Nishikai

The West Sea mainly refers to Qinghai Lake in Qinghai Province, China, which is the largest inland saltwater lake in China. Additionally, in different historical or geographical contexts, the West Sea may also refer to the Yellow Sea, located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula, or the Estonian name for the Baltic Sea in Europe. Which specific geographical location do you mean by West Sea?

In the ancient Chinese worldview, the 'Four Seas' referred to the oceans surrounding China in the four cardinal directions. Traditionally, the West Sea once referred to Qinghai Lake, the East Sea to China's East China Sea, the North Sea once referred to Lake Baikal, and the South Sea to the South China Sea. Among these, the West Sea and North Sea held more symbolic meaning in ancient times, and were later linked to real geographical locations. This concept of 'Four Seas' is common in Chinese literary works, used to express vast regions or the entire world.

Taiwan is located in East Asia and is part of the East Asian cultural sphere. Geographically, Taiwan is in the Eastern Hemisphere, with the Tropic of Cancer passing through the island, situated in the transitional zone between tropical and subtropical regions. It is southeast of China, southwest of Japan, and north of the Philippines, holding an important position on the East Asian island arc.

As an internet meme, 'West Sea' primarily originates from netizens mishearing or associating the logo of the German car audio brand 'Burmester'. Because the letters in the logo appear similar to 'West Sea' (西海), it is often featured in short videos of car test drives or displays of wealth alongside Burmester. Combined with Dao Lang's 'West Sea Love Song' (西海情歌), it creates an unexpected contrast comedy effect, thus becoming popular online.

If you plan to travel to Qinghai Lake (West Sea) in Qinghai, China, it is recommended to prepare suitable clothing for high-altitude areas, pay attention to sun protection, and stay hydrated. As it is an inland lake, the climate is variable, and the best travel season is summer for beautiful scenery. The area is known for its magnificent lake views and unique Tibetan culture. You can arrange visits to attractions around the lake area to experience the plateau scenery.