Chaka Salt Lake is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction located in Chaka Town, Wulan County, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It serves as the eastern gateway to the Qaidam Basin. "Chaka" means "salt lake" in Tibetan, and its Mongolian name "Dabsun Nur" translates to "the sea of blue salt". The lake covers a total area of 105 square kilometers, with a tourist area of 30 square kilometers, and sits at an average altitude of 3,059 meters.
Natural Landscapes
As a brine lake with both solid and liquid phases, Chaka Salt Lake is inlaid between snow-capped mountains and grasslands. Its vast waters shimmer like silver waves. Thanks to its strong mirror-like reflection, it creates a breathtaking scene where "water reflects the sky, the sky connects the earth, and people walking by the lake seem to be wandering in a painting"—earning it the reputation of "China's Sky Mirror". At night, the starry sky merges with the lake surface, known as "China's Night Sky Mirror", and it has been rated as "China's first most beautiful starry sky photography base". Additionally, the lake's sunrise and sunset are brilliantly colorful, attracting numerous tourists and photography enthusiasts.
