7 Most Beautiful Lakes to Visit in China

Exploring China's lakes reveals breathtaking landscapes. In this guide, we've carefully selected seven of the most beautiful lakes, providing travel tips and itinerary suggestions to help you make the most of your visit.

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• 1. Sayram Lake
• 2. Namtso Lake
• 3. Kanas Lake
• 4. Qinghai Lake
• 5. Qarhan Salt Lake
• 6. Erhai Lake
• 7. West Lake

1. Sayram Lake, Xinjiang

Sayram Lake

Sayram Lake is like a dazzling sapphire set amidst mountains. Its clear blue waters and the surrounding snow-capped peaks make it a breathtaking sight. This lake is often called the “last tear of the Atlantic,” and it’s a must-visit for nature lovers.

Sayram Lake is beautiful all year round, with June to August being the most stunning. For fewer crowds and a better experience, consider visiting in late spring, early summer, or winter. From December to February, you could see unique blue ice and pink skies.

Sayram Lake provides sightseeing carts, but stopping time at each point is limited. If you want to have more free time to explore and find more angles for good photos, self-driving is more recommended. We could arrange a car and a guide for you.

Sayram Lake is a six-hour drive from Urumqi. Including exploration time, we suggest reserving a full day for Sayram Lake and returning to Urumqi the next day or continuing to other destinations like the Ili River Valley. See our 8-Day Xinjiang Tour with Sayram Lake and Ili River Valley

2. Namtso Lake, Tibet

Namtso Lake

Namtso Lake, Tibet’s heavenly lake, is famed for its crystal-clear waters and majestic mountain backdrop. The vibrant blue of the lake against the white peaks is simply stunning. It’s perfect for those seeking serenity and spiritual vibes.

We suggest visiting from May to September when the weather is mild and sunny. Cloudy or rainy days can diminish the scenery. You could drive from Lhasa, which takes about 4-5 hours. The lake might be inaccessible in winter due to heavy snow.

Namtso is at an altitude of 4,700 meters, so it's advisable to acclimate in Lhasa for at least one or two days before visiting.

On the way from Lhasa to Namtso, you would pass the Damxung Grassland. It could be combined with Namtso for a day trip. Stay overnight in Damxung and return to Lhasa the next day.

3. Kanas Lake, Xinjiang

Kanas Lake

Kanas Lake is like a hidden gem with its turquoise waters surrounded by lush forests and snow-capped mountains. It's a picturesque location reminiscent of a fairy tale. The misty atmosphere in the early morning is particularly enchanting.

Visit between June and October for the best views, especially in September and October. To enjoy a relaxing pace, you could take a boat ride or try rafting. You could also climb the 1,068 steps to Fish Pavilion for stunning views of the lake, especially at sunrise or sunset.

The most beautiful scenery at Kanas Lake is found in its three bays. A hike from Fairy Bay to Moon Bay to Wolong Bay would give you a closer look at the landscape.

It's recommended to spend a day and night at Kanas. After exploring, you could visit Hemu Village to see the wooden houses, morning mist, and forest.

For more itinerary ideas, you could see our 8-Day North Xinjiang Tour with Kanas

4. Qinghai Lake, Qinghai

Our guests in Qinghai Lake

Qinghai Lake is China's largest saltwater lake, renowned for the yellow fields of rapeseed flowers in summer. It creates a striking contrast against the blue lake. 

The best time to visit Qinghai Lake: May for returned migratory birds; June and July for rape flowers, July and August for gorgeous grassland scenery, and September for the nice autumn view of the lake.

The Nanshan Viewing Platform offers excellent angles to enjoy the stunning lake and sky scenery. In the Erlangjian Scenic Area and nearby, you would find vast fields of rapeseed flowers. You could rent a horse to ride along the lakeshore and take photos. You could also take a boat ride to appreciate the lake views.

For visiting Qinghai Lake, a day is recommended. If you want to see the sunrise, consider staying overnight. The best place to watch the sunrise over Qinghai Lake is Heimahe Town.

Check out our 10-Day Xinjiang, Gansu, and Qinghai Highlights Tour

5. Qarhan Salt Lake, Qinghai

Qarhan Salt Lake

Qarhan Salt Lake is known for its otherworldly landscapes and salt formations. The white salt intertwined with the emerald green lake creates a perfect setting for photography.

The best time to visit is from April to October, as the area is closed in winter and reopens in March. From June to August, there are more sunny days, From June to August, there are many sunny days, and the lake's scenery is more vibrant and beautiful.

The most picturesque spot is deep within the scenic area. It could be accessible by a 30-minute bus to the core zone. If you have ample time, consider exploring on foot, which takes about an hour one way.

We recommend taking the bus to the endpoint and then walking back to capture more photos. Along the way, you'll find settings like a piano, swings, and transparent crystal boats for photos.

You can also bring a drone, but remember to register it at the bus starting point. The white salt can be quite glaring under the sun, so it's best to bring sunglasses.

Since the salt lake is rather remote, we suggest setting aside a full day for the visit. For overnight stays, consider lodging in Dachaidan Town.

6. Erhai Lake, Yunnan

Our guests cycling around Erhai

Surrounded by mountains and dotted with small fishing villages, Erhai Lake is a tranquil retreat. Its calm waters reflect the sky beautifully, creating picturesque views every day.

If you want to efficiently visit the scenic spots around the lake, self-driving is highly recommended. You could visit all the popular check-in spots like the S-bend, filming sites in the drama "Meet Yourself," and Longkan Ferry for panoramic views of Erhai Lake.

For a more relaxing experience, you could also take a cruise. Cycling is another popular way to explore. Discover Erhai's west shore (13 km/8 miles) to see minority villages and lake views.

Autumn (September to November) is the most beautiful time, with golden rice fields and red trees by the lake. Another recommended season is winter when there are fewer people and you could see and feed seagulls.

A day trip including Erhai could be arranged like this: Xizhou Town — Erhai Lake — Dali Ancient Town.

To make a Yunnan itinerary, you could check out our 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour

7. West Lake, Hangzhou

Our guests in West Lake

The West Lake is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its idyllic beauty and historic significance. The serene lake, surrounded by gardens and pagodas, looks like a painting come to life.

West Lake is quite large, and if you want to explore it thoroughly, you'll need a full day combining walking, boating, and cycling.

For a highlights tour, you could spend half a day. Take a cruise to the island in the middle to see the iconic Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (featured on the back of the one-yuan banknote).

If you're planning a half-day visit, consider scheduling it in the afternoon to catch the sunset over the lake.

The scenery at West Lake is beautiful all year round. In spring, enjoy the cherry blossoms and green willows (which I think is the most beautiful time), lotus flowers in summer, osmanthus in autumn, and the snowy landscape in winter.

For a Hangzhou trip including the West Lake, see our 7-Day Shanghai, Yellow Mountains, and Hangzhou Tour