Qinghai Lake or Koko Nur in Amdo, Tibet

Qinghai Lake (Mongolian: Khokh Nuur) or mTsho sngon po (in Tibetan language), historically known as Koko Nor or Kuku Nor or Kukunor (from the Mongolian name, literally meaning "Blue Lake"), is a saline lake situated in the province of Qinghai, Amdo of Tibet, and is the largest lake in the area. It is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of the provincial capital of Xining at 3,205 m (10,515 feet) above sea level in a depression of the Tibetan Plateau in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo.

Qinghai Lake is sandwiched between Hainan and Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures in northeastern Qinghai. The lake is located at the crossroads of several bird migration routes across Asia. Many species use Qinghai as an intermediate stop during migration. At the tip of the peninsula on the western side of the lake are the "Bird Islands" (Cormorant Island and Egg Island), which have been bird sanctuaries of the Qinghai Lake Natural Protection Zone since 1997. The lake often remains frozen for three months continuously in winter.

There is an island in the western part of the lake with a temple and a few hermitages called "Mahādeva, the Heart of the Lake" (mTsho snying Ma hā de wa) which historically was home to a Buddhist monastery. No boat was used during summer, only when the lake froze over in winter could monks reach the mainland or pilgrims visit the temple - many of whom used to come from Mongolia. A nomad described the size of the island by saying that: "if in the morning a she-goat starts to browse the grass around it clockwise and its kid anti-clockwise, they will meet only in the night, which shows how big the island is." It is also known as the place where Gushri Khan and other Qoshot Mongols migrated to during the 1620s.

Our Tibet Amdo Tour will visit all main parts of the sightseeing around Qinghai Lake, and drive around the lake for spectacular natural views. 

                                                           Birds flying over Qinghai lake
Please visit http://www.wondersinasia.com/tour-two.php for detailed information.