Xining

Tibetan is found predominantly in Tibet; Tibetan-speaking communities are also found in Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan, and Gansu. In Tibet, all official documents are issued in both Tibetan and Chinese, and also in certain regions of Sichuan and Qinghai. Moreover, the radio stations in Tibet broadcast in Tibetan and Putonghua. Similarly, the Chengdu radio station in Sichuan and the Xining radio station in Qinghai also have regular Tibetan broadcasts.

Traditionally, Qinghai's Han Chinese have been concentrated around Xining and the Yellow River valley. […] The climate in this region is harsh, with temperatures at Xining, east of Qinghai, ranging from −6° to 18° C. […] Xining and the Yellow River valley are Qinghai's most important agricultural areas.

Though tourists rarely do so, it is perfectly possible to visit an area on the outskirts of Qinghai’s Xining that abounds in prisons and prison enterprises.

Barren, sparsely populated Qinghai ranks 22nd among China’s 31 provinces, regions and municipalities measured by income per capita, which averaged $3,343 in 2009. Property prices in Xining, the unprepossessing capital, are less than a fifth of those in Beijing.