The 1,400-year-old North Mountain Temple (Beishan si, or Beichan si), situated on a mountain of the same name to the north of the Huangshui River, is one of the few Taoist temples in the mostly Buddhist Qinghai province. This is a good place to visit to get both a good idea of the size of the city from its high viewpoint, and a little peaceful hiking.

The North Mountain Temple was originally built in the late Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), but it has undergone destruction (mainly through fires, natural wear and wars) and renovation, time and again since that time. Some of the original broken murals can still be seen on the existing walls. Other attractions, beyond an enjoyable climb of the slopes and strolling around the walkways and bridges of the grounds, are the Taoist caves that are nicely decorated and are frequently filled with devout followers. At the top of the hill is the highlight however, the 5-storey Ningshou Pagoda (Ningshou ta), that offers the best of the views.

Address: The gates are just north of the intersection of Jilian lu and Changjian lu.
How to get to North Mountain Temple : The mountain can be reached by a variety of ways depending upon your energy levels. The entrance is about a 45minute walk northwest from the Xining Hotel. From the city center minibuses can also be taken to the entrance for about RMB4, a 4-5km journey. From the railway station, bus No. 11 will take you to near the entrance. From the town center, just to the south of the West Gate (Ximen), bus No.10 will also take you there.

Opening hours: 8:30am-5:00pm.