Tianchi

Tianchi, or Heavenly Lake is a crystal clear glacier lake in the eastern Tian Shan mountain range. Located some 100 km east of Urumqi, Tianchi sits at an altitude of 1900 meters at the northern slopes of the Bogda Shan.

A local legend has it that the Heavenly Empress will throw a beach party, each time the local peach tree bears fruit.

At this altitude that has not happened yet. Maybe when the promised global warming finally sets in?

The travel from Urumqi is in itself very worthwhile as it gives a nice impression of how the local Uyghurs and Kazakhs live. Instead of negotiating the windy road you can take the cable car at the parking lot, soar over green spruce trees, enjoy the views and arrive right at the lake front.

Here you can take a boat trip, ride a horse or visit the Xiwangmu temple. Do not forget to climb up to the Viewing Pavilion for great views of the lake and the snow-capped mountains.

We visited Heavenly Lake on a sunny day in October 2003.

the mountain flank is populated with large green spruce trees and music is blaring from the cabins

these boats provide cruises on the lake

the Viewing Pavilion sits on a hill

and then we have our first view of the lake and the surrounding mountains

we pass a small Kazakh settlement with yurts

cattle roam free in this part of the world

here you can have your picture taken, dressed-up in local clothing and seated on a white horse

Tianchi Lake is tucked away in the mountains, a few hours drive from Urumqi

at the parking lot we board the cable car and soon are airborne

tourist activities are located at the southern lake shore

now that is a colorful yurt indeed

sometimes you can lead a horse to water and actually make it drink