The Land

Xinjiang features dramatic landforms and geographical structures. Here are remarkably varied landscapes rarely seen elsewhere. These include the boundless Taklimakan, the second largest desert in the world; the vast expanse of the General’s Gobi; the magnificent glaciers at Mt. Muztag; the grasslands of Narat and Kunes; Bosten Lake, the largest inland freshwater lake in China; and the Tarim River, the longest inland river in China.

In recent years Xinjiang has enjoyed a reputation as the final destination for holiday travelers, as it is “attractive in all seasons.”

Among its many natural attractions, perhaps the most famous is Kanas Lake, at the northernmost tip along the border of northwestern China. In the Mongolian language, Kanas means a “beautiful, mysterious lake between gorges.” Measuring 24 kilometers in length, the lake was formed by glacial movements. Traces of glaciers can still be seen along the lakesides. In hot summers, the melting snow descends in glacial-like drifts, painting the lake a milky white. As the sun sets, the lake is bathed in a beautiful dark blue.

Scenic paths through the spruce forest at the foot of Mt. Altay lead westward to Hotan, a town of military importance in southern Xinjiang. Here are the ancient ruins of the Kingdom of Khotan, centuries ago a power in the western regions. The Yurungkax River flows out of town, then descends from the snowy Kunlun Mountains. Thereabouts, amidst the fallen rocks, are concealed very valuable pieces of jade.