Category: Chinese Culture

Xining (西宁 Xīníng)is located in the eastern part of Qinghai province and lies on the HuangShui River(湟水河 Huánɡshuǐ hé ). It has a total area of 350 km². Xining is located on the eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau（青藏高原 Qīnɡzànɡ ɡāoyuán）and the upper reaches of Huangshui River. It is the political, economic, scientific and technological, cultural and traffic center of Qinghai Province with an average altitude of over 2200 meters (about 7217 feet). The activities of human beings in this region can be traced to 2,100 years ago. During the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties, owing to its developing agriculture, Xining was paid more attention due to its economic and martial significance. As well as being the important hinge between the central plains and the western part of China in ancient time, Xining was the most common passing channel of the famous Silk Road(丝绸之路 Sīchóu zhīlù ). Until now, it is still the only road by which to enter the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.