Explore Xining with unlimited 4G/5G pocket WiFi from ChinaWiFiGo
Hotel delivery · No Chinese ID required · Full Google access
View Plans & PricingArea: 7,472 km²
Population: ~2.5 million (2020)
Xining means "western peace" in Chinese. It is the capital of Qinghai Province and the largest city on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
7.0/10 — Residents enjoy a balanced lifestyle with modern amenities and cultural richness.
Xining Caojiabao International Airport (XNN) has domestic and international flights. Xining Railway Station and Xining South Station are major rail hubs on the Qinghai–Tibet and Lanzhou–Xinjiang railways. The city has one metro line (Line 1).
Qinghai University, Qinghai Normal University, and Qinghai University for Nationalities are major institutions.
Xining lies on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at 2,275 meters elevation with a plateau continental climate. It is surrounded by mountains and is the gateway to Qinghai Lake and Tibet.
Visit Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si), Dongguan Mosque, Qinghai Provincial Museum, and the North Mountain Temple.
Day 1: Kumbum Monastery and Dongguan Mosque.
Day 2: Qinghai Provincial Museum and North Mountain.
Try Xining yogurt, lamb noodles, Tibetan tsampa, yak meat, and Hui-style snacks.
Buy Tibetan thangkas, yak wool products, Qinghai tea, and local dried fruits. Main shopping is on Dongguan Street and Wanda Plaza.
Local Vibe: Xining is the cool, high-altitude gateway to Tibet. Locals are a mix of Han, Hui, and Tibetan, and the city feels like a meeting point between cultures. The air is thin, the mutton is good, and the mountains are always in sight.
Fun Facts:
• Xining is the capital of Qinghai province and sits at about 2,275 meters above sea level.
• The city is an important railway hub on the way to Lhasa by train.
• Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si), near Xining, is one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside Tibet.
Xining locals speak their own flavor of Mandarin. Try these phrases to earn a smile:
Tashi Delek — Good luck / auspiciousness — Tibetan greeting used in Xining.
攒劲 (zǎn jìn) — Excellent — also used in Gansu and Qinghai.
好 (hǎo) — Good — universal.
• Tsongkhapa — The founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism was born near Xining, and Kumbum Monastery marks his birthplace.
• Zhang Qian — Han dynasty explorer passed through the region on the Silk Road.
• Ma Bufang — A powerful Muslim warlord who ruled Qinghai from Xining in the Republican era.
Get unlimited 4G/5G pocket WiFi delivered to your hotel. No Chinese ID needed.
View Plans from $4.99/day Get Custom Quote
