14 Days Classic Qinghai Birding Tour
Located in the northeast part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai province covers 722,300 square kilometers of land territory. The capital is Xining, which has a history of 900 years. As an important part of the “Roof of the World”, Qinghai enjoys a typical plateau continental climate featuring dry air, sparse rain, heavy winds, and plenty of sunshine. The northeast part of the province is the Altun Mountain Ranges and the Qilian Mountain Ranges, the northwest is the Qaidam Basin, and the south part is the Tibet Plateau, which occupies half of the total area of Qinghai. The average elevation of Qinghai province is over 3,000 meters above sea level, and the world-famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway goes through its western part and is the highest railway in the world.
The province has recorded 532 bird species, although Qinghai's avian species diversity may not rival that of certain other provinces, its unique geographical position on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau fosters an abundance of distinctive plateau-endemic species. Such as Tibetan Bunting, Tibetan Rosefinches, Tibetan Babax, Tibetan Partridge, Tibetan Lark, Tibetan Snowfinch, etc.
Our trip starts in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, followed by about 14 days of birding in some carefully picked sites. The high elevation has made this vast and sparsely populated plateau different from tropical areas regarding bird varieties; only a small group of bird species can survive in the highland. So this trip will highlight the real endemics and plateau specials instead of varieties. Though the birding in the high-elevation and remote areas is quite tough, we will be rewarded by the good view of some rare endemics you can only see here, besides the stunning landscapes, beautiful wildflowers, authentic Tibetan culture, and different wild animal flocks.&n
What makes this trip irreplaceable?
Tour Info Sheet
| Highlight Birds | Black-necked Crane, Ibisbill, Rusty-necklaced (Przevalski's) Partridge, Tibetan Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, Buff-throated Monel Partridge (Szechenyi's Monal Partridge), White Eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Tibetan Sandgrouse, Upland Buzzard, Amur Falcon, Mongolian Ground Jay, Pink-tailed Bunting (Przewalski's Finch), Tibetan Rosefinch, Pale Rosefinch, Common Rosefinch, Streaked Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Przevalski's (Ala Shan) Redstart, Tibetan Bunting, Crested Tit Warbler, White-browed Tit Warbler, Gansu Leaf Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Chinese Nuthatch (Snowy-browed Nuthatch), Przewalski's Nuthatch (White-cheeked Nuthatch), Tibetan Babax, Plain Laughingthrush, Elliot's Laughingthrush, Siberian Rubythroat, Chinese Thrush, Kessler's Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Tarim Babbler, Isabelline Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Hume's Short-toed Lark, Asia Short-toed Lark, Mongolian Lark, Tibetan Lark, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Pere David's Snowfinch, Tibetan Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Blanford's Snowfinch, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Brown Accentor, Robin Accentor, Sichuan Tit, Ground Tit, etc. |
|---|---|
| Species to Expected | 130-180 |
| Ease of Birding | moderate with a few tricky species |
| Highlight Mammals | Tibetan Antelope, Tibetan Gazelle, Przewalski's Gazelle, Kiang (Tibetan Wild Ass), Wolf, Tibetan Fox, Black-lipped Pika, Himalayan Marmot, Wild Yak, etc. |
| Other Attractions | Anduo Tibetan culture, Kangba Tibetan culture, the minority culture of Hui and Tu, and gorgeous plateau scenery |
| Photography opportunities | Birding-focused but with some photography chances |
| Habitats Covered | grasslands, subtropical forests, deserts, snow mountains, wetlands |
| Expected Climate | Windy and cold in the morning, strong sunlight during the day, and snow is possible. |
| Physical Requirements | mostly easy, demanding but optional in certain parts |
| Accommodation | comfortable |
| Vehicle | 19-seat van |
What makes this trip irreplaceable?
1. The combination of our experienced western guides and local guides ensure your needs are well met.
2. We run the trip in the best season. Not only birds are in the breeding season, but all the destinations have the most beautiful sceneries in this season.
3. Small groups with more flexibility. The group is limited to 8 so that we can maximize the chances of each participant. Besides, we can use a smaller and convenient van compare with big groups.
