White Birch Forest in Habahe County, Altay, Xinjiang

In late February, the White Birch Forest in Habahe County, Altay, Xinjiang, is shrouded in morning mist. The birches, covered in ice crystals, stand tall on the snowy plains. Their silver-gray branches stretch out against the clear sky like frozen strings of a harp, weaving an elegant winter tapestry with the snow-covered riverbanks. Suddenly, the Haba River breaks free from its icy shackles, carrying melting snow as it flows through the forest. The shimmering waves crash against the floating ice, sending up water droplets that freeze into tiny rainbows in mid-air. This melody from the depths of the snow-capped mountains, with the crisp sound of cracking ice and the gentle murmur of flowing water, composes a prelude to spring in the tranquil birch forest.