Located in the northeast of the Qinghai Plateau, Qinghai Lake is China's largest inland lake and the largest salt-water lake. It is one of the top five most beautiful lakes in China ranked by China National Geographic magazine. The water in the lake shows a palette of colors during different seasons and when viewed from different angles. The shades range from light green, blue, green, and grey, to orange and yellow.

The lake has a number of attractions that draw ornithologists, campers, hikers, botanists, swimmers, sailors, fishermen and nomads. The beauty of the lake lies in its salty vastness and the remote peace where-in it instills. Highlights of the lake include the Bird Island, a peninsular in the westernmost part of the lake. For most of the summer rare avian species can be seen here in large numbers.