Xinjiang's Sayram Lake is breathtakingly blue! Netizens ask: Is this really Earth?

Xinjiang Travel Guide: A Celebration of Stunning Scenery and Delicious Food 🎉 🌄 Must-Visit Attractions: Nature's Photoshop Masterpieces 1. Sayram Lake - The "Last Teardrop of the Atlantic" (actually Xinjiang's secretly stashed mineral water) Admission: Peak season ¥70/person, Off-season ¥35/person (Yes, you can save half by coming during off-season!) Known as the "Last Teardrop of the Atlantic," but I suspect the Atlantic might have emptied an entire bottle of eye drops here! The water is ridiculously blue with 12-meter visibility—even the fish at the bottom are mocking your swimming skills. The lake loop road, Moon Bay, and Commanding Point are all photography hotspots. Remember to wear sunglasses, or this blue light might blind your titanium-alloy dog eyes! Money-saving tip: Drive around the lake yourself to save on shuttle bus fees and stop for photos whenever you want (pretend you're a car commercial model). 2. Nalati Grassland - The "Green Velvet Carpet" of the Sky Meadow Admission: The Sky Meadow + River Valley Grassland loop combo ticket is the best value This isn't an ordinary grassland—it's a "sky" grassland! Meaning you have to climb up first before you can roll around on it. June to September is the best season, when wildflowers bloom more vibrantly than your selfie filters. Consider staying overnight—the morning mist will make you wonder if you've wandered onto the set of "The Lord of the Rings." Accommodation money-saver: Accommodations inside the scenic area are expensive enough to make you want to sleep in a yurt. Choose affordable guesthouses in Nalati Town instead—the money you save is enough for ten skewers of red willow kebabs! 3. Kanas Lake - The Lake That Transforms Like a Chameleon Admission: From ¥100 This lake is definitely high-maintenance, changing "outfits" (colors) several times a day—deep blue, emerald green, milky white... more diverse than your wardrobe! Legend says there's a lake monster, but I suspect it's just a marketing ploy by the local tourism bureau. The essential hiking route from Moon Bay to Dragon Bay will leave you with 100 photos and 2 pounds lighter! Money-saving strategy: Choose two out of three among Kanas, Hemu, and Baihaba—otherwise, you'll develop "log cabin aesthetic fatigue." 4. Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) - The Queen Mother's Foot Basin Admission: ¥105 + ¥75 for shuttle bus Legend has it this was the Queen Mother of the West's bathing... I mean, foot basin. The water is so clear you can see your soul (if you still have one). The Mayashan cable car offers the perfect vantage point for overlooking the lake, but take motion sickness pills first—the scenic area bus takes curves more twisted than your love life! Money-saving secret: Purchase tickets online in advance to save time and enjoy discounts. 5. Five-Colored Beach - God's Spilled Paint Palette Admission: Free! Free! Free! (Important things must be said three times) The rocks here display colors as vibrant as a spilled paint box, especially stunning at dusk. Wear white clothes for photos to become the brightest element in this "oil painting"! Remember to bring a hat—the wind here is strong enough to blow your newly transplanted hairline back to its original position. 🍢 Must-Try Foods: A Calorie Carnival 1. Red Willow Kebabs - When the Skewer Smells Better Than the Meat A traditional dish from Awati County in southern Xinjiang, meat is skewered on red willow branches and grilled, with the branch's aroma permeating the meat, making it so delicious you'll want to gnaw on the skewer too. Regular kebabs are called "lamb skewers," but these deserve the title "kebab grandfathers"! Money-saving tip: Street stalls are half the price of restaurants and have more authentic atmosphere (literally). 2. Baked Buns - Explosive Surprises Square buns baked in a nang pit, with a crust that crunches loudly and juices that spray your face when you bite in (don't ask how I know). The combination of diced lamb, lamb tail fat, and onions inside is so aromatic you'll want to marry the bun! Money-saving tip: Buy during breakfast hours when many shops offer discounts. 3. Big Plate Chicken - Large Enough to Swim In The portion size of this dish is enough to make southerners question their life choices. Chicken, potatoes, and peppers party on a plate, and you must add belt noodles to swim in the sauce. Shawan, Chaiwobao, and Ili form a "triumvirate" of big plate chicken styles—try them all and join the century-old debate about which is best! Money-saving hack: One portion is enough for 3-4 people, otherwise you might need to call an ambulance from overeating. 