# Da Qaidam Emerald Lake (大柴旦翡翠湖)

Xining, Qinghai Province · Northwest, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/da-qaidam-emerald-lake
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** ¥50; small train ¥60 (round trip)
- **Time needed:** 1–2 hours
- **Getting there:** There is no direct public transport. Visitors must hire a car or drive themselves.
- **Good for:** Photography, Nature

## About Da Qaidam Emerald Lake

Feicui Lake (Emerald Lake) takes its name from its clear, sparkling blue waters, which look like jade in the sunlight. The lake's color depends on the weather and on the concentration of minerals in the water, so it shifts throughout the day. On calm days, the lake's surface becomes a mirror, reflecting blue skies, white clouds, and the snow-capped peaks of the Qaidam Mountains. Feicui Lake remains a largely undeveloped, pristine landscape. Though far less famous than Chaka Salt Lake, its scenery is every bit as breathtaking, and it must be experienced in person to be truly appreciated.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 711. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
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