Sailimu Lake Without Swans, Still a Dreamy Escape

#chinatravel Even without the swans, Sailimu Lake is stunningly serene. We stayed in Wenquan County instead of the more popular Kuqa or Jinghe—why? Two great reasons: 1) it’s just an hour from the quieter north entrance (less traffic), and 2) many hotels here offer ticket waivers—spend ¥180 on lodging and get one lake entrance ticket (worth ¥70) waived! Just top up ¥75 for the self-driving pass at the gate. We explored the lake counter-clockwise, stopping at scenic spots along the way. Pine Tree Hill was worth the hot hike—those spruce trees against the lake are soul-soothing. Sadly, we saw zero swans at Kele Yongzhu, but playful marmots made up for the disappointment. We exited via the south gate and continued on to view the majestic Guozigou Bridge. #travel #trip #china #staycation #thingstodo #myitinerary