4. Polo (Hand-Grabbed Rice) - The Ultimate Nourishing Meal Called "Polo" in Uyghur, made with rice, lamb, carrots, and onions, it's known as the "ultimate nourishing meal." You don't actually grab it with your hands anymore (for hygiene reasons), but the name remains—a "fossil-grade internet celebrity" of the culinary world. Money-saving approach: Street-side shops are cheaper than scenic area restaurants and more authentic. 5. Laghman - Xinjiang's "Italian Pasta" The common name for Xinjiang mixed noodles, with noodles so chewy they could be used as jump ropes. The toppings are so abundant you'll wonder if they emptied the entire market into your bowl, and the best part is you can get free noodle refills (Restaurant owner: "This person has already had five refills..."). Money-saving technique: One portion at lunch can substitute for two meals—just have a nang for dinner. 🏨 Accommodation Strategy: Budget Traveler's Wisdom 1. Hostels/Family Inns Xinjiang's hostels are not only affordable (¥50-100/night) but also great places to meet fellow travelers. You might find your future travel companion here, or at least get some free travel tips. Humorous reminder: If you choose a dorm room, prepare earplugs because you might encounter a "symphony orchestra" (snoring roommates). 2. Travel During Off-Season Travel in June or September, when accommodation prices are only 1/3 of July-August rates! Rooms that cost ¥600 can be had for ¥200, and the money saved can buy you a carload of nang. Funny fact: It might snow in Bayinbulak in July, so bring a jacket unless you want to become an "ice sculpture" for your social media posts! 3. Stay Outside Scenic Areas For popular attractions like Kanas and Nalati, staying in town is much cheaper than inside the scenic area. A 20-minute drive can save you half the accommodation cost. Practical advice: Book in advance on apps to avoid being "fleeced" by last-minute price hikes. 💰 Ultimate Money-Saving Secrets 1. Transportation: Overnight trains save on both accommodation and travel time, killing two birds with one stone (though you might sleep like a sack of potatoes). 2. Food: Buy nang and fruit from supermarkets as travel snacks. Xinjiang's nang is hard enough to serve as a self-defense weapon and one can last three days! 3. Tickets: Student and senior ID cards get discounts—time to look younger! (Just kidding, please use IDs legally). 4. Group travel: Find fellow travelers to share cars and rooms—not only saves money but also creates "through thick and thin" revolutionary friendships. 5. Avoid Golden Weeks: Everything is expensive during holidays, and even toilets have lines (don't ask how I know). 🚗 Suggested Itinerary: 7-Day Classic Budget Route Day 1: Urumqi → Tianshan Tianchi (stay in Fukang) Day 2: Fukang → Sayram Lake (stay in Mongolian yurts by the lake) Day 3: Sayram Lake → Yining → Nalati (stay in Nalati Town) Day 4: Nalati Grassland day tour Day 5: Nalati → Bayinbulak (watch sunset at the Nine Curves and Eighteen Bends) Day 6: Bayinbulak → Urumqi (overnight train) Day 7: Shop at Urumqi Grand Bazaar + eat your way through the food street Humorous reminder: This itinerary will exhaust you to the point of questioning your life choices, but the beautiful scenery will make you forget your fatigue (or at least pretend to forget when posting on social media)! 📸 Photo Posing Guide 1. Pretend to contemplate life at Sayram Lake (while actually thinking about dinner) 2. Jump on Nalati Grassland (watch out for sheep droppings) 3. Capture your silhouette against the sunset at Five-Colored Beach (hold your wig down in the strong wind) 4. "Accidentally" encounter the lake monster at Kanas Lake (achievable with photo editing software) 5. Hold red willow kebabs with a "life complete" expression ❗ Final Important Reminders 1. Xinjiang is too vast to see in one trip—don't try, or you'll be too exhausted to even bite into a nang 2. Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen! The UV rays here are strong enough to give you a free "tan" 3. Bring cash, as some remote areas have signals so weak they'll make you nostalgic for the pager era 4. Respect local customs, like not asking for pork in halal restaurants (isn't that common sense?)