Xinjiang is located in the western part of China; the land is vast, the wilderness is wide, and the edge of the earth is not visible at all. Xinjiang covers an area of 1.66 million square kilometers, accounting for almost 1/6 of China's land area. Although its size is huge, the terrain is simple.

It is said that the terrain of Xinjiang is "three mountains squeezing two basins" — the Aertai Mountains in the north, the Tianshan Mountains in the middle, and the Kunlun Mountains in the south, sandwiching the Junggar Basin and the Tarim Basin. Among them, Tianshan serves as the natural devision between southern Xinjiang and northern Xinjiang. Northern Xinjiang is rich in minerals while southern Xinjiang’s agriculture is well developed. The climate in southern Xinjiang is relatively dry compared to that in northern Xinjiang. The largest inland basin in China is located here, the Tarim Basin. The basin is full of yellow sand and is the largest desert in China, the Taklamakan Desert.

Xinjiang's unique topography forms beautiful natural scenery, with snowy mountains, basins, deserts, Gobi, lakes and natural landscapes. High snow-capped mountains affect the climate of the northern and southern Xinjiang, as the melting snow and ice nourish the oases located at the mountain foot. The climate around the basins is relatively humid; the basins tend to be dry at the bottom and rich in natural resources. There are many lakes in Xinjiang, like a string of jade embedded in the earth. Among them, Tianshan Bogda Peak Tianchi Scenic Area is the most famous. The scenic area is centered on the Tianchi (Sky Pool), including four complete vertical mountain landscapes around Tianchi. Tianchi is also known as “Yaochi (Jade Pool)”, and it is said that it is a good place for the gods to live. The Tianchi Lake is crystal clear, the blue sky and white clouds blend with the surrounding forests, snow mountains and grasslands to form a beautiful natural scenery. In addition, the Kanas Lake and the Sayram Lake in Xinjiang attract many tourists because of their beautiful natural scenery. The lakes in Xinjiang are like a beautiful woman hidden in the depths of the mountains. As seasons change, she changes her beautiful makeup, and quietly waits for her lover to return.

In stark contrast to the tranquil lakes are the welcoming deserts and mountains. The Flame Mountain in the northern part of the Turpan Basin was called "Red Rock Mountain” in ancient times. Is the stone here really red? In fact, the Flame Mountain is a naturally formed red sandstone mountain, which is quite beautiful when the blazing sun shines on it. The color of the red stone on the mountain is eye-catching, but it is too hot here. It is said that the highest temperature in the summer can reach 47.8 degrees Celsius (118 Fahrenheit), and the maximum surface temperature can reach 70 degrees (158 Fahrenheit). Looking from far away, the red mountain looks like it is steaming — it is really a veritable "flame mountain".

Some people say that Xinjiang is a colorful painting. There are silver lakes, red mountains, green valleys and endless white cotton fields. The Yili valley is located at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains in central Xinjiang. The climate here is humid, the smell of fruit is floating in the air, and the lush green forest is everywhere. Forests, grasslands and crops are like green gems on the mountains. The oasis agriculture in southern Xinjiang well developed, and cotton in Xinjiang has been famous for more than 2,000 year. Every time the cotton matures, the oases turn into white oceans.

Cultural Notes

Yaochi (Jade Pool)

In ancient Chinese myths and legends, there is Yaochi on the Kunlun Mountains, which is the place where the Western Queen Mother lived. Legend has it that more than three thousand years ago, the emperor of the Western Zhou Dynasty traveled thousands of miles to meet the Western Queen Mother in Yaochi and received a warm reception.

The Sayram Lake

Also known as "Santaizi Lake", the Sayram Lake at an altitude of over 2,000 meters on the top of the Keguqin Mountain in Xinjiang is very deep, wide, and clear. Every July, there will be a lively and grand "Nadamu" Fair held at the lake, and people from Mongolian, Uyghur, Kazakh and other ethnic groups come here to celebrate the festival.