The Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is located in western Qinghai Province, stretching across vast high-altitude deserts, salt lakes, and mountain basins on the northern Tibetan Plateau. Unlike other Qinghai prefectures, Haixi is home to both Tibetan and Mongol communities, creating a unique cultural blend shaped by nomadic life and extreme landscapes.
Cultural & Spiritual Significance
Haixi’s population includes Amdo Tibetans, Mongols, and Han Chinese, each contributing to the region’s cultural identity. Tibetan Buddhism and Mongolian shamanic traditions influence local customs, while nomadic herding—especially camel, yak, and sheep grazing—remains an important livelihood in rural areas.
Historical Importance
Historically, Haixi lay along ancient routes connecting Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Central Asia, making it an important corridor for trade, migration, and cultural exchange. Salt extraction and pastoral movement shaped settlement patterns across the region.
Natural Landscapes
Haixi is best known for its dramatic salt lakes, deserts, and high-plateau basins. The prefecture includes iconic sites such as Chaka Salt Lake, Qaidam Basin, and parts of the Kunlun Mountains. The scenery is stark, vast, and otherworldly, contrasting sharply with greener parts of Amdo.
Wildlife & Biodiversity
Despite its arid climate, Haixi supports resilient wildlife including wild camels, Tibetan antelope, wild asses, foxes, and migratory birds around wetlands and lakes.
Local Life & Festivals
Life in Haixi is shaped by the environment—long distances, wide skies, and seasonal movement. Local festivals reflect Tibetan, Mongolian, and plateau traditions, including horse racing events and religious ceremonies.
Travel Experience
Haixi is ideal for travelers seeking vast open spaces, desert-lake scenery, and a sense of frontier adventure. It is less about monasteries and more about geography, solitude, and epic landscapes, making it perfect for photographers and explorers.
Key Places in Haixi
Delingha – Prefectural capital and travel hub
Chaka Salt Lake – Iconic “Mirror of the Sky”
Qaidam Basin – High-altitude desert and salt flats
Kunlun Mountain Foothills – Sacred and dramatic terrain
Plateau Lakes & Wetlands – Wildlife habitats
Administrative Division Of Haixi Mongol & Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
