[2025 Barkol Attraction] Travel Guide for Barkol Lake (Updated Mar)

| Barkol, the backyard garden of Hami, Xinjiang. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, with meandering valleys across vast grasslands, horses, cattle, and sheep graze freely everywhere. You can even see local herdsmen taming and racing horses. 📷【Main Attractions】 1⃣ Tianshan Temple (Ticket 💰20 yuan) It takes about 1 hour to drive from downtown Hami to Tianshan Temple. The Tianshan Temple, White Stone, and Mingsha Mountain scenic spots along the way all require tickets (we didn't enter), but stopping for photos along the way is enough. 2⃣ Barkol Grassland (Free 💰) Located in Barkol County, it is one of the largest grasslands in Xinjiang. By the end of September, there are few cattle and sheep on the grassland, but you can see the grassland, Gobi, and snow-capped mountains, creating a beautiful layered landscape. 3⃣ Barkol Ancient City (Free 💰) We first visited Barkol Food Street, where we tried hand-pulled lamb rice and baked buns (the taste was average). Afterward, we explored the Barkol Ancient City Cultural Park, which houses the Qing Dynasty Granary, the Barkol County Museum, Songfeng Academy, and other attractions. The attractions are centrally located, so it's worth a visit if you have enough time. (PS: If you're not interested in history, you can go directly to Barkol Lake.) 4⃣ Barkol Lake (Free 💰) One of the four largest salt lakes in China (Chaka Salt Lake, Qarhan Salt Lake, Yuncheng Salt Lake, and Barkol Lake), with an altitude of 1585 meters. It's a forgotten scenic spot, but it's incredibly atmospheric, super photogenic, and very healing. Highly recommended! PS: From the entrance of the scenic area, there is a long boardwalk stretching towards the lake, requiring a walk. The scenery along the way is stunning. According to our driver later, horseback riding at Barkol Lake is very affordable, and the milk lumps sold there are both authentic and cheap. However, we were too captivated by the beautiful scenery at the time and didn't go horseback riding or buy any snacks (we were also a bit resistant to the commercialization of the scenic area), which is a slight regret. 5⃣ Gaojia Lake Wetland Park (Free 💰) A natural ecological park and a well-known spot in Xinjiang for stargazing and sunrise viewing. With an average altitude of 1600m, it's a huge natural oxygen bar. We caught a beautiful sunset (it's a slight regret that we didn't stay here, as I feel the sunrise and starry sky must be incredibly beautiful too).

Hami exploration tour🛤️ In northern Xinjiang, there is a small county that will steal your heart - Barkol. Located at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, it is like a forgotten snow-covered "utopia." Barkol is almost deserted in winter, but it has a unique charm. Let's explore this mysterious and beautiful little county together! ❤️How to get to Barkol🚗 After arriving in Hami, Xinjiang, you can rent a car or take public transportation to Barkol. Follow National Highway 575 and pass through the Songshutang Toll Station to see the spectacular scenery of the Tianshan Mountains. Then, continue along National Highway 335 to reach your destination. Note that the mountain roads are winding, so drive carefully⚠️. ❤️Barkol travel tips 1. Attractions: Every corner here is a scenic spot, so you don't need to plan your itinerary. Just go with the flow. Be sure to check out Barkol Lake, Barkol Grassland (one of the three major grasslands in Xinjiang), Xihegou, and Guai Shi Mountain. The Hami Barkol Ice and Snow Amusement Park is also a must-visit, and the skiing activities are highly recommended. 2. Snow gear: Wear waterproof and non-slip shoes and jackets to ensure your safety and comfort. Ski goggles and photography equipment are recommended to make your ice and snow experience even better. 3. Notes: As the roads are snowy in winter, it is recommended to rent a four-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires. Also, avoid driving at night as the roads are difficult to navigate. 🍛Food recommendations In Barkol County, you can enjoy the slow-paced life. The food here is diverse, especially the lamb dishes. If you like beef and lamb, this is the place for you. However, please note that personal tastes vary, so choose food according to your preferences. Travel tips 1. Wear waterproof pants👖 when skiing⛷️ to avoid getting wet if you fall. Ski goggles are also essential to make your skiing experience even better. 2. In addition to skiing, you can enjoy the beautiful lake view and distant snow-capped mountains at Barkol Lake. The scenery here is perfect for taking photos. 3. The locals are very friendly, so you can interact with them and experience the unique charm of the area. ❤️Itinerary suggestions Day 1: Hami (visit attractions and try local food) Day 2: Barkol (visit natural attractions and ice and snow activities) Day 3: Enjoy the slow-paced life in Barkol County (try local food and take photos) ❤️Summary Barkol is a mysterious and beautiful little county with unique natural scenery and rich cultural heritage. Here, you can enjoy the fun of ice and snow and experience the warmth and friendliness of the locals. If you are looking for a quiet and beautiful place to spend your vacation, Barkol is a great choice! This is a detailed travel guide to Barkol, including recommended attractions and food. I hope it helps! Have a wonderful vacation in Barkol❤️

