Guide — pronounced "Gwee-deh" and written 贵德 in Chinese — is a small predominantly Tibetan city in Hainan Prefecture, about 80 kilometres southwest of Xining on the upper Yellow River. The setting is exceptional: the river is clear and fast here, not yet muddied by the silt it accumulates downstream, and the surrounding landscape of red sandstone cliffs and green terraced farmland makes the town one of the most visually rewarding stops in eastern Qinghai.
The Yellow River in Guide county is known locally as the "crystal river" because of its unusual clarity at this elevation — above the main sediment loads further downstream. The river banks and wetlands near town are popular with Chinese domestic visitors, and peach orchards in the valley bloom spectacularly in spring. The Guide Hot Springs outside the town centre attract visitors from Xining, particularly in winter. The Jade Emperor Pavilion (Yuwang Guan), a Taoist complex on a hilltop above the old town, provides the best panoramic view of the valley.
Guide sits at about 2,200 metres, lower than Xining, which makes it noticeably warmer and more sheltered. The old town has Tibetan, Salar, and Han Chinese communities reflected in its markets and teahouses. It is a comfortable overnight stop for travellers heading toward Qinghai Lake or the pastoral areas of Hainan Prefecture.
Buses from Xining's long-distance station run to Guide several times daily and take about two hours. The town has adequate mid-range accommodation. Most travellers pass through as part of a loop that takes in Qinghai Lake and then continues to the pastoral grasslands of the plateau interior.