Iconic attractions to offer free admission

The iconic Qarhan salt lake in northwestern China's Qinghai province will open to the public free of charge from April 26 to June 30, authorities say.

Chinese medical workers and tourists from Hubei province and Qinghai can visit the natural saline lake in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan autonomous prefecture for free for a year.

An upgrade is expected to be finished by the reopening date.

The 105-square-kilometer oval lake that's 3,100 meters above sea level in Ulan county is known as the "mirror of the sky".

Brilliant blue water ripples atop the crispy white lakebed. Over 40,000 travelers visited daily during last year's peak season. The water body is about four hours' drive from Qinghai's capital, Xining.

Qarhan, Taer (Gumbum) Monastery, Qinghai Lake and Mengda Lake are considered the province's most-representative destinations.

Another tourist attraction featuring red-crowned cranes in northeastern China will also offer free admission for medical workers until the end of this year.

Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang province will reopen on April 15.

Covering an area of 210,000 hectares, the nature reserve is the world's biggest habitat and reproduction base of wild red-crowned cranes. It is known as the "home of red-crowned cranes" in China.

Xinhua