Singing and Crying Through the Charismatic Northwest - A 17-Day Loop Trip Through Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang (Part 3)
This travelogue covers the following attractions: Heavenly Lake Tianshan - Irtysh Grand Canyon
Our itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Depart for Lanzhou
Day 2: Lanzhou - Jinyintan Grassland - Qinghai Lake
Day 3: Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake - Qilian
Day 4: Qilian - Zhangye - Jiayuguan
Day 5: Jiayuguan - Mogao Caves - Dunhuang
Day 6: Dunhuang - Mingsha Mountain - Crescent Moon Spring - Urumqi
Day 7: Urumqi - Turpan - Urumqi
Day 8: Urumqi - Heavenly Lake Tianshan - Fuyun County
Day 9: Fuyun County - Koktokay - Burqin
Day 10: Burqin - Kanas - Jia Deng Yu
Day 11: Jia Deng Yu - White Sand Lake - Burqin
Day 12: Burqin - Devil City - Jinghe County
Day 13: Jinghe County - Nalati
Day 14: Nalati - Bayinbuluke
Day 15: Bayinbuluke - Lop Nur Village - Korla
Day 16: Korla - Tianshan Mystery Grand Canyon - Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves - Urumqi
Day 17: Return journey
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The trip reached the eighth day - Heavenly Lake Tianshan
Heavenly Lake Tianshan, known as "Jade Pool" in ancient times, is located in Fukang City, Changji Prefecture, on the north side of Mount Bogda, approximately 110 kilometers from Urumqi.
In ancient Chinese mythology, Heavenly Lake was also the bathing place of the Queen Mother of the West.
The lake surface is at an altitude of 1910 meters, with a maximum depth of 105 meters. The lake reflects Mount Bogda, surrounded by spruce forests, creating a scenery like a fairyland. It encompasses natural landscapes such as alpine lakes, wetlands, meadows, forests, and canyons.
At Tianshan, you can see various different scenes, and even more magical is that you can experience all four seasons in a single day.
We stayed in Fuyun for the night. The sunset was truly beautiful.
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On the ninth day, we arrived at the Irtysh Grand Canyon
The Irtysh Grand Canyon is the main scenic area of the Koktokay Scenic Spot. The canyon is interwoven with mountains and water, exuding a captivating spiritual aura where mountains, water, rocks, trees, and people echo each other. Along both sides of the river, peaks stand opposite each other, with vivid shapes like Flying Over Peak, Camel Peak, Elephant Trunk Peak, and Eagle Peak, collectively known as the "One Hundred and Eight Peaks."
Among the peaks, the Amir Sarah Peak, with a relative height difference of 365 meters, is particularly astonishing. It can be said that each mountain has its own scene and world, and every step offers a new view worth looking back at. The river winds and turns as the Irtysh River originates from deep within the canyon, flowing westward—sometimes meandering gently, sometimes rushing endlessly—with varied sounds and appearances. The river water is rich in mineral elements, and the "Son-Giving River" is famous far and wide.
