Summer is the best season — June through August brings warm days, wildflowers on the surrounding hills, and the lake at its most vivid turquoise. Bird Island is most active from May through July, when nesting is underway. The annual Qinghai Lake International Road Cycling Race takes place in late July, bringing crowds and a festive atmosphere to the lakeside towns.
Spring (April and May) can be cold and windy, with occasional snow on the passes, but the light is clear and tourist numbers are low. Autumn visits in September and early October are possible and less crowded, with the hills taking on golden and russet tones as the grass dries. Winter is cold and bleak; the lake itself rarely freezes entirely due to its salinity, but the landscape becomes stark and many facilities close.