Tianchi Lake is an alpine lake in Xinjiang, northwest China. It means Heavenly Lake and can refer to several lakes in mainland China and Taiwan. This Tianchi lies about 30 km south of Fukang and 45km east of Ürümqi. It is an alpine drift lake shaped in the Quaternary Glacier period. The lake is classified as the highest-level scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.
Tianchi Lake is a crescent-shaped lake whose water area deserves its name, Pearl of Heavenly Mountain, with melted snow as the source. It enjoys crystal water. Besides the lake, one of the most visited spots in the Tianchi Scenic Zone is Mount Bogda, whose spectacular natural features include glaciers and canyons, winding brooks and falls, and dense forests and meadows.
In previous centuries, the lake was known as Yaochi. The Tianchi Lake covering area is 4.9 square kilometers. The surface of the lake itself is at an altitude of about 2,000 meters or about 6,600 feet, and it is about 100 meters at the deepest point. In summer, the lake is an ideal place to see changing silvery mountains soaring into the blue sky. The lake’s slopes are highlighted with verdant pasture and flamboyant wildflowers; fishing at dusk has it’s own special charm.
A decade ago, the lake area was increased from 158 km2 to 548 km2 to increase tourism. The lake is accessible by Provincial Highway 111 from Fukang. From mid-June till September, the lake has a high season and there will be a sea of local and global people. There will be long lines everywhere, particularly for transports to the summit.
Numerous untamed and wooded valleys that descend to the lake from nearby peaks up to a height of around 2,400 meters encircle Heavenly Lake. There is a hiking trail that goes around it. Moreover, there’s an obvious difference in temperature during the day and at night in Xinjiang, and the temperature in some scenic spots may be lower due to the high elevation or weather change.
Thus, it is still essential to take along a coat or woolen sweater to keep warm in the summer. In 1982, Heavenly Lake and Heavenly Mountain Scenic Area became one of the first national-level scenic spots and in 1990, it was added to the list of Bogda Nature Preserves of Man and the Biosphere by UNESCO.
There are many interesting spots around Tianchi Lake. If you are a history lover, don’t forget to explore more than ten ancient temples nearby. Moreover, many valuable herb medicines are grown on Mt. Heavenly. The mountain is also called the treasure bowl because more than 20 kinds of animals, 40 different kinds of birds and over 100 kinds of insects can be found here.
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Source: Wikipedia! China Today