4. This trip covers the most popular and classic birding sites of Sichuan.
5. Explore the Tibetan areas of Sichuan to see some plateau specials.
6. We have been a reliable local partner for some western birding and wildlife companies for many decades.
7. We have a strong logistic team to ensure your trip goes smoothly and ensures you a comfortable and enjoyable journey.
Gallery
Dates & Prices
| Dates | Booking State | Price | Single Supplement | Group Size | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun & Jul, 2026 | Open to Booking | 4350USD/pax | 480USD/pax | 8 | Local Guide |
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The cost includes the following:
1. Private transportation throughout the trip, including airport pickups and drop off at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport or Tianfu International Airport .
2. Meals at local popular restaurants labeled as BLD in the itinerary.
3. All the entrance tickets for places listed in the itinerary including cable cars and shuttle buses.
4. Hotel stays from first day to the last day, two clients occupy one twin-bed room on sharing basis at nice 4-star hotels in big cities and local best guesthouses in remote area.
5. Bottled water and snacks throughout the trip.
6. Western breakfast whenever is possible.
7. Service charges of a professional western bird guide and an experienced local bird guide throughout the whole trip.
8. China domestic travel insurance.
9. Service of all logistic supports.
The cost does not include the following:
a. Drinks during meals.
b. Extra charges due to change of itinerary from the client’s side or factors beyond the control of AlpineBirding such as natural disaster and governmental policy change.
c. Discretionary tips to local guides and drivers.
d. All personal expense such as laundry service.
e. Airfare to the place where our trip starts and from the place where our trip ends.
f. Any program not listed in the itineraries.
Itinerary
Tour Map
Day 1: Arrival Xining (~2300m)
Today, your AlpineBirding guide or driver will meet you in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province and the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau. From the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in the city. Depending on your arrival time, you may join an easy birding walk this afternoon at a nearby mountain or city park, searching for forest birds such as Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Plain Laughingthrush, Oriental Turtle Dove, Hill Pigeon, Chestnut Thrush, Godlewski's Bunting, Red-billed Chough, Black Redstart, and Daurian Redstart. We will also look out for the Pale Rosefinch.
After the exploration, we will enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, where your guide will brief you on the trip and participants will have a chance to get to know each other.
Day 2: Xining / Datong / Gangcha (4hrs, 2300-3300m).
This morning, we will depart early from Xining city and drive north to Datong Dongxia Forest Park. The forest is dominated by evergreen conifers, with lush shrubs filling the gaps and openings, providing excellent habitat for small forest birds. Our focus will be on nuthatches, warblers, tits, and more. Exciting species to look for include Crested Tit Warbler, White-browed Tit Warbler, Gansu Leaf Warbler, Chinese Nuthatch (Snowy-browed Nuthatch), Przewalski's Nuthatch (White-cheeked Nuthatch), Plain Laughingthrush, Elliot's Laughingthrush, Siberian Rubythroat, and Chinese Thrush. As we explore the different hills, the dense forest also hosts notable species such as Daurian Jackdaw, Rook, Kessler's Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Common Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Grey-capped Greenfinch, Red Crossbill, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, White-throated Redstart, Rufous-vented Tit, and others.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will continue to Gangcha. Along the way, we’ll take time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Qinghai Lake and observe waterfowl, including the Black-necked Crane—the only crane species breeding on the plateau. Other sought-after species include Bar-headed Goose, Northern Pintail, Red-crested Pochard, Eurasian Wigeon, Whooper Swan, Ferruginous Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Pallas's Gull, Kentish Plover, Pale Martin, Green Sandpiper, and Common Redshank.
We will also spend some time in the nearby shrubs and grasslands searching for the Endangered Przewalski's Gazelle, and bird species like Twite, Hume's Short-toed Lark, Asian Short-toed Lark, Mongolian Lark, Tibetan Lark, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Pere David's Snowfinch, Isabelline Wheatear, Ground Tit, and more.
Day 3: Gangcha / Chaka (3hrs, 3300-3800-3100m).
We can spend the morning around the lake area to revisit our target species if needed. Then, we’ll drive on to Chaka, birding along the way at Rubber Mountain. The mixed shrubs and meadows here provide ideal habitat for the Pink-tailed Bunting (Przewalski's Finch), a unique bird belonging to its own family. The mountain slopes’ scrub also shelter many exciting species, including the elusive Tibetan Partridge, Streaked Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Tibetan Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Black-winged Snowfinch, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Brown Accentor, Robin Accentor, White-browed Tit, Ground Tit, Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, and more.
