Visiting Sayram Lake in Yili, Xinjiang (Part 2) - An unplanned journey

Summary: Rented a car and checked in at various free spots like the Horgos Port and Guozigou Bridge Viewing Platform, with an entrance fee of 70 RMB for Sayram Lake. On the morning of May 16, 2024, around 9 am, I met a group of four at the hostel who were planning to rent a car to Sayram Lake. After some hesitation, I decided to join them. The car arrived a bit late, and we set off around 10:30 am. Our first stop was the Bayan Dali Baozi Shop, which was indeed good. Both the baked and steamed buns were tasty, filled with plenty of meat, and cost 3 RMB each. We packed extra to eat on the road, which was a good decision. We took turns driving, and I tried driving towards the Horgos Port. We checked in at the entrance of the port for a visit. Then we continued to the Guozigou Bridge Viewing Platform and Sayram Lake Resort, taking photos of the snow-capped mountains, the bridge, and the grasslands. The scenery was beautiful with bright sunshine, perfect for photography. The viewing platform had a parking lot, restrooms, and a convenience store. The scenery along the way was stunning. We arrived at the east gate of Sayram Lake at 3 pm, where the entrance fee was 70 RMB. Since I was driving, there was an additional charge of 73 RMB, totaling 143 RMB. At the east gate of Sayram Lake, there was a helicopter experience, which was quite expensive. We took photos by the lake and then headed to the south gate. We walked and stopped intermittently, feeling the cold water of Sayram Lake with our bare feet, taking photos. To the left were snow-capped mountains, to the right were grasslands, and in front of you was the clear, wave-filled alpine lake, known as the last tear of the Atlantic, the Sayram Blue. The south gate was 26 kilometers away, and the scenery along the way was ever-changing. The grass became greener, and the alpine grasslands unfolded before our eyes. Small yellow flowers became the focus of visitors' check-ins, set against the backdrop of the blue lake, white clouds, and the mountain ridges that appeared and disappeared in the mist. We drove through the south gate and around the lake to the west. The small yellow flowers and green grasslands seemed endless and free, like a secluded paradise, hiding its traces. There were few visitors, and we were pleasantly surprised to encounter a fox. Sayram Lake has no west gate, so you don't know where the west is. We continued around the lake to the north gate, where clouds obscured the sunset glow and fire clouds we had been hoping to see. It seemed as if the clouds turned into delicate rain, trying to drive us away. So, close to 10 pm, we passed the east gate again and left, heading back to Yining. It was around midnight. There are many attractions around Yining, and Sayram Lake alone has many surprises. I really wanted to stay here, to be as quiet as the snow-capped mountains, to stay quietly and listen to the waves, watch the prairie flowers, gaze at the stars at night, and watch the sunrise and sunset during the day, without a thought, just to stay quietly for a while. The hurried departure this time, I hope, will be exchanged for a leisurely encounter next time.