Prefecture-level city · Qinghai

Xining 西宁市

Xining is the capital and most populous city of Qinghai province in western China and the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau. The city lies in the Huangshui River Valley, also known as Tsongkha (Tibetan: ཙོང་ཁ་), and owing to its high altitude, has a cool climate on the borderline between cool semi-arid and dry winter humid continental.

Location of Qinghai, the surrounding province-level areaView province guide

Get to know Xining

A view across Xining (西宁) from the north, showing urban neighbourhoods below the hills.
A view across Xining (西宁) from the north, showing urban neighbourhoods below the hills. Photograph date recorded by the source: 2014-07-13 00:01:45. · NoGhost · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Administrative area
Prefecture-level city · 地级市
Part of
Qinghai
Chinese name
西宁市
Local areas
7 local areas

Area & population

Area in the source
7,596.00 km²
Population · 2020 census
2,467,965
Administrative seat
Chengzhong

Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.

Xining was a commercial hub along the Northern Silk Road's Hexi Corridor for over 2000 years, and was a stronghold of the Han, Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties' resistance against nomadic attacks from the west. Although long a part of Gansu province, Xining was added to Qinghai in 1928. Xining holds sites of religious significance to Muslims and Buddhists, including the Dongguan Mosque and Kumbum Monastery. It is connected by the Qinghai–Tibet railway to Lhasa, Tibet and connected by a high-speed railway to Lanzhou, Gansu and Ürümqi, Xinjiang.

Transportation

Xining is situated in a fertile mountain basin in the valley of the Huangshui (river), a tributary of the Yellow River, that acts as a river port. The city lies about 200 km west of Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, on what was traditionally the main trade route from northern China into Tibet and the Qaidam Basin. These routes are now followed by modern highways.

Explore Xining

Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.

Places to explore around Xining

Ta'er Monastery · 塔尔寺Ta'er Monastery · 塔尔寺

Kumbum / Ta'er Monastery塔尔寺

Kumbum, known in Chinese as Ta’er Temple, grew around a memorial to Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Its buildings follow the folds of the valley rather than a single straight axis. The Great Golden…

Read the place guide →Xining Dongguan Mosque · 西宁东关清真大寺Xining Dongguan Mosque · 西宁东关清真大寺

Dongguan Mosque东关清真大寺

Dongguan Mosque is a major centre of Muslim religious life in Xining’s eastern old-city area. Its courtyard and prayer hall are the useful architectural focus, set within a neighbourhood where worship and everyday commerce…

Read the place guide →Qinghai Provincial Museum facade, XiningFront facade of the Qinghai Provincial Museum in Chengxi District, Xining · 青海西宁市城西区青海省博物馆正面 Source-recorded photograph date: 2012-09-25 13:15:28.

Qinghai Provincial Museum青海省博物馆

Qinghai Provincial Museum places the region’s archaeology within the routes and communities that connected the plateau with surrounding areas. Its historical collection is complemented by displays of archaeological discoveries…

Read the place guide →Exterior of the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum.Exterior of the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum.

Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum青海藏文化博物院

Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum covers both Tibetan medicine and a wider artistic and cultural tradition. The northern and southern buildings have different emphases, so choose your galleries before buying a ticket. The large…

Read the place guide →The Sun and Moon Mountain visitor approach in Qinghai, October 2015.The Sun and Moon Mountain visitor approach in Qinghai, October 2015.

Sun and Moon Mountain日月山

Riyue Mountain marks a transition between the farming valleys around Xining and the pastoral landscapes towards Qinghai Lake. The pass is associated with the historical Tang–Tibet route and with legends of Princess Wencheng’s…

Read the place guide →A view across Xining (西宁) from the north, showing urban neighbourhoods below the hills.A view across Xining (西宁) from the north, showing urban neighbourhoods below the hills. Photograph date recorded by the source: 2014-07-13 00:01:45.

