Full Name: Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

Chinese Name: 海北藏族自治州 (haǐ běi zàng zú zì zhì zhōu)

Population: 300,000  

Area: 34,700 square kilometers (13,398 square miles) 

Nationalities: Han, Hui, Tibetan  

Administrative Division: 3 counties (Haiyan, Qilian, Gangcha); 1 autonomous County (Menyuan Hui Autonomous County)

Seat of the Prefecture Government: Xihai Town, Haiyan County  

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0970-8644379
                                           Weather Forecast: 121
                                           Zip Code Inquiry: 184

China Post Haibei Branch: Xihai Jie, Xihai Town, Haiyan County

Location: Located in northeastern Qinghai Province, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture borders Xining and Haidong Prefecture in the southeast, Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the west and is separated by the Qinghai Lake from Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the south. It also shares a boundary with Gansu Province in the northeast.        

History: Haibei was the home area of the Qiang, an ancient group who were the forebears of the later Tibetans. In 120BC, the Han (206BC-220AD Troop entered this area and the Qiang people moved to the foot of Qilian Mountains. Administrative bodies began to be established here in the year 4AD. The Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Region was founded in 1953 and renamed as the Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in 1995.       
 
Physical Features: There are mountain ranges crisscrossing all over Haibei. The Qilian Mountains and its erratic turnings stretch through the prefecture from the northwest to the east, and the terrain declines basically from the northwest to the southeast.                 

Climate: The prefecture enjoys a continental plateau climate with the annual average temperature of -0.3℃ to 0.7℃ (31.5℉ to 33.3℉), and most of the region has its annual average temperature below 0℃ (32℉). It has rich sunshine, but rainfall only drops densely in July and August. 
     
When to Go: Summer is the best season to visit Haibei Prefecture.  

Special Local Products: Tibetan knives and silver wares, musk, snow lotus, deer antler

 Attractions:
The Shadao Island and Haixin Hill are all well known attractions of Qinghai Lake in southern Haibei Prefecture. Like a crescent floating on eastern Qinghai Lake, Shadao Island is formed by sand blown by wind. It is connected with the dunes on the east bank of the lake. At present, the scenic spot has been equipped with some recreational facilities and sports sestablishments. Visitors can take a yacht to Haixin Island in south-central Qinghai Lake to admire the green and elegant scenery and ancient temple in the mountain or to overlook the lake from the top of the Haixin Hill.  

Xihai Town, the seat of prefecture government was the locality where the first A-bomb and H-bomb were born. Therefore the town is spoken of as the 'Atomic City'. Some remains are still there for show. 

Jinyintan Prairie neighbors Qinghai Lake in the west. It is a typical Tibetan pasturing area, whose best tourist season is July to September. 

Xianmi National Forest Park is the largest virgin forest zone of Qinghai Province, being the source of many inland rivers. 

Menyuan County is a main production of oil plants. Mid-June is the season of rape flowering. The rape fields stretch far to the horizon, like golden wave rolling in a golden sea.

Travel Tips:
Qinghai-Tibet Railway runs through the lake shore area of Haiyan and Gangcha counties of southern Haibei. Qinghai-Xinjiang Expressway and National Highway No.315 pass across the south region of Haibei Prefecture. There are also National Highway No.227 and two provincial highways in northern Haibei, but the road conditions are not so good. In addition, the road around Qinghai Lake is also open. 

Xihai Town is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Xining, the capital city of Qinghai. Visitors can first get to Xining by air and head for Haibei by train or bus. Taxi and motorbike are the main means of transportation inside the town.