From Xining, the southern shore at Er Lang Jian is about 150 kilometres and two hours by car. A direct bus runs from Xining bus station to Heimahe on the southern shore (around 40 yuan, two hours), where local transport continues to the scenic area. Hiring a car from Xining for a day trip costs around 400 yuan; a private driver is far easier than navigating bus connections if you want to see Bird Island and the scenic viewpoints in the same day.
Most tour operators in Xining offer day trips to Qinghai Lake — useful if you want a structured experience — but independent travel gives more flexibility to spend time at the quieter stretches of the shoreline. Chaka Salt Lake, about two hours further west, is often combined with a Qinghai Lake visit; the two make a full day out from Xining.