As an old Chinese saying goes:"Lakes are eyes of the ground," as lakes resemble the eyes of a human, containing wisdom and vitality. Different from a mountain's beauty; lakes are culminating examples of feminine beauty. China is a country with thousands of lakes.

The following are the "Top Five Most Beautiful Lakes in China" as ranked by China National Geography Magazine.

Qinghai Lake [photo/icpress]

QinghaiLake (Qinghai)

QinghaiLake or Tsongon Po is the largest lake in China. Located in Qinghai province on an endorheic basin, the lake is classified as a saline and alkaline body of water. Qinghai Lake has a surface area of 4,317 square km; an average depth of 21m, and a maximum depth of 25.5m as measured in 2008. Both the current Chinese name "Qinghai" and the older Mongolian name Kokonor translate to "Blue Lake" or "Teal Sea” are used in English. Qinghai Lake is located about 100 kilometers (62 mi) west of the provincial capital of Xining at 3,205 m (10,515 feet) above sea level in a depression of the Tibetan plateau. 23 rivers and streams empty into Qinghai Lake, most of them seasonal. Five permanent streams provide 80% of its total influx.

The lake has fluctuated in size, shrinking throughout the 20th century, but began increasing in 2004. Despite its salinity, it has an abundance of fish, such as the edible naked carp.

Best travel time: all year around

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