Day 4-5: Chaka ( ~3100m).
Our next two days will be spent exploring the harsh desert and arid mountain ranges of Chaka, searching for plateau and desert species. Many of these birds require patience, as they are expertly adapted to remain hidden in this vast ecosystem—but they are well worth the effort. For example, the stunning Pallas's Sandgrouse is a desert specialist, perfectly camouflaged in the ochre desert steppe. We will also seek other sought-after species such as Henderson's Ground Jay, Isabelline Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Crested Lark, Asian Short-toed Lark, Hume's Short-toed Lark, Mongolian Finch, Pere David's Snowfinch, and Blanford's Snowfinch.
In the forests bordering nearby villages, our focus will shift to arboreal species like Great Spotted Woodpecker, White-cheeked Starling, Eurasian Hoopoe, Azure-winged Magpie, Upland Buzzard, and Amur Falcon. Additionally, we will explore nearby valleys with bush fallows and meadows to search for rare and elusive birds such as Przevalski's (Ala Shan) Redstart, Rusty-necklaced (Przevalski's) Partridge, Daurian Partridge, Tibetan Partridge, Hill Pigeon, Black Redstart, Pine Bunting, Tarim Babbler, Bearded Reedling, Lesser Whitethroat, and more.
Day 6: Chaka / Gonghe (4hrs, 3100-2900m)
We will spend the morning in Chaka for another chance at our target species, then drive to Gonghe in the afternoon. After arrival, we’ll visit the nearby Longyangxia Canyon to enjoy its breathtaking scenery and look for unique species such as Pale Rosefinch, Mongolian Finch, Isabelline Wheatear, Godlewski's Bunting, and more.
Day 7: Gonghe / Xinghai (5hrs, 2900-4500-3300m)
We will spend the morning around Ela Mountain Pass, at approximately 4,300 meters, focusing on the alpine screes in search of endemic and alpine species. Our primary target is the rare and highly range-restricted Tibetan Rosefinch. While slowly hiking the mountain, we will also scan the slopes for Güldenstädt's Redstart, Tibetan Lark, White-rumped Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Black-winged Snowfinch, Tibetan Snowfinch, Black-headed Mountain Finch, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Vulture, Tibetan Snowcock, and more. After this exploration, we will drive about an hour back down to a lower elevation for a more comfortable stay and do some birding in the nearby areas.
Day 8: Xinghai / Yushu (9hrs, 3300-4500-3700m).
This morning, we will drive further west through rugged, grand valleys toward Yushu. We will get to visit Ela Mountain again along the drive. Although the drive is long and crosses several areas above 4,000 meters, it offers rewarding opportunities to see exciting plateau mammals such as Tibetan Gazelle, Kiang (Tibetan Wild Ass), Tibetan Fox, and numerous raptors.
Day 9: Yushu / Nangqian (6hrs, 3700-4300-3700m).
This morning, we will begin our expedition by surveying the valley thickets around Yushu, searching for birds such as Pink-tailed Bunting (Przewalski's Finch), Brown Accentor, Robin Accentor, White-browed Tit, Ground Tit, and others. We will then proceed to Nangqian, a site renowned for its excellent birding opportunities, especially the three range-restricted endemic species: Buff-throated Partridge (Szechenyi's Partridge), Tibetan Bunting, and Tibetan Babax.
Before reaching Nangqian County, we will stop at Kanda Mountain, located in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, to look for some special species. Here, we can expect exciting birds such as Tibetan Bunting, Tibetan Babax, Tibetan Partridge, White Eared Pheasant, Snow Pigeon, as well as Hill Pigeon, Red-billed Chough, Grey-backed Shrike, Elliot's Laughingthrush, Kessler's Thrush (White-backed Thrush), Blue-fronted Redstart, Hodgson's Redstart, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Red-fronted Rosefinch, and Godlewski's Bunting. We will also have another chance to search for Ibisbill along the river shoals at the foot of the mountain.
