China's largest salt lake, Qarhan Salt Lake in Qinghai, has achieved cascade extraction and comprehensive utilization of brine resources. The brine is first evaporated in salt pans to separate sodium salt, then undergoes flotation to extract potassium, and the remaining tail liquid is processed in workshops to refine lithium carbonate. The entire process lasts dozens of days and covers more than 100 kilometers.
Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co., Ltd., established on the basis of the salt lake, now has an annual potash production capacity of 5 million tonnes, accounting for about 60% of the national total. Its self-developed "reverse flotation-cold crystallization" process and "adsorption plus membrane separation" coupled lithium extraction technology have significantly raised potash self-sufficiency and enabled an annual production capacity of 80,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Industrial activities coexist with tourism at the site. Visitor numbers to the scenic area exceeded 500,000 in 2023, reached 1 million in 2024, surpassed 1.43 million in 2025, and are projected to hit 1.8 million in 2026. The open area spans nearly 10 square kilometers, with plans to introduce new business forms and scenarios.
The company states that this multi-level utilization model aims to maximize resource efficiency and minimize environmental impact, with the lithium carbonate supporting new energy vehicle and energy storage industries, while potash production plays a key role in national food security.