| A low-key and beautiful place that is often overlooked. Hami Barkol | A low-key and beautiful place that is often overlooked👉 👉Hami Barkol in Xinjiang is a low-key and beautiful tourist destination 👉It is also a tourist destination that is easily overlooked . ✅【Barkol Lake】The lake is slightly oval-shaped, surrounded by rolling mountains, lush grass, and beautiful water. The east lake is rippling with blue waves, while the west lake is silver-white. There are large marsh wetlands to the east of the lake, and vast pastures around the lake. Kazakh herders often hold grand "Aken singing and dancing parties" on the lakeside grassland. . ✅【Barkol Grassland】The second largest grassland in Xinjiang, it is home to eight scenic spots and historical sites, including "Tianshan Snow," "Hanhai Ao City," "Mirror Spring Moon," and "Yuetai Liusheng." However, unlike the endless grasslands of Inner Mongolia, where you can see the horizon where the grass meets the sky, Barkol is a basin. Looking far into the distance, the mountains are connected to the blue sky. . ✅【Barkol Ancient City】A major town on the northern new route of the Silk Road, it is also the first place where Central Plains culture landed in Xinjiang. This ancient city has a profound historical and cultural heritage. . ✅【Strange Stone Mountain】The "South Mountain Gate" at the top of the mountain is a must-see attraction, as well as the mysterious "Mushroom Stone," both of which are masterpieces of nature. . ✅【Mingsha Mountain】Listen to the sound of sand being trampled on the sand mountain, which sounds like singing, and enjoy a unique experience. . ✅【Barkol Ancient Houses】Yushu Lane Wang Family Courtyard is a representative of them, with strong local characteristics and historical value. . ✅【Kazakh Ethnic Style Park】The park is shaded by green trees, fragrant flowers, and green grass, with a quiet environment. Its unique architecture highlights the characteristics of pastoral culture, forming a unique landscape. . ✅【Silk Road Beacon】Yushu Lane Wang Family Courtyard is a representative of them, with strong local characteristics and historical value. . ⚠️In addition, the surrounding attractions of Barkol are also not to be missed, such as Tianshan Tianchi and Kanas Lake. Whether you like history and culture or natural scenery, you can find what you want in Barkol! . ✨March to May is really a good time to visit East Xinjiang, with comfortable weather and beautiful scenery! You can see the alpine pine forests and river valley grasslands in North Xinjiang, as well as the deserts, Yadan, and ancient cities in South Xinjiang!

Close contact with snow-capped mountains There are also ancient city walls This was once the first command center for Zuo Gong to recover Xinjiang. The most important thing is that there are few people and beautiful scenery . 📍Location: Barkol County, Xinjiang Transportation: Self-driving Rent a tank 300 in Hami . ✅[Barkol Grassland] The second largest grassland in Xinjiang, there are eight scenic spots and historical sites such as "Tianshan Songxue", "Hanhai Ao City", "Jingquan Suyue", "Yuetai Liusheng"; Barkol is a basin, looking far away, the continuous mountain peaks are connected to the blue sky ✅[Barkol Ancient City] Built in the Qing Dynasty, it is very magnificent. You can overlook the Barkol city from the city wall. The best repair is the Victory Gate, but the most light gate is more photographed, ✅[Qing Dynasty Granary] More than 200 years of history is also recommended, once one of the grain national warehouses ✅[Dizang Temple] It was built in the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. It is a group of buildings combining Buddhism and Taoism. There are 11 ancient buildings. ✅[Kazakh National Customs Park] The park is shaded by green trees, fragrant flowers and grass, and the environment is elegant. Its architecture is unique, highlighting the characteristics of pastoral culture, forming a unique landscape ✅[Barkol Lake] The lake is slightly elliptical, surrounded by undulating mountains, rich in water and grass, the east lake is rippling, and the west lake is silvery white; there are large swamps and wetlands in the east of the lake, and the lake is surrounded by vast pastures, Kazakh herdsmen often hold grand "Aken Singing Meeting" on the lakeside grassland ✅[Gaojia Lake] It is said to be one of the most intact wetland ecosystems in the eastern Tianshan region. There are grasslands, snow-capped mountains and lakes with distinct layers. It is not a fairyland, but it is better than a fairyland ✅[Mingsha Mountain] 💰20 Listen to the sound of the sand being trampled on the sand mountain like singing, it is quite interesting ✅[Weird Stone Mountain] 💰10 The "Nanshan Gate" on the top of the mountain is a must-see attraction, and there is also the mysterious "Mushroom Stone", which are all the magic of nature

