Qinghai is a northwestern province of China, named after the enormous Qinghai Lake.It has an area of 278,400 sq mi (721,000 sq km), the capital is Xining.It borders Gansu on the northeast, the Xinjiang Autonomous Region on the northwest, Sichuan on the southeast, and Tibet Autonomous Region on the southwest.
History
Parts of Qinghai came under Chinese control in the 3rd century BC. For centuries it was sparsely occupied by nomadic herdsmen, chiefly Tibetans and Mongols. Qinghai was made a Chinese province in 1928 by the Republic of China.0n Jan.1, 1950, the People’s Republic of China founded Qinghai province.
Administrative divisions
Qinghai is divided into one prefecture-level city (Xining), one prefecture (Haidong Prefecture), and six autonomous prefectures: Haibei, Hainan, Huangnan, Golog, Gyêgu, and Haixi. All of these are in turn divided into four districts, two county-level cities, thirty counties, and seven autonomous counties.
Economy
Qinghai’s economy is amongst the smallest in all of China. The important agricultural crops include wheat, grain and potatoes. Stock breeding is also important, Qinghai horses are world famous.
Its heavy industry includes iron and steel productions, located near its capital city of Xining. Oil and natural gas from the Chaidamu Basin has also been an important contributor to the economy.
Ethnic group
The largest population of Qinghai is the Han .Other groups include the Tibetans, Tu, Hui, Salar, and Mongols.
Culture
Qinghai’s culture is heavily influenced by the central Chinese civilization and the Tibetan civilization. Qinghai was also vital to such European eras as the Reformation, and the Renaissance as numerous Chinese inventions like the Compass and the printing press all flowed through the Silk Road, which was vital to the economy.
Tourism
Many tourist attractions center on Xining. Xining, a vibrant city of 700,000, is squeezed between a long valley, offering an amazing blend of culture from Tibetan, Hui, and other minorities along with the Han majority.
The city itself has many worthwhile stops, including the Great Mosque of Xining and North Mountain Temple.
Outside Xining lie two notable attractions:
• The Kumbum Monastery, one of the most important Yellow Hat Sect monasteries, lies 30 km outside Xining. It also features the Hall of Yak Butter Sculptures.
• Qinghai Lake. It’s the largest saltwater lake in China, and is also located on the "Roof of the World," the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The lake itself lies at 3,600m elevation. The surrounding area is made up of beautiful rolling grasslands and populated by ethnic Tibetans. Most pre-arranged tours stop at Bird Island.
