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Sayram Lake
2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Sayram Lake

9
4.7/5
18.6k reviews
[Sayram Lake introduction] Sayram Lake is located at the southwestern end of Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, at the northern foot of the western Tianshan Mountains. This alpine lake and grassland national scenic area features natural landscapes including lakes, wetlands, grasslands, forests, and snow-capped mountains. Its main activities include sightseeing, eco-tourism, exploring the historical culture of the ancient Silk Road's northern route, and experiencing the ethnic customs of Mongolian and Kazakh minorities. Sayram Lake transforms with the seasons. In spring and summer, flower fields bloom in abundance, while golden fall brings a striking contrast between sky and water. Winter turns the lake into a dreamscape, with dancing ice crystals, pillars, curtains, and coral formations. Ice roses bloom freely, and mysterious blue ice eyes appear in ever-changing forms. Throughout the day, the lake presents shifting spectacles - morning glow, sunset hues, rain mist, sea of clouds, lightning, rainbows, and mist cascades. Sayram Lake covers a vast area, with a circular road around the lake spanning approx. 90 km. The lakeside scenery is exceptionally beautiful. Most visitors depart from Urumqi and arrive at the lake in the afternoon to enjoy the sunset before staying overnight. The next day, they can admire the sunrise and daytime lakeside views before heading to Huocheng, Ili, and other destinations. During the lake loop, you'll also encounter cultural relics such asGenghis Khan's Command Platform, Film and Television City, etc.These cultural structures stand quietly by the lakeside on the plateau, evoking a profound sense of melancholy and timeless grandeur. Quick guide to touring Sayram LakeBole · 78.5 km from downtown
Guozigou Valley
No. 9 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Ili

Guozigou Valley

5.2
4.8/5
201 reviews
Guozigou Valley is a canyon passage between the branches of the Tianshan Mountains. Its northern end is adjacent to Sayram Lake, and its southern opening descends directly into the Ili River Valley. It has been a natural gateway to and from Ili since ancient times and is also a vital passage on the New Northern Silk Road. It is known as the "Iron Pass" and, due to its outstanding scenery, is called the "Number One Scenic Spot in Ili." The valley stretches for approx. 30 km, with steep peaks on both sides, spruce and birch trees covering the mountains and plains, and streams flowing at the bottom of the valley. In late spring and early summer, wild fruit blossoms and mountain flowers bloom one after another, and in the fall, the entire valley is painted with colorful foliage. Guozigou Valley's name comes from the wild fruit trees covering the mountains; patches of wild apples and apricots still grow on the riverbanks and hillsides today. In the early Yuan Dynasty, Yelü Chucai passed through this area while traveling west with the army. In his "Record of a Journey to the West" (Xiyou Lu), he wrote, "After passing the Round Lake, the southern descent is full of apple trees, with dense shade that blocks the sun." The "Round Lake" he referred to is Sayram Lake, and "linqin" refers to wild apples. Even earlier, Genghis Khan's western expedition army opened the road here. His second son, Chagatai, led men to chisel stone to clear the path and build 48 wooden bridges, making the steep mountain valley passable for carriages and horses. Later, Qiu Chuji passed by and left the poem, "Forty-eight bridges, ten thousand fathoms deep."Huocheng · 86.4 km from Bortala
Mutetal Desert Scenic Area

Mutetal Desert Scenic Area

5
3.3/5
4 reviews
Mutetal Desert Scenic Area is a unique natural desert landscape in the region. The scenic area is characterized by vast shifting sands and rolling dunes, creating a magnificent desert landscape while preserving the natural desert ecosystem. The climate here is dry year-round with abundant sunshine, and the dunes constantly shift with the wind, showcasing the unique dynamic beauty of the desert. Visitors can experience various outdoor activities in the scenic area, such as camel riding, desert off-roading, and sand sliding, allowing them to experience the vastness and wonder of nature up close while capturing visually striking desert scenery. The surrounding terrain is diverse, featuring both Gobi plains and desert oases, providing a valuable sample for studying the ecological environment and natural landscapes of arid regions in Northwest China. Mutetal Desert Scenic Area is not only suitable for adventure and outdoor sports enthusiasts but also an ideal destination for photography enthusiasts to capture sunrises, sunsets, and the interplay of light and shadow in the desert.Jinghe · 55.1 km from downtown
The Valleys of Exotic Rocks
No. 2 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Bole