Hidden in the vast embrace of Xinjiang lies a little-known gem—Lake Barkol💧. Imagine, this is not just any ordinary lake; it's more like a secret café meticulously arranged by nature, inviting you for a rendezvous between your soul and the beautiful scenery. Here, there's no need to queue, no noise, just you, the water, and boundless tranquility. Reeds sway gently on the side, whispering pastoral greetings🌾, while the fiery red sunset, like a warm painter, gently sketches a tender smile on your cheeks🌞. 🕒Secret Business Hours: 8:30 to 18:00, free admission🎉 🚗Self-driving Guide: Drive towards Lake Barkol, where the scenery along the way is the best navigation🧭 🌟Unique Highlights: A swath of sky so intoxicatingly blue, a canvas of gold stretching to the horizon, and the mysteriously named mirabilite mines and salt fields, make up the most unique landscape here. A gentle breeze, like nature's tenderest embrace, tells you that the blue here is unique to Xinjiang, a treasure only found in this world💎. 📸You in the Lens: Dress in the outfit that resonates most with nature, deep blue, passionate orange, pure white, let the colors dance in front of the camera, merging with the vastness of Lake Barkol. 👉Attention, friends from the south! Xinjiang's dryness might make every cell in your body cry out for moisture💦. Remember to bring enough water, moisturizing products, and even eye drops, to keep yourself hydrated throughout the journey. For those driving, brew a pot of hot tea in a thermos🍵, as Xinjiang's weather is as changeable as a child's face; a hot drink warms your heart and your journey. 🚧Parking Tip: With beautiful scenery ahead, safety comes first! Find a suitable place to park, don't let a beautiful moment turn into a dangerous memory. 🍖Food Guide: Xinjiang's beef and mutton feast is the pride of the livestock industry🐮. Lamb skewers are a must, but don't forget, yogurt and seasonal fruits are your best companions, making your taste buds' journey even smoother🍊🍉. Waste sorting is everyone's responsibility. Please take your beautiful memories with you and leave the trash in the bins, so that our footprints remain only in our hearts, not on the ground🌍.

Barkol Lake is a lesser-known attraction located in Hami, Xinjiang🏞. Few people🙍🏻‍♀, exquisite. If I were to describe it in words, I think Barkol Lake💧 is like a natural coffee shop☕. Sitting in it, sipping a cup of coffee☕, looking at the lake not far away, the waves are sparkling; the reeds🌾 by the side are swaying, quiet and friendly; the fiery sunset🌞 afterglow, reflected on the face, enjoying the warmth. 🕙Opening hours: 8:30-18:00 🎫Ticket price: Free 🚗Transportation strategy: Barkol Lake Scenic Area🏞 💫Highlights: Here is the endless blue💙, here is the vast golden💛, here are many unspeakable vegetation🌿, and there are also beaches composed of mirabilite mines and salt fields. In the gentle breeze, feel the pure natural blue, this is the blue that can't be found in the many beautiful scenery in Xinjiang, the blue of all beings! 📷Photography suggestions Dress: Clothes👚 can be brighter, such as the blue🔵, orange🟠, white⚪ in nature, the big scene will blend well Equipment: The camera📷 can choose medium and long focus, I use 5D3+50mm, assisted by mobile phone and drone. For those who are not afraid of weight, you can bring a longer focal length (85mm or above), shooting birds and people is also good👍. ⚠Suggestions People from the south or other regions really feel very dry when they come to Xinjiang! From the mouth to the eyeballs are dry, it is recommended to bring enough drinking water and moisturizer on the road, and even some eye drops with moisturizing effects; Whether you are a health-conscious person or not, it is also recommended to bring a thermos cup on the self-driving road, add some hot tea water before leaving the restaurant, the temperature difference between day and night in Xinjiang is large, it is very comfortable to drink when you are thirsty or cold; When you encounter beautiful scenery and stop the car, pay attention to observe the road conditions and choose a safe place; There is a lot of beef and mutton🐮🐑 in Xinjiang, it is recommended that everyone eat more yogurt, fruit🥭🍎🍉, to help digestion; Protect the environment, take away the garbage, please everyone can love the earth together d🌍. There are often animals appearing on the road, please be careful to avoid.