Xining西宁

Xining lies in the Huangshui valley and makes a useful introduction to Qinghai before travelling farther onto the plateau. Dongguan Mosque and the surrounding streets show one part of the city’s religious and commercial life…

Read the place guide →Xining Nanchan Temple (西宁南禅寺)Xining Nanchan Temple · 西宁南禅寺

Xining Nanchan Temple西宁南禅寺

Nanchan Temple stands at the northern foot of Phoenix Mountain in Xining. Its Chinese-style halls and courtyards offer a different architectural experience from Qinghai’s large Tibetan monasteries. The Guandi shrine is part of…

Read the place guide →Xining People’s Park (西宁人民公园)Xining People’s Park · 西宁人民公园

Xining People’s Park西宁人民公园

People’s Park is a central Xining green space beside the Huangshui River, near its meeting with the Beichuan River. The artificial lake is the focal point, with waterside paths, planted areas and places to sit. It suits an…

Read the place guide →A tent-roofed pavilion building with visitors in the plaza belowThe Phoenix Terrace pavilion at Nanshan Park, Xining · 西宁南山公园凤凰台 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 24 July 2012.

Xining Nanshan Park西宁南山公园

Nanshan Park covers the slopes of Phoenix Mountain south of central Xining. The Phoenix Terrace area provides city views, while wooded paths, flower gardens and the Puning Friendship Garden make it a local place for a hillside…

Read the place guide →AI illustration of a general civic urban scene; not a photograph or an exact view of this place.AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）

Pearl of Puning Tower浦宁之珠

The Pearl of Puning is Xining’s observation and television tower on Xishan. Its spherical upper structure is visible across the city and reflects the city’s connection with Shanghai’s Pudong district. From the hill, the urban…

Read the place guide →Xining Wildlife Park (西宁野生动物园)Xining Wildlife Park · 西宁野生动物园

Xining Wildlife Park西宁野生动物园

Xining Wildlife Park, also called Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park, combines animal displays with rescue, breeding and conservation work. Its hillside setting on the western part of Dananshan distinguishes it from a compact…

Read the place guide →AI illustration of a general civic urban scene; not a photograph or an exact view of this place.AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）

Shuijingxiang Market Street水井巷

Market lane in Xining's Chengzhong District with Xiangzhongjing, a 2024 retro hall selling Qinghai products and snacks under old Xining shop signs.

Read the place guide →A gate at Danggar Ancient Town · 丹噶尔古城A gate at Danggar Ancient Town · 丹噶尔古城 Photograph date recorded by the source: 9 October 2015.

Danggar Ancient Town丹噶尔古城

Danggar in Huangyuan grew as a town on the routes between the farming valleys and the plateau. Its east and west gates, Yingchun and Gonghai, provide a clear way to understand the old street axis. Temples dedicated to the City…

Read the place guide →Beishan Tulou Taoist Temple (北山土楼观)Beishan Tulou Taoist Temple · 北山土楼观

Beishan Tulou Taoist Temple北山土楼观

Beishan Tulou Guan (北山土楼观) is a Taoist temple at the eastern end of Chengbei district in Xining, Qinghai, on the hill that the Qinghai provincial government's page records under the original name Tulou Shan and the further name Beichan Temple (北禅寺), backed by Dadunling with the Huangshui river on its western side.

Read the place guide →Chahanhe Forest Scenic Area (察汗河开放游览区)Chahanhe Forest Scenic Area · 察汗河开放游览区

Chahanhe Forest Scenic Area察汗河开放游览区

Chahan He (察汗河), catalogued as an open visiting area, is a forest scenic area in Baoku township, Datong county, Xining, Qinghai, one of the two well-known scenic areas of Datong National Forest Park and, as the provincial news network records it, a national AAA-grade tourist attraction.

Read the place guide →Ornate mountain gate at the base of Laoye Mountain with a stairway climbing the peakEntrance gate and stone stairway ascending Laoye Mountain, Datong County, Xining · 西宁市大通回族土族自治县老爷山山门与登山步道 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 23 October 2005.

Laoye Mountain老爷山

Laoye Shan (老爷山), also called Yuanshuo Shan, is a mountain on the bank of the Beichuan river on the east side of Qiaotou township in Datong county, Xining, Qinghai, one of Qinghai's nine scenic areas and, as the provincial information office records, a national AAAA-grade tourist attraction.

