We have arrived at Lake Sayram 赛里木湖 which is the largest and highest alpine lake in Xinjiang. Located in the northern Tianshan Mountains 天山 at Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture less than 50km from the border with Kazakhstan.
Lake Sayram stretches over 458sq km and lies at the altitude of 2070m above sea level and is largely filled by glacial meltwater, residual precipitation from the Eurasian westerlies and runoffs from the surrounding mountain chains and groundwater springs and seepage.
It was designated a AAAA National Scenic Area in 2010 and has since been upgraded to an AAAAA National Scenic Area since April 2021.
Much has been done to beautify and upgrade the facilities for the convenience and enjoyment of local visitors and tourists from abroad. The latest Visitor Centre which opened in January 2025 features a 15000 sq m Main building and 50000sq m of parking. The amenities include retail outlets, dining and transportation.
Wildflowers grow profusely carpeting the ground in a burst of vibrant hues and the bright orange poppies stands out like a real champion.
The lake covers a large area and we made several stops within the park to soak in the vista and vibes. It is summer now and the temperature ranges from 15 to 25 degrees Celcius. It does get a little hot and it would be wise to use lots of sunblock and cover up as much as possible as the UV rays are strong. Caps, hats, UV protection clothing and brollies are the order of the day.
Negotiating steps and stairways is the norm here so wear a sturdy pair of walking shoes.I was blown away by this pretty alpine meadow covered in a sea of pretty yellow flowers. Lake Sayram is home to 58 families, 288 genera and 639 species of seed plants.
This is the pier where you can take pleasure cruises around Lake Sayram. I was however, more taken in with the profusion of wildflowers and the burst of colour before me.
Every March to April, the swans migrate from the south here. They raise their chicks in the wetlands from September to October and take their young southward.
Here at Kele Yongzhu, the swans are frolicking in the crystal clear fresh water of Lake Sayram.
Travelling around Lake Sayram by car would be approximately a 90km loop taking 2 to 2.5hrs of non stop driving. There are many scenic stops along the way where a pit-stop is almost a must! An entry ticket at the Main/East Gate allows you to stay in the Park area for 48hours and note that the South Gate is only for exiting going towards Yining and Guozigou Bridge.
A common sight… ladies all dolled up taking their selfies at the flower adorned alpine meadows.
Even this pair of swans concede that Lake Sayram is such a beautiful and peaceful abode that they would not want to be anywhere else.
