Situated in the Heavenly Mountain range (Tianshan),
115 km northeast of Urumqi, Heaven's Lake (Tianchi)
is arguably one of the nicest spots in all of China.
The huge clear water lake, the pine trees covering
the hillsides and the snow capped mountains in the
background make this a spectacular sight- reminiscent
of Switzerland or the Rocky mountains but somehow
with more vibrancy and color.
The Indian writer Vikram Seth, who
studied at Nanjing University for two years, took
the lake as inspiration for the title of his account
of his travels through Xinjiang and Tibet "From
Heaven Lake". Indeed, this is a stimulating spot.
This huge lake (3km long and 1km wide) sits half way
(560 ft) up the mountain range and offers some excellent
walking and horseriding with breathtaking views. This
spot is particularly refreshing for those arriving
in Urumuqi from the barren deserts elsewhere in Xinjiang
or from one of China's numerous granite cities.
Buddhists visit this spot to praise
the God of Mercy, Kazakh families set up camp here
between May and September, and tourists visit the
area in their hundreds. All this, surprisingly enough,
does not spoil the area. One of the most pleasant
aspects about exploring here is just being able to
wander the lake and mountains at your own pace. This
is a vast area and, despite the crowds, it is easy
to lose yourself and there are no restrictions about
where you can go.
The Kazakhs bring their entire house,
home and family with them when they set up base here.
There are hundreds of Yurts built around the shores
and slopes, surrounded by goats, sheep and horses.
Kashmere goats and sheep are the main source of income
for these people followed by tourism. Many will offer
horse back tours of the hillside and accommodation
in their homes for a small fee (Approximately RMB30
including food). This is a great experience, and a
fun way to get a glimpse of the lifestyle of these
people. Yurts are made from hide or canvas stretched
over a wooden frame. The interiors are wonderfully
colorful, with handmade rugs and tapestries adorning
the walls.
You MUST spend at least a day here,
and staying the night in the Yurts or at the more
upmarket Shui Xin Hotel is good fun. The evening and
early morning here are comparitively peaceful. There
are numerous small restaurants along the western shore
serving good simple dishes for about RMB20-30.
A gargantuan glacier, 100 meters
thick and 500 meters wide lies at the peaks of the
Tianshan mountain range, surrounded by ice caves and
valleys. This is the source of the Urumqi River, and
although it is too COLD up here for many travellers,
this area is one of the most important in the world
in terms of research and development.
How to get there: Buses leave from
the north end of Renmin Park in Urumqi between 9am
and 9.30am every day and return from the lake between
4pm and 4.30pm. The trip takes between 90 minutes
and 4 hours, depending on the type of transport you
take. Minibuses are the most efficient. There are
also private buses running from the Hongshan Hotel.
It takes you about 2 hours to get there from Renmin
Park and Hongshan Hotel, or one and half an hour's
journey through the Urumuqi Highway, and going up
the mountain by ride, with 20 Yuan per hour fee.
Ticket Price: RMB60 (During the midseason
Apr.- Nov.); RMB25 (During the low season), and RMB15
for cable car; RMB20 for sailer.
Accomodation: There are many hotels,
rest hourses and vacation village surrounding the
Heaven's Lake, of which the price includes from several
decades Yuan to 200 Yuan.
Climate: It can get very cold up
here, so make sure you take enough warm clothing,
especially if you plan to stay the night.
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