Haidong

Haidong is a prefecture-level city in eastern Qinghai, the second most populous city in the province, whose name means "east of the lake," referring to its position east of Qinghai Lake and immediately downstream from the provincial capital Xining. It sits in the fertile Hehuang valley, historically the agricultural heartland of Qinghai and a remarkable mosaic of Han, Hui, Tibetan, Tu and Salar peoples. The economy combines agriculture, aluminium and other industry, and a famous export of manpower: chefs from Hualong and Xunhua counties run beef-noodle (lamian) restaurants in cities across China. Its cultural highlight is Qutan Temple, a superbly preserved Ming dynasty monastery whose layout echoes the Forbidden City, earning it the nickname "Little Forbidden City." Natural attractions include Mengda Tianchi, an alpine lake within a lush nature reserve dubbed the "Xishuangbanna of the plateau."