Taking a train destined for Lhasa from Xining, a diverse variety of splendid views special to the northwest part of China can be experienced. The Shanghai Star will provide you with a glimpse of the charms of some popular scenic spots along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

Located some 150 kilometers northwest of Xining and 3,200 meters above sea level, Qinghai Lake is the largest salt water lake in China, surrounded by four mountains. Bird Island is the most charming and attractive part of the lake, home to thousands of birds in spring and summer. A long stretch of the Qinghai-Tibet railway is built along the Qinghai Lake, approaching to within 500 metres. A new railway station has been built on Bird Island, about 10 minutes' walk from the lake.

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway then passes through the country's high Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province. The basin is famous for its rich natural resources and fabulous natural landscapes such as the Chaerhan Salt Lake, the second largest salt lake in the world.

A spectacular view of the Kunlun Mountains can be seen as the train passes Golmud. Extending for about 2,500 kilometres and with an average elevation of 5,000 metres, the Kunlun Mountains have, since ancient times, been known as the "forefather of all mountains." The highest peaks, located at the boundary between Qinghai and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, reaches 6,860 meters.

More than 5,000 meters above sea level, Hoh Xili is China's largest and the world's third largest uninhabited area. Its name means "beautiful girl" in Mongolian. Despite its adverse climate, it is a paradise for wildlife and home to more than 230 species of wild animals, including the rare Tibetan antelopes.

Passing though Hoh Xili, tourists on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway can expect to see the source of the Yangtze River, China's longest river which extends 6,380 kilometers from western China to the east. Then they will meet Tanggula Mountain at an altitude of 5,071 meters. In Mongolian, Tanggula means "the high mountain even the eagle cannot fly across." The famous Tanggula pass, as high as 5,231 meters, is the natural boundary between Qinghai Province and Tibet. Tanggula Station on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway sits at an altitude of 5,068 meters. A sightseeing platform has been erected at the station for tourists to enjoy the unique views.

Entering the Tibet Autonomous Region, trains on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway will pass though the Nagqu Prefecture, a 4,507-metre-high area inhabited by Tibetans. Nagqu is also a place where the local Tibetans get together every year to hold horse-race games on August 1 and celebrate the Shoton Festival on June 30 of the Tibetan calendar.

About 160 kilometers from Lhasa is the Dangxung Prefecture, a place famous for the Nam Co Lake, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in China and also the country's highest salt lake. Meaning "Heavenly Lake" in Tibetan, the Nam Co is regarded as one of Tibetan Buddhism's three holiest Lakes

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