[2025 Xining Attraction] Travel Guide for Plateau Pearl Sightseeing Tower (Updated Jul)

Tired of the concrete jungle and craving an escape? There’s a place with lake views more serene than Erhai and a charm more mystical than Shangri-La—Lugu Lake, the "Pearl of the Plateau"! Here, you’ll find breathtaking scenery perfect for photos, the unique and romantic Mosuo culture, and mouthwatering local delicacies. Whether you’re a travel newbie or a seasoned explorer, this guide will unlock the magic of Lugu Lake. Let’s go! ✨ **Lugu Lake**, straddling Sichuan and Yunnan, is a dazzling highland gem with rare beauty and culture! Whether you’re a photography enthusiast or seeking an immersive cultural experience, this place will fulfill your wanderlust dreams. This ultimate guide will help you explore Lugu Lake like a pro—save it and get ready for adventure! ### Must-Visit Spots: Every Frame is a Masterpiece **Lugu Lake Viewing Platform: Love at First Sight** Don’t miss the first iconic stop—the Lugu Lake Viewing Platform! From here, the entire lake unfolds before you: sapphire waters mirroring the sky, with the tiny emerald-like **Lige Peninsula** nestled in the distance. Every shot is wallpaper-worthy, guaranteed to flood your social media with likes! **Grass Sea & Walking Marriage Bridge: Romance of the Mosuo** The **Grass Sea** is pure therapy—vast green reeds swaying and whispering ancient tales. Cross the **Walking Marriage Bridge** to experience the Mosuo’s unique "walking marriage" tradition, where men don’t marry and women don’t wed. Stroll the bridge, imagining young lovers confessing here, and soak in the poetic vibes. **Lige Peninsula: The Lake’s Most Photogenic Spot** The crescent-shaped **Lige Peninsula**, curled like a heart into the lake, is Lugu’s crown jewel. At dawn, watch golden light dance on the water; at dusk, the peninsula glows in sunset hues. For the full experience, ride a colorful **pig-trough boat** and drift peacefully across the lake. **Goddess Bay: Sunset Magic** For a jaw-dropping sunset, head to **Goddess Bay**, facing **Gem Goddess Mountain**. Arrive by 5 PM to snag a prime spot on the rocky shore. As the sky blazes orange and the lake shimmers gold, you’ll witness a moment so stunning it’ll stay with you forever. ### Stay in Style: Comfort Meets Views **Lige Peninsula: Luxury Lakeside Lodging** For premium lake views, book a high-end homestay like **"Shi Lily"** or **"Yi Gou"**. Wake to gentle breezes and birdsong, fall asleep under starry skies—pure bliss! **Daluoshui Village: Budget-Friendly Convenience** Affordable and lively, **Daluoshui** offers great stays like **"Cidi Huakai"** and **"Lugu Lake Qieman Holiday Hotel"**. Perfect for travelers watching their wallets! **Langfang Village: Family-Friendly Retreat** Newly developed **Langfang** is ideal for families, with kid-friendly hotels like **"Xujiu Shanhaishi"** and **"An Xia"** offering fun activities and quiet surroundings. ### Must-Try Flavors of Lugu Lake **Stone Pot Fish: Fresh & Heavenly** A must-eat! Fresh lake fish steamed in a stone pot—tender, melt-in-your-mouth, with broth so rich it’ll blow your mind. ~¥80/person. **Mosuo BBQ: Crispy, Juicy, Unforgettable** Succulent pork belly roasted to crispy perfection, paired with buckwheat cakes—street-side aromas will lure you in! **Steamed Chicken: Nutritious & Heartwarming** Try the herbal-steamed chicken at **"Good Man Snacks"** in Daluoshui. Fall-off-the-bone tender with soul-soothing broth. ### Pro Tips for a Smooth Trip - **Protect the paradise**: No swimming or littering in the lake. - **Respect local culture**: Honor Mosuo traditions (like walking marriage) and ask before photographing people. Pack your bags and set off—Lugu Lake’s magic awaits! 🌄✨

"The Jewel of Puning" carries an air of mystery and spirituality in its name. Visiting this sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism, located on the outskirts of the city, feels like discovering a serene gem away from the bustling urban life. The golden roof of the main hall glimmers under the sunlight, and faint chanting seems to drift in with the wind. The moment I stepped into the temple, a sense of solemnity and tranquility filled my heart. This place blends Tibetan culture with religious art—colorful murals, Tibetan scriptures, and majestic statues—all of which captivate visitors with their intricate details. I spent extra time by the prayer wheels, joining local devotees in turning them with heartfelt devotion. It was a flow of inner strength. The Jewel of Puning is one of the rare spiritual havens in Xining, and it was the most serene and moving stop of my journey.

