Xinjiang: Sayram Lake, Jan 2026

This is my second time at Sayram Lake 賽里木湖, the first time was in the summer.  Sayram Lake is a high-altitude, cold water lake, also known as “the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean” because the warm and humid air currents from the Atlantic are the last to reach this place.  In the winter, Sayram Lake freezes over and its surface shimmers like a sapphire in the sunlight.  Most people come here to photograph the blue ice, cracked ice, ice bubbles, ice flowers, and breathtaking pink sunsets.  From the end of December until the next March, the northern shore of Sayram Lake gradually freezes transforming into a world of snow and ice.  The wind pushes many ice shards towards the shore, piling them into blue ice mounds of various shapes and sizes.  With some luck (unfortunately we were too early in the season), one can see large, clusters of white bubbles sealed underneath the blue ice.  There are also some swans, less than Swan Spring, who choose to winter here, mostly at Keleyongzhu 克勒湧珠.  Most cars enter through the East Gate where most hotels and facilities are in this area and then loop around the lake anti-clockwise and exit from the South Gate.

Ten Mile Embarkment 十里長堤 near the North Gate is the best place to see the blue ice piles of the lake.

Blue Ice at the Ten Mile Embarkment 十里長堤

Blue Ice at the Ten Mile Embarkment 十里長堤

Blue Ice at the Ten Mile Embarkment 十里長堤

Sayram Lake

Frozen waterfalls at Swan Water Wonderland 天鵝樂水

That’s a wrap for my short trip to the winter wonderland of Yili, Xinjiang.  As always, Xinjiang never disappoints!  I will be back for sure.  This is the first time in a long time I went anywhere this cold.  I enjoyed the winter scenery tremendously and cannot wait to visit another winter wonderland next year!

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