - the crystal ice "sculptures" of towers, bridges, and mushrooms. The best season for traveling is from June through September. The Huanghe (Yellow) River descends from Yokutsunglieh Canal in the north, east of Mt. Yagradagze in Madoi County, and Kari Qu in the south in Qumarleb County. The source region is 5,000 meters above sea level. The river meanders through broad grasslands, accepting numerous springs, which empty themselves into more than 100 pools and lakes dotted around, glistening in the sun like stars, giving the area the name the Sea of Stars. The pools and lakes join in a 10-meter-wide, 0.5-meter-deep stream - the source of the river. The best season for trekking is from June through September.