🗼Attraction Introduction: The Highland Pearl TV Sightseeing Tower, also known as the Pearl of Puning, is a national AAA-level tourist attraction. The Pearl of Puning has a total height of 188 meters and is built on a mountain at an altitude of 2395 meters within the Xishan Botanical Garden. The tower sphere has a diameter of 26 meters, with five floors inside and a construction area of 2290 square meters. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of the sphere are open to visitors, with the 2nd floor serving as a sightseeing and souvenir sales area, the 3rd floor as a sightseeing tea lounge, and the 4th floor as a rotating sightseeing tea lounge. 🗺️Location: No. 7, Xishan Yixiang, Xining, Qinghai Province 🚘Transportation: 🚌Take bus routes 2, 30, 40, 42, or 59 to the Botanical Garden Station, then walk 3500 meters to reach the destination. 🚗You can also drive there. Enter the mountain winding road to the sightseeing tower, where there is a parking lot🅿️. Parking is free for the first 15 minutes, 5 yuan/hour within 4 hours, and 10 yuan/hour after 4 hours. 🎫Tickets: 🎫Ticket price is 20 yuan per person, available at the scenic spot ticket office. ⏰Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00 🎁TIPS: ✅No wonder it looks like the Oriental Pearl, it was actually built with aid from Shanghai. 🚕If you take a taxi, it is recommended to have the car drive directly to the tower, otherwise, you will have to walk 20 minutes up the mountain road. ✅Coming to the Highland Pearl TV Sightseeing Tower to see the night view is a good choice. The whole city starts lighting up around 19:30. ✅The first floor is the city exhibition hall, the fifth floor is for sightseeing, and the seventh floor offers dining and other services. ✅A meal for two costs 396 yuan, and a meal for three costs 511 yuan. 📷It is recommended to bring a telephoto lens to capture good night views; the effect of mobile phone photography is not ideal. Note: The glass is somewhat dirty, which will affect the shooting effect. ✅You can compare the Pearl of Puning in Xining with the Jinxiutianfu Tower in Chengdu, the Zhongyuan Futa in Zhengzhou, the Central Radio and TV Tower in Beijing, the Tianta Xunyun in Tianjin, the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, the New TV Tower in Guangzhou, and the Macau Sightseeing Tower. ✅From the tower, you can overlook the winding garden tree interchange and the Ferris wheel in People's Park. ✅We also caught a full moon🌕. If you have a drone, you can capture the beautiful scenery of the TV tower + full moon + city night view. ✅The temperature difference between day and night in Xining is quite large, and the wind is very strong. Wear more clothes and keep warm when taking photos on the platform at the bottom of the tower.

[Introduction]: The Pearl of Puning, also known as the Pearl of the Plateau, is located on the Xishan Mountain on the southwest side of Xining. It is a landmark of Xining and can be seen in the urban area. It is very conspicuous. This is not only a TV tower, but you can also enter to see the panoramic view of Xining and dine in the revolving restaurant. Every night, the colorful lights on the tower shine and change, and the scenery is intoxicating. To visit the Pearl of Puning, you can take a taxi from the city. You can get a panoramic view of the city by climbing up the hill. There are also paid telescopes at the foot of the tower that can be used for a few dollars, so many tourists will leave after taking a look at the foot of the tower. If you want to see a wider panoramic view, you can pay to enter the tower. There is a souvenir sales area and a revolving restaurant in the tower, but the dining price is a bit expensive. The best time to visit the Pearl of Puning is at night, when the colorful lights on the outside of the tower change colors and the scenery is pleasant. The night view of Xining seen from the lighthouse is also very beautiful. ⛺【Tips】: Enter the restaurant in the circular sphere in the air and feel the whole appearance of Xining 🛬【Itinerary】: Go to Xining Wildlife Park in the morning to have a close contact with the animals, climb the mountain in the afternoon, and have dinner in the Pearl of Xishan Puning in the evening 🧡【tips】: Do not do strenuous exercise when you first arrive at the plateau. You can take a bus directly to the base of Puning Pearl Tower in the city.