In a selection of the best scenic areas in Xinjiang by Tourism Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,a destination of Silk Road tours the following attractions won the highest scores in public appraisal and professional evaluation.
1. Sayram Lake
Sayram Lake, renowned as a pearl on the Silk Road, is the largest and highest alpine lake in Xinjiang. With an altitude of 2,073 meters, it is located about 90 kilometers southwest of Botala Prefecture, Urumqi. The lake has quite a few nicknames. In ancient China, it was called the "clean sea." In Mongolian language, Sayram means 'a lake on the ridge'. In Kazakh language, it means 'blessing'. Because it is the last place that the warm and humid air current of the Atlantic Ocean reaches, it is also known as the "Atlantic Ocean's last teardrop."
The oval-shaped lake is about 30 kilometers long and, 25 kilometers, covering an area of 455 to 460 square kilometers. The deepest point of the lake measures 92 meters. The main source of the lake is rainwater and ground water, in addition to some water flows from a few small rivers.
The water in the lake is pure, clear and peaceful, attracting flocks of ducks and swans. Flourishing cypress and cedar trees cover the whole mountain range. Herds of horses and sheep graze on the pastures. The best seasons to visit Sayram Lake are summer and autumn.
Sayram Lake is an attractive spot for tourists who join China tour packages in Xinjiang.
2. Turpan Scenic Spot (Grape Valley and Flaming Mountain)
Turpan has long been the center of a fertile oasis at a basin of the central Xinjiang. The extreme heat and dryness of the summer allow the land to produce great amounts of high-quality fruit. There is a well-known folk song: "Turpan's grapes are ripe; Anarhan's heart is ecstatic…" Turpan is famous for its fruits, especially grapes, and the best place to enjoy the grapes is the Grape Valley.
Located in the western part of Flaming Mountain, the Grape Valley is a zone of vineyards of 8 kilometers long and 0.5 kilometers wide. The grapes here are crystal and watery: some as green as emeralds; some as red as agates, some as small as pearls, while others look like olives. Its annual production of a dozen types of fresh grapes surpasses 6,000 tons. Creeks, small rivers, springs and various plants and fruits, including peaches, apricots, apples, pears and melons, make the valley even more beautiful and productive. Visitors can take a rest under the grape trees, taste the juicy grapes, or have a stroll in the valley. The best season to visit the valley is summer, when it is cool and ideal to escape from the heat. It has long been a tourist destination attracting visitors from home and abroad.
The Flaming Mountain, the most famous attraction of Turpan, is a barren, eroded, red granite mountain in the north of the Turpan Basin. Nicknamed the "red mountain", it extends over 1,000 km long and is about 500 meters high, with its main peak at an altitude of 831.7 meters. The mountain is the hottest place in China. In the strong summer sun, the sandstones shine and the scorching air flows up, creating a flaming appearance at the mountain at certain times of the day. Because of the unique features of the mountain, there are gullies and trenches growing with green plants, small rivers and fruit trees. The mountain was mentioned in the classic novel Journey to the West, making it even more attractive to visitors.
If you are a student and interested in the history of Silk Road, you can join educational China tours which will make you have a happy journey.
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