Amdo was originally one of the three main regions of the ancient and vast Tibetan Empire, the other two being U-Tsang and Kham, and covered almost all of what is now known as Qinghai Province in northwest China. The area once covered a massive tract of lands, from the Yellow River to the Yangtze River, following the expansion of the Tibetan Empire from the 7th to 9th centuries. Ungoverned by the Dalai Lamas since the mid-eighteenth century, this huge area of ancient Tibet still has a large number of Tibetan inhabitants in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures of the province.

Why choose to take an Amdo Tibet tour?

There are many reasons to take a tour in the Amdo region of ancient Tibet, now Qinghai Province, not the least of which is the ability to experience the Traditional Tibetan culture without the restrictions imposed on international travelers in the Tibet Autonomous Region. With around 21 percent of the total population of the province being of Tibetan origin, and four out of six autonomous prefectures where Tibetans make up the majority of inhabitants, a trip to Qinghai Province is the best way to see Tibetan culture without the need for additional permits.

Tibetan Monasteries

Traditionally a place of learning and scholars, Amdo contains many of the prime monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Kumbum Monastery near Xining, the Labrang Monastery near Lanzhou, and the many Kirti Monasteries of the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, not to mention the Taktsang Lhamo in Dzoge County.

Outstanding Scenery

Qinghai is also a great place to see the lower-altitude Tibetan landscapes, as it lies on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. In Qinghai Province, the plateau area starts as you leave Golmud, and rises up to the Kunlun Mountains, which stretch across the northeastern corner of the plateau. From there, the scenery gets even better, as the province also includes the Kekexili Nature Preserve, a vast area of grasslands between the Kunlun and Tanggula Mountain Ranges.

The Tibetan Nomad Experience

The plains of Qinghai are well known for having a host of Tibetan nomads that inhabit the region, herding their yaks across the plains following the lushest grass and the changing seasons. A unique people, the Tibetan nomads live in their yurts, yak-hair tents, throughout the summer season on the grasslands, moving on when they need to find fresh grazing for their animals.

Nomad Life on Qinghai Plateau in Amdo

What documents are needed for an Amdo Tour?

If you are planning a Tibet Tour to the old Amdo area of ancient Tibet, in Qinghai Province, then the required documents are relatively simple. While it is an area where Tibetan’s live in the traditional manner, there is no requirement to have all the documents that are needed for the Tibet Autonomous Region. All you need in order to visit Amdo is the standard Chinese Entry Visa.

Chinese Entry Visa

To get the visa, you need to make an application to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in your home country. The application needs to include your passport, itinerary, two passport photos, proof of onward or return flights out of China, proof of your hotel booking in China, and the relevant fee, which can be found on the website of your local Chinese Embassy or you can contact to Tibet Travel Agency like Explore Tibet.

When is the best time for an Amdo tour?

Known as the “Summer Vacation Capital’ of China because of the cooler climate, Qinghai Province is best visited in the summer months, when the weather is at its best for Tibet Travels in the region. While the summer runs from June to September, you can actually get good weather from May onwards, right up to the end of October, and with temperatures reaching around 18 degrees at most, it is the perfect time to take in the stunning scenery of Qinghai’s Amdo region. Winter in Qinghai can be quite cold, especially in the areas of the province that are on the plateau, and can even be blocked by snow in the depths of winter.

Food and Accommodation in Amdo

Tourism in Qinghai Province is already well developed, and the hotels in Qinghai are much the same as can be found everywhere else in mainland China. Hotels range from economical three-star hotels to the luxury of good five-star hotels, mostly found in Xining, the provincial capital. In the outlying areas of Qinghai Province, in the areas around Tongren and Golmud, and further up onto the plateau, some of the accommodations can be poor to basic, but there are plenty of places to stay in almost the entire province.

Cuisine in Qinghai Province is exceptionally diverse, thanks to the variety of ethnic minorities that reside in the province, so you can find a wide range of cuisines in one place. Most of the great cuisines of China can be found in Qinghai, while the local flavors more reflect the Muslim influence from the west, and include a variety of mutton dishes, noodles, and the traditional Muslim flatbreads.

Mian Pian is a delightful noodle dish that is popular in Qinghai’s capital, Xining, and when served with beef, it is a great way to warm up on a cold day. Mutton is a popular dish on the Qinghai grasslands, and is often served as “Mutton Eaten with Hands”, while in much of the province, you can find the best in fresh lamb kebabs.

Top Sites for an Amdo Tour

Despite many travelers writing that there is little to do in Qinghai, there are a multitude of places to visit and things to see and do. Qinghai Lake, which lies just outside Xining, is the largest salt lake in China, and is known locally as Koko Nor, an old Mongolian name. With 23 rivers and streams emptying into the lake, it is a surprise that it retains its saline waters.

Kokonor Lake or Qinghai Lake

On the boundary of the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau and the Loess Plateau, lies the 4,000 meter Sun and Moon Mountain. Lying between the monsoon and non-monsoon areas, the eastern side is filled with farms and crops while the western side lies in the vast grasslands of the Qinghai area of the Tibetan Plateau, with its nomadic herders and the yak and sheep that graze there.

Stupas in Kumbum Monastery

Ta’er Monastery, also known as the Kumbum Monastery, is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery that was constructed more than 400 years ago, and lies around 25 kilometers from Xining. A magnificent temple with halls and Lhakhangs in a mix of Han and Tibetan architecture, this beautiful gompa is the pinnacle of monasteries in Qinghai Province.