The cityscape of Yining City in Ili, Xinjiang in early winter

In early winter, in the early morning of Yining City, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, the Ili River runs through the city, with steam rising and mist floating. Buildings, bridges, trees, and riverbanks are all hidden in the mist, which is both real and illusory, presenting a unique scenery. During the night or early morning, due to the drop in surface temperature, the water temperature of the Ili River is relatively high. The temperature difference causes the air above the river surface to cool quickly, causing the evaporated water vapor to quickly condense into small droplets, forming a thick or light fog in the river valley.