Highway through Xitai Jinaier Lake, Qinghai Province, China

Between the blues. Highway through Xitai Jinaier Lake, Qinghai Province, China

Cutting a surreal path through the high-altitude deserts of western China, Xitai Jinaier Lake (also known as West Taijinar Lake) is a striking salt lake in the remote Qaidam Basin. A stretch of National Highway 315 runs directly across its shallow waters, creating the illusion of a road floating between two worlds. On one side, the water often appears deep blue; on the other, a softer green hue, a contrast shaped by differing mineral concentrations in the brine.

Set more than 2,600 metres above sea level, the lake lies within a vast, arid basin where salt lakes and desert expanses dominate the landscape. Here, evaporation leaves behind mineral-rich deposits, giving the water its unusual tones. The result is a stark yet captivating environment—quiet, expansive and almost otherworldly. Driving across Xitai Jinaier Lake feels like crossing an inland sea at the edge of the world, where geology and isolation combine to create one of China's most unforgettable landscapes.