Tianchi lake in Tians han mountains

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Tianchi Lake is located in the mountainside of Bogda Peak within the territory of Fukang City in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, which is 110km east of Urumqi Cit The lake is half-moon-shaped at an altitude of 1, 980m; it is 3, 400m long and about 1,500m wide at the widest part, with an area of 4.9km”; the average depth of the lake is 40m, and the deepest point is about 105m, and the lake is a natural alpine glacial moraine lake.

The Tianchi Lake Scenic Spot, with Tianchi Lake as the center, contains 4 separate vertical natural mountain landscape belts (in accordance with the different altitudes, they are Glacier Snow Belt, Alpine and subalpine belt, Mountain Coniferous Forest belt, and Low Mountain Belt) above and below the lake, with a total area of 380, 69 km”. This scenic spot was identified as one of the first batch of national key scenic spots in 1982, and ranked as the national aaaaa scenic spot by the National Tourism Administration in 2000: on June 6.2013. it was officiallylisted among the national geological parks after the inspection and acceptance of ministry of land and resources of PRC.

Tianchi Lake was called Jade Pool in the past; according to legends, King Mu of Zhou had given a banquet here for entertaining the Queen Mother of the West when he were travelling to the west. In the forty-eighth year of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty, Mingliang, the General of Xinjiang, praised the lake as”Mirror of Heaven”, and”Divine Pond n his Tablet Inscription of Excavating Water Channel for the Tianchi Lake, hence it was named as Tianchi lake.

The lake water of Tianchi is quite clear, glittering like a jade, so it has gained the highreputation of”Pearl of the Tianshan”. It is surrounded by mountains, and the lush grass and the blooming wild flowers. The towering spruces and whirl pines grow everywhere, sheltering the sky. When the bright moon rises, the waves are sparkling with several fish boats floating on, making people enchanted together with the indistinct pastoral songs in a distance. Looking around, there is green grass that looks like a green carpet and sheep flocks wandering; there are also lofty and steep snow-capped peaks cladding in silvery white, forming a delightful contrast with the natural beauty of the lake Tianchi lake contains three water areas in addition to the main lake. there are also two sister water areas in the east and west which are called the Two little Tianchi in the east and west”, and they are like mother and daughters responding to the main tianchi There are many spruce forests on the mountainside of the mountains around Tianchi Lake. The spruce trees are straight and neat like pagodas, and they are very impressive being the famous scenic trees. The dark green spruce forest is a major feature of the alpine scenic spot. The clear lakes, snowy peaks and verdant picea koraiensis forest, constitute the charming scene of the Tianchi lake.

It is the magnificent bogda peak in the southeast of tianchi lake The glacier and snow on the peak shine the silver light, which forms a delightful contrast with the green water of Tianchi Lake, constituting the natural landscape of the graceful and the attractive alpine lake.

Lamp pole mountain about 3km long is located three kilometers west of the Tianchi Lake, at an altitude of 2, 718m. The Very High Lord Temple and Dongyue Temple are built onthe mountains. In ancient times, there was a pine wood pole on the top of the mountain setby the Taoists, hanging with a flying lantern that never extinguished. People in Urumqi at that time believed that the flying lantern was the oracle, and as long as there was the eternal light, there would be peace and tranquility, so such a lantern was also called”peace lantern”Overlooking to the west from the mountain, one can hold a panoramic view of Urumqi.

Horse Teeth mountain about 5km long is located two kilometers southwest of the Tianchi Lake, at an altitude of 3, 056m. There are many towering bluffs and giant rocks on the top, shaping a row of huge horse teeth, hence the name Horse Teeth Mountain was given. The stone forest of this mountain is a fantastic scene in Tianchi scenic spot, andthose huge stones are grotesque in shape under the erosion of wind; they are in different shapes, some like the large and fierce-looking mouths of beasts with huge teeth, and others scroll by layers like the sea waves. There is one looking like an ancient shepherd wearing a felt cap in serene. When entering this unique landscape, you will be unable to restrain the random thoughts. In addition, the top is also an excellent place for viewing thescenes: Facing to the north, there is the splendid Tianchi Lake; to the bogda Mountain in the east, one can have a panoramic view of the three peaks among the snow sea; and facing to west, one can see clearly the country estates in Urumqi.

The scenes of Tianchi lake are all fantastic at all seasons throughout ages. lots of poets and literary men have praised it greatly in their poems and essays. The main historical interests of Tianchi Lake are: Iron Tile Temple. Dharma Convent. Immortal Cave Mountain God Temple, and Queen Mother Temple, and so on. The Eight Sceneries are: The Rocky Gates in a Line, Dragon Pool and Bright Moon, Three Stones of supporting the Sky, The Rod of Pacifying the Sea, Viewing Moon on South Mountain, Viewing Snow on West Mountain, Sea Peak in Dawn, and Suspending spring and plunging waterfall.