Where are Qinghai’s largest population centres located?

Qinghai is a largely rural province, and its population is primarily concentrated in the eastern region. The major population centres are situated in the fertile valley of the Huang River (Huang Shui), with Xining—the provincial capital—serving as the primary agricultural and industrial hub.12

Additionally, several cities have experienced significant growth due to the development of the province’s mineral, oil, and natural gas industries. Notably, Golmud has become an important population centre following the construction of the highway and railway infrastructure connecting to Tibet.12