Xining (西宁;Xīníng; Tibetan:Sulang) is the capital ofQinghai Province and the capital of Xining City District, a prefecture of Qinghai. It stands on the elevation of 2,270 m and has a population of around 2.5 million.
| Xining | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xining is one of the major gateways to the Tibetan Plateau. It is an ancient highland city on the Yellow River which offers many scenic spots and historical sites. Although the city has a strong Islamic flavor, as it is home to many Hui people, you will start getting a more Tibetan feel as you move away from the city.
Theairport bus makes a run the long distance bus station next to the train station at regular intervals and heads back to the city centre whenever a flight lands. The return bus stand is directly in front of the airport exit door. The 30-min ride to/from the airport ¥21.
The new train has two useful locations either side — one is the local bus depot, the other the long distance bus station. The long distance bus station has a Tourism Information Desk and is geared up to help tourists. Don't count on anyone speaking English however.
Thelong distance bus station is on Jianguo Road, on the other side of the river in view of the train station.
From March 2016, buses fromYushu were dropping passengers off at another bus station, in the west of the city. Ask the driver where the bus is terminating, or you may be lost.
There are also buses forGolmud,Lhasa andYinchuan at the western end of the square in front of the train station.
Nanchuan West Road Bus Terminal 南川西路客运站
If you are headed to any of the regional towns south of Xining, includingGuide (贵德) and Guinan (贵南) there are regular buses from the West Bus Station (汽车西站). Booking ahead of time is not required, so an easy day trip might be to jump on a bus and see a regional city before catching the last return bus.
If you are headed toMaduo 玛多 there is a bus that leaves from Nanchuan West Road Bus Terminal. You can buy tickets in advance from either bus station.
There are plenty of buses that get you around town. The most useful is bus #1 that runs through the centre of town along Dajie to the train/bus station. All fares are ¥1 regardless of distance travelled.
Taxis run on the meter (¥8 flagfall) but some drivers are open to negotiation, especially late at night.
(updated Jul 2024) (updated Aug 2024) (updated Nov 2019) (updated Sep 2024) (updated Aug 2024) (updated Jul 2024) (updated Nov 2019).jpg)
(updated Aug 2024)
(updated Aug 2024) (updated Sep 2024) (updated Nov 2019)Xining is home to numerous factories making Tibetancarpets.
Xining's main minority groups provide a large portion of the food on offer. The Hui, a broad term for Chinese Muslims, serve up spicy noodles, lamb kababs and flatbread (bing). Tibetan food choices are concentrated around the train station, mostly small places the serve momos and noodles and seat guests on small coaches.
There is a restaurant area right next to the Shuijing Xiang Bazaar, in the center of the city, and throughout the evening and into the night there are many street stalls serving good food around Ximen and on the western side of Jianguo Road.
Western food options are very slim, but not bad for a city so remote.
The city is littered with small coffee shops, especially around the newer apartment complexes that are being developed. See below for some of the better ones.
A number of bars are located at the end of the city's main snack street. These places each have only a few tables, and all offer extensive drink specials. Beer starts at ¥6 for a Tsingtao, but expensive imported liquor is also available. There is usually no cover charge.
There are dozens of small guesthouses near the train and long distance bus station. Look for the characters "招待所," which in this part of town are on every other building. Most places seem aimable to taking foreigners, and prices range from ¥10 in a grimy four-room bunk (expect the other occupants to smoke frequently) to ¥100 for a deluxe double. More guesthouses can be found around the town's West Gate, or Ximen.
(updated Aug 2024)From the long distance bus station next to the train station you can purchase tickets for a direct tourist bus which will take you to Qinghai Lake, Kanbula Forest Park and Kumbum Monastery in one day. This government run service is around ¥100. Site admissions are extra. First bus leaves at 8:30AM with others put on with demand. Centre opens at 6:30AM and closes around 6PM.
| Routes through Xining |
| END← | N  S | →Qinghaihu Lake→Lhasa |
| Thiscity travel guide toXiningis ausable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but pleasefeel free to improve itby editing the page. |
