Xining has a history of 2000 years. It was originally called Xipingting and once as a capital in Nan Liang dynasty. It was the key point of the south branch of the Silk Road.

Xining’s Climatic Features are the continental mid-drought climate with rich sunlight and little rainfall, short frost-free, long freeze-up, no bitter coldness in winter or extremely hot in summer.

Xining (meaning "western peace") was a main stop on the ancient Silk Road trade route, and features nearby attractions like the Taer Monastery. Built in the 14th century, Taer is a center for Yellow Hat Lamaism -- Buddhist followers of the Dalai Lama. In the Islamic realm, Xining's Dongguan Mosque, founded in 1380, is among the region's largest.

About 130 kilometers from Xining is Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland saltwater body. Rumor has it that dinosaurs have been seen around the lake, but only fish, fowl, and human sightings have been confirmed. Bird Island sanctuary is another provincial attraction, featuring migrating geese.