Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture of northeastern Qinghai Province, China. The prefecture has an area of 39,354 square kilometres (15,195 sq mi) and its seat is Haiyan County. Its name literally means "north of Qinghai Lake." This Tibetan culture area was incorporated into Qinghai province in the early 1950s, as it lies distant from the Tibet Autonomous Region.