Itinerary for one-day tour group of Tianshan Tianchi
Booking phone number for one-day tour of Tianshan Tianchi: 0991-8585456 181-3962-2229
One-day tour of Tianshan Tianchi – Click to book
Tianshan Mountain is located in the middle of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It serves as the boundary of Xinjiang, with the southern part called Southern Xinjiang and the northern part called Northern Xinjiang. Tianshan Mountain is very rich in minerals, and most of the mountain is barren. This coincides with a common saying: Mountains with minerals are barren, and intelligent heads are bald.
The tour bus departed from Urumqi and entered the Tianshan Mountains to the east. The mountains in front of us were mostly dark or reddish-brown, occasionally sparkling under the sunshine. They were all rocks and soils with high mineral content, mostly barren. There were also some low shrubs or grasses on some mountains, where flocks of goats wandered on the hillsides,低头啃草 (grazing on the grass), enjoying the bounty of nature.
Entering the Tianshan scenic area within Fukang City, the scenery is completely different. On both sides of the black and smooth asphalt road are tall and straight birch trees with a dashing appearance; followed by elm trees and poplar trees with branches sprawling, lush like canopies. The car winds upwards along the mountain road beside the stream. The stream and the highway bend along the mountain, like black and white ribbons dancing between the mountain gorges. The stream water flows down after the snow from Tianshan melts. On the riverbeds on both sides of the stream, elm trees or poplar trees grow tenaciously among large and small pebbles. Although their roots are exposed, they are still lush and leafy, which is admirable for their tenacious vitality.
Soon, there were mixed trees, green grass, and wildflowers on the mountains in front of us. But if you look closely, you will discover a fascinating phenomenon: One side of a mountain has trees, while the other side does not, or there are a few tall trees in the recessed areas of the mountain. Wherever the sunlight shines directly, there are only wild grasses, and even low shrubs are rare; where the sunlight shines obliquely or is shaded, the trees are tall and lush.
The car entered a long and narrow gorge within the scenic area, where cliffs on both sides stood close together, naturally forming a narrow gap in the sky. The tour guide introduced this as the scenery of "Tian Men Yi Xian" (A Narrow Gap in the Sky). While we marveled at the incredible work of nature, we also worried that if a rock fell, it would be a natural disaster. The car continued to wind upwards, and at a turn, we saw a small pond of dozens of square meters with azure water. The tour guide introduced: This is the West Small Tian Chi, which echoes with the large Tian Chi on the mountain. Legend has it that the large Tian Chi is the washbasin of the Queen Mother of the West, and this is her footbath. Regarding this small pond, there are still unsolved mysteries to this day. Humans haven’t detected how deep it is.
With such mystery, we quickly arrived at the Tian Chi scenic spot parking lot.
Walking on the broad path between the spruce forests, I saw that the snow under the spruce trees had not yet melted. It was late September, which in our southern region is still mid-autumn, and snow only appears in winter. Seeing it now, of course, felt rare. The wildflowers covered by snow were skinny yet still blossomed brilliantly. They hadn’t finished experiencing the golden autumn yet and had received this sudden gift from winter, which they couldn’t handle with such surprise. We were all dressed in autumn clothing and felt the chill approaching, a burst of coldness, but it wasn’t the bone-chilling cold of a southern winter. Our hearts were full of joy. It was rare to see this pure and auspicious symbol in the crisp autumn weather. We all came to the forest to have close contact with the auspicious snow, either taking photos with it, picking it up to taste, or even, mischievously, throwing a snowball at tourists. The tourists hit by the snowballs wouldn’t be angry but would laugh together with other visitors. Laughter echoed in the forest and drifted towards the snowy peaks…
Finally, we have seen Tianchi Lake at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains as described in legends. The beautiful legends of the Queen Mother of the West are spread here, and the top ten unsolved mysteries attract the attention of the world. The martial arts stories of the Seven Swords Descending from Tianshan are fascinating, and the snow lotus hanging high on the snowy cliffs of the Tianshan Mountains… This is the paradise sought by many in their hearts, and today, its mysterious veil is unveiled, revealing her beauty.
The distant snow-capped peak is Mount Bogda, standing at 5,445 meters above sea level and serving as the peak of the Tianshan Mountains. At this moment, she is clad in silver and shining brightly under the sunlight, appearing even more enchanting and mysterious compared to the surrounding dark mountains. Staring at her intently, she seems to be wearing a halo atop her head, smiling and slowly walking towards you. Nearby is a blue lake, as crystal clear as a sapphire, without a trace of impurity. Describing her as flawless jade is by no means an exaggeration. She is a quake lake formed by the melting snow from Mount Bogda converging here. The purity of the snowwater has imparted her with a pure and noble character. Captivating stories have endowed her with a mysterious charm. The sparkling waves on the lake are like a maiden’s song, reaching your eyes, ears, and heart, echoing from afar. A few boats are docked by the lakeside, waiting for tourists to embark on a journey to the deeper, mysterious parts of Tianchi Lake. Tianchi Lake seems like a mysterious maiden with a dazed gaze. At this moment, she quietly awaits an adventurous young man to uncover her mysterious veil.
The lake is surrounded by layered and towering mountains, with spruces and birches on the mountains painting a wonderful picture. The emerald spruces splash ink against the mountain slopes, painted in a freehand style, some dark and some light. The birches are now adorned with golden hues, weaving through the forest and framing the lake. If the spruces are likened to men, then the birches are their enchanting and beautiful brides. What a mesmerizing view! The place where we stand is a sunny hillside, conforming to the local plant growth pattern: not a single tall tree, just weeds interspersed with wildflowers blooming in yellow, occasionally with a couple of small shrubs exposing their branches beside brown rocks.
Looking east, there stands a unique intertwining tree beside the lake, a thousand-year-old elm. It is said that the Queen Mother of the West plucked a jade hairpin from her head to pin down the demons stirring up trouble in the lake and planted it here. Later, the hairpin turned into an elm tree, guarding Tianchi Lake year-round. Since the jade hairpin was stationed here, no demons have caused trouble again, so it is called the "Pillar Stabilizing the Sea". A stone-stepped corridor is built on the eastern cliff, extending all the way to several temples on the mountainside. Monks choose locations for meditation and self-cultivation, opting for secluded paradises away from the hustle and bustle. Looking west, there are a few white yurts standing on the flat ground, the mobile homes of Xinjiang’s nomads. Placing yurts that truly reflect ethnic characteristics here allows tourists to experience the warmth of having a home amidst the scenery!
Tourists walk along the wooden plank path on the north shore of Tianchi Lake, selecting angles for photos. They will find that no matter which angle they choose, the view of the snowy mountain and Tianchi Lake is a magnificent painting, earning sincere admiration.