The Valleys of Exotic Rocks

4.9
4.8/5
287 reviews
Guaishiyu, formerly known as Guaishigou, is located about 48 kilometers northeast of Bole City in Bortala Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. It is a Attraction dominated by strange rock landforms and is very famous locally. It is not far from the famous tourist attraction Sailimu Lake. Many tourists will come here to see the wonders when they visit Sailimu Lake Attraction. The area of ​​the Strange Rock Attraction is very large. Tourists need to take a shuttle bus to see the strange rock landforms. Then get off at a place called "Buddha Valley" and walk into the strange rock landforms. Generally, tourists can walk for about 2 hours, and it takes about 3-4 hours to visit the entire Attraction. The Attraction is dominated by a large area of ​​strange rock landforms. The stones in the Attraction have strange shapes and are very magical standing on the vast grassland. Many stones are similar to certain shapes, so they are named as various landscapes. Tourists can take pictures of the strange rocks, appreciate the unique strange rock wonders, and feel the magic of nature. In addition, there are some Souvenir shops selling strange rocks, which can be purchased according to personal interests.Bole · 34.9 km from downtown
Songshutou

Songshutou

4.7
5.0/5
4 reviews
Songshutou is located in the Sailimu Lake Scenic Area and is one of the highlights that cannot be missed during the tour around the lake. It is not only an observation deck overlooking the panoramic view of Sailimu Lake, but also connects the magnificent scenery of "the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean" and "the first scene of Yili" Guozigou, integrating natural wonders, human history and photographic aesthetics. Songshutou is located on the south bank of Sailimu Lake, with an altitude of about 2,073 meters. It is named after the dense pine forest on the top of the mountain. After reaching the top, the view is suddenly clear. In the near distance, there are golden flowers and verdant meadows by the lake. In the distance, the azure lake water blends with the skyline. In the distance, the snow-capped peaks of the Tianshan Mountains can be seen like a screen, forming a three-dimensional picture of "lake-grassland-forest-snow mountain". If the weather is fine, you can also clearly see the shocking scene of the Guozigou Bridge crossing the canyon like a giant dragon. The magnificence of nature and man-made meets here.Bole · 81.6 km from downtown
Sayram Lake Command Platform
Selected for Night Attractions in Xinjiang

Sayram Lake Command Platform

4.7
4.7/5
13 reviews
The Generals' Platform at Sailimu Lake is a scenic spot with a long history. It is said that when Genghis Khan led his army to the west, he passed through Xinjiang and came to Sailimu Lake after crossing the Altai Mountains. He took a short rest here. During the rest period, in order to boost morale, he built such a generals' platform by the lake to review the soldiers.Bole · 79.6 km from downtown
West Sea Grassland

West Sea Grassland

4.3
5.0/5
1 reviews
Located in the mountain basin west of the lake, this grassland is a kind of meadow grassland. Here, the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers and the freshness of grass, the blue sky and clear water merge into one, and the grassland and snow-capped mountains complement each other.Bole · 89.2 km from downtown
Moon Bay

Moon Bay

4.2
Moon Bay is located on the east bank of Sayram Lake and is the first lakeside view you encounter after entering the scenic area from the east gate. Moon Bay is named for its crescent shape. The lakeshore extends for several km in a north-south direction and is enclosed by an arc-shaped levee formed by lake wave erosion. The bay offers water activities such as sailboats and cruise boats, allowing visitors to slowly traverse the lake and enjoy views of the snow-capped mountains and the lake from the water. The beach by the bay is dotted with pavilions, offering an expansive view. In summer and fall, swans, wild ducks, and other birds can often be seen playing on the lake surface. Moon Bay presents different aspects as the seasons change. On summer mornings, the lake water is clear and deep, with distant snow-capped mountains reflected in it, making it an ideal time for photographing the lake view. In the fall, Moon Bay is like a tranquil harbor with rippling blue waves. In winter, the lake surface freezes, forming a crystal-clear blue ice sheet that showcases a unique ice and snow landscape.Bole · 60.3 km from downtown
Xiaerxili Nature Reserve

Xiaerxili Nature Reserve

4.1
4.4/5
7 reviews
Xiaerxili Nature Reserve is situated on the northern foothills of the Alatau Mountains within the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and is an important nature reserve. The area features lush vegetation and rich wildlife resources, with precious species such as the saiga antelope, snow leopard, and brown bear living here. Due to its location on the border, it is under strict military control, and there is virtually no human activity. You may choose an appropriate self-drive route that passes through the area to catch a glimpse of its beautiful scenery.Bole · 42.2 km from downtown
Ebinur Lake

