Sayram Lake or Sailimu Lake (In the Kazakh language, Sayram means “blessing.” It is also known as Santai Haizi.) is a rift-type freshwater alpine lake located in northwestern China, near the border with Kazakhstan. Administratively, it belongs to the Mongol autonomous prefecture of Bortala, part of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. It is the largest alpine lake (458 km²) and also the highest (2,070 m) in Xinjiang.
Sairam Nur Lake is located among the Tien Shan Mountains on the ancient Great Silk Road. Sairam Nur has the highest altitude / 2073 m / and the largest area among all the mountain lakes of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region / Northwest China /. The degree of transparency of water reaches 12 m. On a clear day, the sparkling blue of the lake surface against the backdrop of snow-white mountain peaks and a blue cloudless sky is truly mesmerizing and stunning.
The main population of treeless steppe shores of the lake are nomadic Ili Kazakhs and Mongols, the latter celebrate the Mongolian folk festival Nadom on the shores of the lake. Recently, the tourist infrastructure has been intensively developing on the lake, aimed also at visitors from the CIS countries.
Sailimu Lake is a famous tourist attraction in Xinjiang. In 2004, it was listed as a national key scenic spot. In 2005, Sailimu Lake was completed with a 79-kilometer-long road around the lake. In the same year, the management committee of the Sailimu Lake Scenic Area was also established for management . In 2007, it was approved as the National Wetland Park . In the same year, it began to hold a cycling race around the lake . In 2010, it became China’s national AAAA-level tourist attraction . According to the website of the scenic spot, the best local tourist time is from June to July.
Access : Coordinates: 44.6, 81.2 / The lake is located in the mountains of western Tien-Shan, near Yili Huocheng, 114 km southwest of Lake Ebinur./ On the southern shore of the lake runs the national road 312. / By bus :
The shuttle bus from Urumqi to Yining City will pass through Sailimu Lake. Th
/ Since 2018, Sailimu Lake has begun to charge extra fees for small vehicles to enter and leave the scenic spot. If you take a scenic bus in the scenic spot, you need to consider the lakeshore and waiting time of Saimu Lake for nearly 90 kilometers.
Highlights :
- At the eastern edge of the lake is the village of Santai . Highway No. 312 runs along the southern shore of the lake. The well-known Gotzi Gorge connects the lake basin with the Ili Valley.
- Sailimu Lake Scenic Area : The Sailimu Lake Scenic Area surrounds the Lake District. The exit of the “Sailim Lake” at the southeast side of the Lianhuo Expressway is the location of the tourist center and ticketing station of the scenic spot. Ticket stations are also located in the southwest and northeast of the lake. However, next to the Lianhuo Expressway on the south side of the lake, there is also a “Sailimu Lake Tunnel” exit. From here, you can drive to a non-scenery part of the lake.
Admission Fee: : Adult tickets are 70 yuan.The ticket sales time is 8:00-23:00 / Opening Hours: Whole day
Activities : Every June and July, the grasslands on the lakeside are full of wildflowers, which is a must-see. / sightseeing / photo opportunities / trekking / Tour Groups /
/ horseback riding services / picnic by the lake
Go next : Karamay Ghost City / Urumqi : the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region / Aletai a city in Xinjiang / Hami or Kumul, now Yizhou District, is a town on the Northern branch of the Silk Road in Xinjiang Province in China / Kazakhstan
