It is already snowing in Europe. It makes us think that one of China’s lesser-known provinces, Xinjiang, is particularly beautiful to explore when a heavy blanket of snow covers it. It’s a bit surreal for us to understand that the Chinese go on vacation to Xinjiang, so negative also about this province is what we hear here. And yes, they visit fabulous landscapes, they go horseback riding and ski there! And there is also the Altay mountains !
Recently, Xinjiang has experienced several heavy snowfalls. The province with the largest land area in China also entered a year of “blockbuster” winter season.
But what is it that excites the Chinese so much in this huge province?
Xinjiang is a region with many lakes. The beautiful lake scenery is also yearned by more and more people. But many of us have never seen them look like in winter
The highest Lake in Xinjiang
Sailimu Lake is the largest mountain lake and the highest with 2000 meters. It’s also the last place that the warm and humid Atlantic air will take care of. Known as “the last tear of the Atlantic » the blue lake is surrounded by rolling snow-capped mountains like a sapphire inlaid at the foot of a snow-capped mountain.
Last month a peculiar spectacle of water mist and tide appeared in Sailimu Lake, then clouds “rolling and flowing” on the lake like in a fairyland.
Kanas Lake
Where every frame can be used as a screensaver… Famous in the world for its beautiful landscape, the Kanas forests in autumn are all dyed and full of gold. But in winter, it becomes pure, clear and moving like a splash ink landscape painting. Quiet and pure. Every angle makes people thrilling !
The Altay Mountains ( nominated heritage of UNESCO)
The Altay Mountains extend across China, Kazakstan, Mongolia and Russia. The whole length is 1650 km and the width is about 130-200 km. The altitude of the highest Youyi Peak is 4,374 m and it is located at the boundary of China, Russia and Mongolia.
The China Altay is the south slope of the middle segment which extends about 500 km and takes up one third of the total length of the Altay Mountains.
Two great rivers originate in the China Altay.
One of them is the Ergis River and it is the headstream of the international Erbi River which flows into the Arctic Ocean. The second one is the Ulungur River which is the second longest land-locked river of Xinjiang, and it is the main run-off of the second largest land-locked lake – Ulungur Lake of Xinjiang.
It is also worth mentioning that Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics torch relay in the short film “The Covenant of Ice and Snow” was shot in Altay.
“Heavenly Horse Riding Snow” in Hemu village
Hemu Village is known as “China’s Most Beautiful Village ». Located within the Kanas Lake scenic area in northwestern China’s Xinjiang, Hemu is primitive yet picturesque village. Climb to the observation deck on Hemu Village, looking far to the small wooden houses curled smoke. There are towering snow peaks and vast forests. And the beauty of Hemu Village lies in all kinds of funny activities : snow horse racing, hunting, sheep catching… The cart pulls the plow, the wild snow slides, the water splashes into ice… Childlike games make Hemu’s winter extraordinarily fulfilling.