Ebinur Lake

3.7
4.1/5
57 reviews
Ebinur Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. At the time of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the lake's surface area was 1,200 square kilometers, but today it has shrunk to about 500 square kilometers. Desertification in the lakeshore area has intensified, making it one of the main sources of sandstorms in western China and directly threatening the sustainable development and safe operation of the economic belt on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains. The lake is elliptical in shape, with an area of 650 square kilometers, an average depth of 2–3 m, and an elevation of 189 m. It is suitable for summer retreats, adventure, scientific research, camping, and photography.Jinghe · 24.3 km from downtown

Experiences you can't miss in Bortala

Featured Day tours in Bortala

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Yining Departure Sayram Lake and Guozigou Day Tour with Private Charter and Tickets: Admire the Mountain Sapphire
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 5.5 hrs
English
Free cancellation
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From€75.21€75.97
Sayram Lake & Guozigou Bridge Day Tour from Yining
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Duration: 23 hrs
English
Free cancellation
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From€366.09
One-day tour from Yining to Sayram Lake | Unlock a 280° limited view with a 5-hour slow drive
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From€68.65

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What travelers say about Bortala

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Anonymous user14 October 2026
5.0
I've visited Sayram Lake in all four seasons. Sayram Lake may not be the most beautiful scenery in Xinjiang, but for some reason, it looks good no matter how you take a picture of it. If you can only visit one place in Yili, go to Sayram Lake. It has snow-capped mountains, grasslands, lakes, streams, and forests. The most beautiful scenery of the Tianshan Mountains is condensed here. It's an all-rounder!

Sayram Lake

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JJ774 June 2023
5.0
Entering Guozigou, you feel like you are in a fairy tale wonderland, and you can't help but imagine. Leaving Sayram Lake, you climb up to the top of the pine tree, where you can see thousands of wounds and ravines, and the pine waves are breathtaking. The road twists and turns down, sometimes steep cliffs, sometimes like facing the abyss. The clouds and mountains send waves of pine waves, and the wild fruits bring wisps of fragrance. The gurgling springs come and go, and a wooden house and felt tent are hidden in the green leaves and floating on the green grass. It is a combination of danger and beauty, and reality and fantasy are intertwined.

Guozigou Valley

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jed***od21 August 2025
5.0
新开的景点,第一次见到沙漠,景色不错。景区内的atv和滑沙都挺好玩,从托托镇开车进去还能经过一片生态保护区,有很多胡杨,秋天应该也很漂亮。

Mutetal Desert Scenic Area

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YoYo_9H7U5N1A1 August 2026
5.0
Strange Stone Valley is filled with wind-eroded granite formations, each with its own unique shape, resembling a natural stone sculpture wonderland. Lacking extensive greenery for shade, the strong sunlight makes it a convenient spot for sightseeing; remember to bring sun and wind protection.

The Valleys of Exotic Rocks

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M39***188 August 2024
5.0
It is worth going. Standing on the top of Songshutou Mountain, you can see the panoramic view of Sailimu Lake on one side and overlook the Guozigou Bridge on the other side. It is great! It takes more than 900 steps to walk to the middle platform, and a total of 1962 steps to the top of the peak

Songshutou

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枫原没有万叶19 July 2025
5.0
2. Sailimu Lake Dianjiangtai (Rating 5.4, Free) The nostalgic landmark where Genghis Khan was said to have inspected his troops: • Highlights: Standing on the high platform and overlooking, the magnificent Sailimu Lake and the vast grassland are in the same frame. The lake breeze seems to be able to trace back to the wars of thousands of years ago. The view is excellent and free, suitable for history fans or taking panoramic photos. • Shortcomings: Pure original ecological viewing platform, no supporting facilities (even no clear signs), it is recommended to drive and check in (with a trip around the lake), and it is not cost-effective to go alone. → Suitable for: Tourists who are obsessed with "history + vision" and need to bring their own imagination to check in.

