Stage 07 • Tibetan Plateau Alpine Sea & Coastal Dunes

Xining (ZLXN) to Gonghe (ZLHX) via Lake Qinghai

China's largest inland lake (10,500 ft MSL), Sand Island coastal dunes, Bird Island sanctuary, and Qilian Mountains

Distance 132.0 NM
Est. Time (150kts) 00h 53m
Target Alt 12,500–15,500 ft
Touch & Gos 2 Airfields

Departure: ZLXN (Xining Caojiabao Int'l)

  • Elevation: 7,429 ft MSL
  • Runway: 11/29 (3,800m Concrete)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL / Jet A-1
  • Comms: Tower 118.700 | XN VOR 113.10

Arrival: ZLHX (Gonghe / Hainan Airport)

  • Elevation: 9,580 ft MSL
  • Runway: 14/32 (2,600m Asphalt)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL / Jet A-1
  • Comms: CTAF 122.500 | GNH NDB 340.0

Visual Route Map & Navaids (Tibetan Plateau & Qinghai Basin)

SAND ISLAND DUNES BIRD ISLAND (NIAO DAO) N E S W VAR 2°W (Mag °M) LAKE QINGHAI (KOKONOR) QILIAN MOUNTAINS (14,000+ FT) XINING BASIN XN 113.10 GNH 340.0 290°M 285°M 220°M 150°M ZLXN Xining (7,429 ft) Sand Island VP Gangcha Strip (T&G) ZLHX Gonghe (9,580 ft)

Navigation & Waypoint Breakdown

Ident Type Track (°M) Nav Aid / Frequency Dist ETE Landmarks & Flying Notes
ZLXN Departure -- XN VOR 113.10 0.0 NM 00:00 Depart Xining Caojiabao Int'l (7,429 ft MSL); climb WNW over Sun-Moon (Riyue) Mountain pass.
SHADAO Dunes VP 290° XN VOR R-290 45.0 NM 00:18 Reach Lake Qinghai's eastern shore where massive desert sand dunes spill directly into blue alpine water.
GANGCHA Touch & Go 285° Visual Shoreline 35.0 NM 00:32 Track along the northern shore beneath the 14,000 ft Qilian peaks for a T&G at Gangcha airstrip.
NIAODAO Sanctuary VP 220° Visual Island 22.0 NM 00:41 Low flyby of Bird Island (Niao Dao) nature reserve on the western marshland peninsula.
ZLHX Arrival 150° GNH NDB 340.0 30.0 NM 00:53 Cross the southern plateau rim into Gonghe / Hainan Airport (9,580 ft MSL).

Tibetan High-Altitude Tips

  • 10,500 ft MSL Lake Elevation: Lake Qinghai sits over two miles above sea level. Maintain cruising altitudes between 13,500 and 15,500 ft to clear surrounding mountain passes safely.
  • Sand Island Contrast: The collision of golden desert sand dunes (Sha Dao) meeting deep turquoise alpine water creates one of East Asia's most unusual visual landscapes in flight simulation.
  • High-Altitude Arrival (9,580 ft MSL): Gonghe Airport (ZLHX) requires strict performance awareness. Ensure proper engine mixture leaning during descent and final approach.

Digital Asset Pack

EFB / SkyDemon Route String

ZLXN SHADAO GANGCHA NIAODAO ZLHX

Garmin TDS GTNXi Format (.gfp)

FPN/RI:ZLXN:SHADAO:GANGCHA:NIAODAO:ZLHX

Save as LakeTour_Stage07.gfp or paste into TDS catalog.

MSFS .pln File

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SimBase.Document>
    <FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
        <Title>ZLXN to ZLHX Stage 7 Landlocked Lakes Tour</Title>
        <FPType>VFR</FPType>
        <RouteType>Direct</RouteType>
        <CruisingAlt>14500</CruisingAlt>
        <DepartureID>ZLXN</DepartureID>
        <DepartureLLA>N36° 28' 41.00",E102° 02' 43.00",+007429.00</DepartureLLA>
        <DestinationID>ZLHX</DestinationID>
        <DestinationLLA>N36° 15' 00.00",E100° 37' 00.00",+009580.00</DestinationLLA>
        <ATCWaypoint id="ZLXN">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N36° 28' 41.00",E102° 02' 43.00",+007429.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>ZL</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>ZLXN</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="ZLHX">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N36° 15 me' 00.00",E100° 37' 00.00",+009580.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>ZL</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>ZLHX</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
    </FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
</SimBase.Document>