Xinjiang Travelogue 2 - 2024-06-07

Our first stop in Xinjiang was Sayram Lake and the National Gate Scenic Area. Departing from the downtown area of Yining, we enjoyed the scenery along the way to Sayram Lake, passing through the Guozigou Bridge, seeing snow-capped mountains and grasslands, and for the first time truly felt what it means to be in the vastness of nature, how could our mood not be exhilarated? In the Sayram Lake Scenic Area, a small car took us around the lake (about 80 kilometers), for a 360° tour, where the lake water showed different colors from different angles, from green to sparkling to light blue and then to deep blue. The surrounding landscape was also diverse, with grasslands, snow mountains, hills, and horses and cattle either leisurely or cheerfully running. There were also the impressive sights of female park rangers riding by on horses. On the way back, we admired the Guozigou Bridge from a viewing point on the side. Afterwards, we arrived at the Horgos Port of Entry, where we looked at Kazakhstan from the border fence. This port is also the place where Zhang Qian of the Western Han dynasty passed through on his mission to the Western Regions. There is an exhibition hall in the scenic area that explains the local history, and there are models of the six generations of national gates, which are worth visiting.