| |
 | Population | 5,035,000 |
| Area | 720,000 | |
| Capital | Xining | |
| Main Industries | agriculture (sheep), oil, mining | |
| GDP | 4,066 | |
| Trade | 15,168 | |
| Ethnic minorities | 51.0% | |
| Urbanization | 27.8% | |
| Data Source | ||
Geographically, Qinghai is part of the Tibetan plateau and has mountains that source the Yellow, Mekong and Yangzi Rivers. It has very low rainfall and has salt marshes and saline lakes. The culture is mainly Tibetan except for the provincial capital Xining that is at the Eastern edge which has mainly Han Chinese citizens. It has cold Winters and short cool Summers.
Historically China has built many of its more isolated prisons and labour camps in the province. Qinghai Lake is he largest salt lake in China and is a mecca for bird watchers.
