Chaka Salt Lake (茶卡盐湖), located in the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, China, sits at an average altitude of 3,059 meters. Covering an area of 154 square kilometers, it was once an important stop along the ancient Silk Road. The name “Chaka” is derived from Tibetan, meaning “salt pool,” while the Mongolian name “Dabsan Nur” translates to “salt lake.”
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Chaka Salt Lake is renowned for its serene, mirror-like surface, which reflects the sky in stunning clarity, earning it the nickname “Mirror of the Sky in China.” The tranquil beauty of the lake creates a breathtaking scene where the sky appears to merge with the earth, and visitors strolling across the lake seem to walk on clouds. The best time to capture this unique reflection is before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m., when the light is soft and the lake is at its most reflective.
Chaka Salt Lake offers distinct beauty throughout all four seasons. In spring, the low-hanging white clouds are mirrored in the lake’s surface, creating a visual illusion of blending clouds and salt. During summer, the emerald-green waters are mesmerizing, providing a cooling escape. In autumn, as the lake dries, it becomes a vast, flat, and pure white expanse. Winter brings a stark, desolate beauty, offering an even more tranquil and serene landscape for those seeking solitude.
Visitors can walk barefoot across the lake to admire and photograph their reflections, or take a small train to explore the deeper sections of the salt lake. If you’re lucky, you might witness the phenomenon of a mirage appearing on the lake’s surface during the day. In the sculpture area of the lake, you’ll find a stone-carved statue of the Salt Lake Goddess, along with around a dozen other sculptures made entirely of salt, depicting figures such as Maitreya Buddha and Genghis Khan.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Admission: 60 RMB (1st May – 31st October) 30 RMB (1st November – 30th April) The Small Train: 50 RMB Boat Cruise: 90 RMB Eletric Car: 5 RMB Sight-seeing Tower: 20 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 7.00 – 21.40 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0977-8246999 |
Location and Transportation
Chaka Salt Lake is located at No. 9 Yanhu Road, Chaka Town, Ulan County, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China. It lies 298 kilometers west of Xining, the provincial capital, and 200 kilometers east of Delingha, earning its reputation as the “Eastern Gate of the Qaidam Basin.” To Get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
From Xining to Chaka Salt Lake
- By Bus:
- From Xining’s Xinning Road Bus Station, there is a daily bus to Chaka Salt Lake, departing around midday. The journey takes approximately 5 hours, with a ticket price of about 60 RMB.
- Alternatively, the same station offers 4-5 buses daily to Ulan County, which pass through Chaka Town. This journey takes about 6 hours and costs around 70 RMB.
- By Car Rental:
- Renting a car is a popular option, especially for those doing a Qinghai Lake loop tour, with Chaka Salt Lake as a stop along the way. The cost of renting a small vehicle from Xining is around 400 RMB per day, with the full loop typically taking 2-3 days.
From Heimahe to Chaka Salt Lake
- By Bus:
- You can travel from Heimahe by following salt trucks to the lake area, with a fare of around 50 RMB.
- By Car Rental:
- Renting a car from Heimahe to Chaka Salt Lake costs about 200 RMB.
On a good weather day, Chaka Salt Lake is truly breathtaking. The round trip on the small train costs 100 RMB, with a one-way ticket priced at 50 RMB. There are a total of 5 stops, including the starting point and the end point. If you’re short on time or prefer not to walk, you can take the small train, which takes about 23 minutes one way. The scenic area also offers free shoe covers for visitors.
Last winter vacation I went there with my family, it was a really amazing place.
It is super cold in winter! You must be really brave.
We experienced visibility of just 5 meters due to wind and sandstorms, as well as hail, while on the Lake Road. We arrived in Chaka Town (茶卡镇) at night and had low expectations for the weather. However, to our surprise, the weather on the morning of the next day was fantastic – what luck! The Chaka Salt Lake wasn’t crowded at all, and the overall experience was very pleasant.
You must visit Chaka Salt Lake on a sunny day; otherwise, it won’t look as beautiful. Personally, I think the little train is not necessary because you can see the entire gradient of the salt lake clearly only by walking slowly. You can walk to the end, and if you feel tired, you can buy a one-way ticket for the little train to come back.