3 Must-Visit Places in Qinghai During A Bird Watching Tour in China
Qinghai is a province of the People’s Republic of China in the country’s northwest corner. The province is the fourth-biggest in size and has the third-smallest population in China, while being one of the country’s largest provincial-level administrative units by area.
It is an excellent location for anyone interested in discovering China’s hidden beauties. It is still waiting for the tourists to fall and includes gorgeous scenery and splendid ethnic minority cultures.
Qinghai is both lovely and enchanted. It boasts beautiful geological landscapes and spectacular plateau views, as well as ethnic minority architecture, culture, lifestyles, and customs. Outside of Tibet, it is the finest site to learn about Tibetan Buddhism.
Aside from the gorgeous scenery, lovely wildflowers, real Tibetan culture, and many wild animal congregations, you will be rewarded with an excellent glimpse of several rare endemics that can only be seen here. If you come for a bird watching tour in China, you can spot summer breeders such as the Black-necked Crane, Ibisbill, Ruddy Shelduck, Pallas’s Gull, Brown-headed Gull, and others in the alpine lakes. Here we’ve compiled a list of the top three things to do in Qinghai to help you plan your trip.
Chaka Area
On Qinghai birding tour, you can go seeking for plateau and desert species in Chaka’s hard desert and dry mountain ranges. Because they are well-adapted to keeping concealed in this huge habitat, some of these birds demand patience, but they are well worth the effort. The Pallas’s Sandgrouse, for example, is a beautiful desert species that may blend in with the ochre desert steppe. Henderson’s Ground Jay, Isabelline Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Crested Lark, Asian Short-toed Lark, Hume’s Short-toed Lark, Mongolian Finch, Pere David’s Snowfinch, and Blanford’s Snowfinch are among the species we’ll be looking for. You can focus on arboreal species such as the Eurasian Golden Oriole, Great Spotted Woodpecker, White-cheeked Starling, and others in the forest surrounding the local settlements. You can also spend some time searching for birds such as the uncommon and elusive Przevalski’s Redstart, Rusty-necklaced Partridge, Tibetan Partridge, Hill Pigeon, Black Redstart, Pine Bunting, and others in the neighboring valleys of shrub fallows and meadows.
Mountain Ela
The Tibetan Rosefinch, a very range-restricted and uncommon bird, is your first target here. While gently trekking up the mountain in quest of this bird, examine the mountainside for another challenging target, the Tibetan Sandgrouse, albeit finding it will require some luck. Güldenstädt’s Redstart, Tibetan Lark, White-rumped Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Henri’s Snowfinch, Black-headed Mountain Finch, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Vulture, Tibetan Snowcock, and others can be found in this area.
After exploring Ela Mountain, you can go on to Maduo, where the height is lower, and spend the night. Along the route, you may encounter plateau animals like the Kiang, Tibetan Fox, Black-lipped Pika, Himalayan Marmot, Tibetan Gazelle, and others. While certain raptors, such as the Upland Buzzard, Himalayan Vulture, Saker Falcon, and others, may be seen on the telephone poles along the route.
Nangqian Area
The Baizha Forest is another densely covered mountain range. You may selectively monitor pheasants throughout the beautiful dawn hours. The White Eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Tibetan Snowcock, and Tibetan Partridge are all present in this area, in addition to the unique Buff-throated Partridge. Tibetan Babax, Hill Pigeon, Salim Ali’s Swift, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Red-fronted Rosefinch, Rufous-vented Tit, Sichuan Tit, Crested Tit Warbler, White-browed Tit Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Greenish Warbler, etc.
From quiet getaways to adventurous outdoor excursions to cultural immersions, Qinghai has something for everyone. Whatever type of travel you enjoy, you will be able to discover something to suit your needs.