Read the place guide →

Local life & food

Xining local specialties

西宁市特色美食 · 17 specialties to discover

Beef-offal soup · 牛杂碎 · AI dish illustrationBeef-offal soup 牛杂碎AI illustration · AI 示意图

The broth is savory, while each cut brings a distinct tender, springy or chewy texture. Herbs, pepper and chili can alter the flavor at serving.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Sweet fermented barley · 甜醅 · AI dish illustrationSweet fermented barley 甜醅AI illustration · AI 示意图

Soft, moist grains retain a little chew and a gently fermented aroma. The flavor is distinct from both yogurt and plain sweet porridge.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Fermented-grain milk tea · 甜醅奶茶 · AI dish illustrationFermented-grain milk tea 甜醅奶茶AI dish illustration / AI 菜品示意图

Expect milky tea, sweetness and a mild fermented note, with grains collecting at the bottom. Stirring changes the balance between a plain sip and a mouthful containing the grain.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Qinghai sour-spicy pork soup · 青海酸辣里脊 · AI dish illustrationQinghai sour-spicy pork soup 青海酸辣里脊AI dish illustration / AI 菜品示意图

Expect tender or lightly coated pork, crisp vegetable pieces and a sharp, warming broth. Peppery heat and vinegar sourness are distinct, so asking for less chilli may not change the soup's acidity.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Plated pieces of hand-served lamb, photographed in Golmud.Qinghai hand-served lamb 手抓羊肉

Lean portions are firm and juicy, while fatty and connective sections are softer, with a clear lamb aroma throughout.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Liuxingy · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

AI illustration: A deep bowl of fine wheat noodles in clear savory broth.Lamb Sausage Noodles 羊肠面AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）

Lamb Sausage Noodles (羊肠面) are a Xining noodle dish also called zhuamian (抓面), 'grabbed noodles'. Golden noodles are scalded in hot beef broth and served with lamb sausage, beef and seasoning.

Read the dish guide →
Bowls of set yogurt on Mojia Street in Xining, Qinghai; the source tags identify Xining and Mojia Street.Qinghai yogurt 青海老酸奶

The yogurt is creamy and distinctly sour, sometimes with a firmer surface layer. Sweetening changes the balance quickly.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: livepine · CC BY 2.0
Photo adjustments

Resized proportionally to a maximum 640 px long edge, EXIF orientation applied where present, and encoded as WebP. No crop or subject alteration.

Photograph of Hand-torn noodle soup (尕面片).Hand-torn noodle soup 尕面片

The irregular pieces have tender edges and slightly thicker, chewy centers. They carry the broth well and make a satisfying spoon-and-chopstick meal.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Liuxingy · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

All dish names · 全部菜名 (17)

More dishes from across Qinghai are in the Qinghai food guide.

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Counties & districts in Xining

7 areas belong directly to Xining.

7 areas

District

Chengdong District城东区

Chengdong District is one of four districts of the prefecture-level city of Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, Northwest China.

Explore the area →District

Chengzhong District城中区

Chengzhong is one of four districts and the municipal seat of the prefecture-level city of Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, Northwest China.

Explore the area →District

Chengxi District城西区

Chengxi District is one of four districts of the prefecture-level city of Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, Northwest China.

Explore the area →District

Chengbei District城北区

Chengbei is one of four districts of the prefecture-level city of Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, Northwest China, covering part of the northern portion of the city as its name suggests.

Explore the area →
View all 7 areasShow fewer areas

Plan your visit

Build your route

Kumbum / Ta'er Monastery and Dongguan Mosque are about 25 km apart in a straight line. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.

Continue with Qinghai →

More in Qinghai

Haidong海东市 →Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture海北藏族自治州 →Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture黄南藏族自治州 →Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture海南藏族自治州 →Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture果洛藏族自治州 →Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture玉树藏族自治州 →Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture海西蒙古族藏族自治州 →
Sources & geographic information

Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.

Background text adapted from Xining — Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been shortened and reorganized; source revision 1368507292.

Photo: Kumbum / Ta'er Monastery · Andreas Gruschke · CC BY 3.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: Dongguan Mosque · Michał Beim · CC BY 4.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: Qinghai Provincial Museum · Byrnzie500 · CC BY-SA 2.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum · N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: Sun and Moon Mountain · 慕尼黑啤酒 · CC BY-SA 3.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.

Photo: Xining · NoGhost · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Xining Nanchan Temple · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Photo: Xining People’s Park · Mintchocicecream at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Photo: Xining Nanshan Park · fish4fish · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Xining Wildlife Park · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Photo: Danggar Ancient Town · 慕尼黑啤酒 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Beishan Tulou Taoist Temple · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Photo: Chahanhe Forest Scenic Area · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Photo: Laoye Mountain · crongbin · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.