Day 10: Nangqian (3700-4300-3700m).
We will leave early this morning to visit Baizha Forest, a well-forested mountain area where we will spend the entire day. The highest elevation we’ll reach today is around 4,300 meters. During the golden morning hours, we will focus on tracking pheasants, prioritizing the endemic Buff-throated Partridge (Szechenyi's Partridge). The area is also home to White Eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Tibetan Snowcock, and Tibetan Partridge.
Other species we can expect include Tibetan Babax, Hill Pigeon, Salim Ali's Swift, Black Woodpecker, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Red-fronted Rosefinch, Rufous-vented Tit, Sichuan Tit, Crested Tit Warbler, White-browed Tit Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Chinese Rubythroat, Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), Golden Eagle, Daurian Jackdaw, Alpine Chough, White-throated Dipper, White-winged Grosbeak, and more.
Day 11: Nangqian / Qumalai (6hrs, 3700-4200m).
We will spend the morning birding near Nangqian, searching for our target species, then drive on to Kekexili Nature Reserve and spend the night in Qumalai.
Day 12: Qumalai / Xidatan (6hrs, ~4200m).
The driving route takes us from Qumalai through the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, specifically the Hoh Xil region, to Xidatan. This sparsely inhabited area, characterized by a variety of climatic zones, boasts stunning natural landscapes and diverse wildlife. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, icy peaks, deserts, and vast pastures, few places in China rival Hoh Xil’s breathtaking scenery and ecological richness. The strong Tibetan Buddhist beliefs in the region have played a significant role in preserving its natural heritage.
As the main habitat of the Tibetan Antelope, we may encounter numerous flocks throughout our journey. We will also search for other iconic wildlife such as Wild Yak, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Fox, Kiang, and Tibetan Gazelle. Additionally, there is a chance to spot unique bird species like Tibetan Sandgrouse, Great Rosefinch, Saker Falcon, and Blanford's Snowfinch.
Day 13: Xidatan / Golmud / Xining (5hrs, 4200-2300m).
We will continue our search for target species in the reserve before driving to Golmud and catching a late afternoon flight back to Xining.
Day 14: Xining / Departure (~2300m).
After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Xining Airport for your flight. This concludes AlpineBirding’s services.
Guide(s)
We will arrange one of our best local guides for this trip who has rich experience of guiding tours in this region. The following are some of our best local guides in and around this area.
Shay Xie
Shay is among the first group of professional bird guides with the academic background of ornithology. He spent his childhood in a small county of Chongqing municipality where is the eastern edge of Daba mountains. Being brought up in a beautiful natural environment and surrounded by beautiful nature creatures, Shay has developed a strong interest in nature and birds since he was a small kid. Following the call from his inner heart, he chose to study ecology as his major when he was admitted to Sichuan University. The campus of Sichuan University itself is one of the most famous birding sites in Sichuan and he spent most of his afterschool time birding there. Since that time he started working as a part-time bird guide. After four years of academic study in the university and birding on the campus, he recorded many rare bird species including Blackthroat and Firethroat in Chengdu. Before he joined AlpineBirding, he worked as a professional freelancer bird guide and often participated in some special surveys on birds and mammals in southwestern China. These experiences form fields that have greatly enriched his knowledge of birds and nature. By now, he has successfully guided many avid birders from different countries including Norway, Britain, US, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Israel, etc. Now working as a full-time bird guide in AlpineBirding, Shay will do his best to create your best birding experiences in China with his experiences, knowledge and passion.
Bella Zhang
Bella, the director of AlpineBirding, graduated from Sichuan Agricultural University with a Bachelor's Degree. She joined AlpineBirding in early 2016 and became the director of AlpineBirding in 2018. She was born and grew up in a Bai ethnic family in Yunnan Province which boasts of the largest number of bird species in China. Her interests toward birds started with her observation of a Long-tailed Minivet in her mom's garden at a very young age. As she grows up, the interests and love toward birds become stronger and stronger. Because of that, she found AlpineBirding before graduation and joined the company for further learning of birds. Bella has guided a number of birding trips in cooperation with AlpineBirding guide in the past years, her passion, readiness to help and detail-oriented attitude have won her lots of praise from our clients.
