Chaka Salt Lake, Salt lake in Ulan County, Qinghai Province, China.
Chaka Salt Lake covers 154 square kilometers at an elevation of 3,059 meters above sea level, creating a mirror-like surface that perfectly reflects the surrounding snow-capped mountains and vast sky.
Salt extraction at this location dates back to the Western Han Dynasty between 206 BC and 25 AD, when Qiang people harvested salt here, later becoming an officially managed resource during Ming and Qing periods.
Known as China's Sky Mirror, the lake holds names in Tibetan and Mongolian languages, representing the cultural diversity of the Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture where it is located.
The site operates year-round from 7:30 AM to 7:10 PM with ticket prices of 60 yuan during peak season and 30 yuan in low season, accessible via transportation from Xining and local bus services.
At night, the lake's surface transforms into a celestial mirror reflecting the Milky Way and stars, creating a phenomenon known as the Night Sky Mirror that captivates astronomy enthusiasts and photographers.
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