Sayram Lake Command Platform

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旅行界的吃货王27 July 2025
5.0
Warning for taking your kids to visit the grassland twice! The healing power of Xihai Grassland is engraved into your DNA after one visit🌿 Who understands! I dragged my two "little beasts" to play crazy in Xihai Grassland for 3 days. After returning home, my kids kept saying "I want to go to that place with big lawns and stars" - as an old mother, I understand this feeling of being healed by nature. This place really deserves to be included in the list of parent-child travel ceilings! • The safety factor is full: there are no steep mountain roads, and large and gentle meadows are like green velvet carpets. Kids can run and jump happily, and old mothers can just sit in the wild flowers and watch them, without chasing them and shouting "slow down"! • Every shot is a fairy tale feeling: the mountains in the distance are as green as if they have been washed, and the small wild flowers nearby are purple, yellow, and white, dotted with the grass. The two kids are chasing butterflies. Any shot taken with the phone is a healing wallpaper. • The pace is slow to the bone: no need to rush the schedule! Being woken up by birds in the morning, drinking salty milk tea in the herdsmen's tent at noon, and watching the sunset dye the clouds orange in the evening, this sense of relaxation is the most luxurious gift for traveling with children. 3 things you must experience when traveling with children 1. Wild plan on the grassland Bring a bubble machine and a kite, put them on the lawn, the bubbles are shining in the sun, the kite flies higher than the windmill in the distance, and the screams of the two children chasing the bubbles are better than any nursery rhymes. When you are tired, spread a picnic mat, eat the herdsmen's freshly roasted mutton jerky, and watch the clouds in the sky slowly float. 2. Surprise encounter with small animals We were very lucky and encountered a group of lambs! They ran after the mother sheep with fur, and the children carefully touched their fur, their eyes were as bright as stars. The herdsman uncle also taught the children how to distinguish the gender of the lambs. This kind of knowledge outside the textbook is a hundred times more vivid than the picture book. 3. Whisper under the starry sky If the weather is good at night, you can see the Milky Way! Wrap the kids in a thick coat, lie on the grass and point at the stars, and tell them which one is the North Star. The elder brother suddenly said, "Mom, the stars here are brighter than those at home, because they are closer to us?" At that moment, I felt that all the hard work of rushing on the road was worth it. Tips from an old mother • Outfit: Be sure to bring a windproof coat for your baby! The temperature difference between morning and evening on the grassland is large. Wear short sleeves at noon and a coat in the evening. Choose light colors, and the photos will match the grassland. • Equipment: Bring a small folding chair (a magic weapon to free the waist), mosquito repellent stickers, wet wipes (the baby can wipe his hands in time after touching the lamb), and prepare a small first aid kit just in case. • Eating: You must try the pilaf and yogurt at the herdsman's house! The baby doesn't like sour food? Add some sugar, the brother ate two bowls in one breath, and the sister also took a spoon to learn from the herdsman uncle to "cheers". When we left, my sister held the wild flowers she picked on the grassland and refused to let go. My brother said, "Mom, can we bring a tent next time?" It turns out that children understand the goodness of this grassland better than we do. Xihai Grassland is not the kind of scenic spot where you can "check in and leave". It is the kind of place that people will remember and want to visit again. Next time, I will bring a book and take a good look at this grassland that slows down time while my child is having fun. (Secretly: When I sorted out the photos after I came back, I found that I took more than 100 photos of my child's smiling face. I couldn't bear to delete them even when the memory was full~)

West Sea Grassland

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天羽博士6 March 2020
4.0
Near the border of Kazakhstan, it was once a military restricted area. Perhaps because of this, the scenery has been preserved. It is really like what a certain food product advertises, green and pollution-free. The name comes from Tibetan or Mongolian.

Xiaerxili Nature Reserve

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冰之绚梅27 December 2022
5.0
Xinjiang Aibi Lake Wetland, a national nature reserve, is bounded by the Wusu Jinghe County boundary in the east, Tacheng boundary in the north, National Highway 312 and the administrative boundary of the 82nd, 90th and 91st Regiments of the Fifth Division in the south, and the forest areas of Bole and Alashankou in the west. Every autumn, the poplar forest is very beautiful.

Ebinur Lake

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Frequently asked questions

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include Departing from Yining, Xinjiang: Sayram Lake 1-day tour with round-trip private charter and driver (admission ticket not included), Yining Departure Sayram Lake and Guozigou Day Tour with Private Charter and Tickets: Admire the Mountain Sapphire, and One-day tour from Yili to Sayram Lake: Snow-capped mountains and blue lake mirror the Tianshan, the last teardrop of the Atlantic. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of 15 October 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Bortala is around EUR 62.39 – EUR 488.11. Rates vary by duration, group size, transportation, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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