A herdsman leading a horse walks by a field of cole flowers beside Qinghai Lake on July 19, 2009. [Photo: Xinhuanet]

Qinghai Lake is the largest salt lake in inland China and is situated in Qinghai Province. The snowy mountain behind the lake and grasslands and flowers around it with herds of animals form beautiful and mysterious scenery. Located in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the lake attracts many tourists from home and abroad. Qinghai Lake has an area of more than 4,000 square kilometers and is known as "the most beautiful lake" in China.

A pasture beside Qinghai Lake. [Photo: Xinhuanet]