North and South Xinjiang Road Trip (7): Bosten Lake, the Largest Inland Freshwater Lake in China

North and South Xinjiang Road Trip (7): Bosten Lake, the Largest Inland Freshwater Lake in China Turpan - Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture May 31, 2023 Weather: Sunny, 26-18°C After breakfast, we set off south-west to Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, officially starting our journey to southern Xinjiang. Just as we got on the Tuhe Expressway, we received a speed limit warning of 60 km/h from the police at the Toksun County exit. We had to cover 90 km in 1.5 hours. After driving for a while, we realized that this section of the expressway was in the mountains, with rare frequent curves and downhill sections, making it impossible to drive at high speed. There must be a reason why tunnels were not built here, probably because the soil was not suitable. It took us 6 hours to cover 365 km, and we arrived at our destination at 3 pm: the Lotus World Scenic Area (5A) of Bosten Lake. Bosten Lake, formerly known as the "Western Sea," is the largest inland freshwater lake in China, with a water area accounting for 43.2% of the total area of Bohu County. It is the mother lake of Bayingolin. Due to the large area of the lake, there are several scenic areas, among which the Dahekou Scenic Area and the Lotus World Scenic Area are the main ones, both rated 5A. The former is mainly for water recreation (not in season), while the latter is characterized by water lilies and reed wetlands. We chose the latter to visit. The Lotus World Scenic Area is a small lake area in the southwest of Bosten Lake, named after its abundance of lotus flowers. It is home to the largest wild water lily group in China and is also one of the four major reed areas in China. With winding rivers, lush reeds, blooming water lilies, chirping birds, and leaping fish, the area is reminiscent of the water towns in southern China, earning it the reputation of the "Western Pearl." The 10,000-acre water lilies in the Lotus World Scenic Area are mainly wild white and red lilies, unique to the high-latitude regions of northwest China. They are found throughout the small lake area, growing alongside tall reeds. They are also unique in their cold tolerance and flowering period, which are unmatched by water lilies elsewhere. The water lilies of Bosten Lake are already budding from late April to early May each year. When we arrived, the water lilies were in full bloom, and they will continue to bloom until October, earning them the nickname "Snow Lotus in Water" and a reputation for resilience. We took a painted boat deep into the lake, weaving through the reeds, strolling along the boardwalk to admire the bright water lilies and green reeds up close, breathing in the pure air of the high-latitude wetlands, and letting our spirits soar. After three hours of fun, we left the park at 6 pm and stayed overnight in Korla, the capital of Bayingolin. We will continue our tour of Bayingolin tomorrow. (All photos are from the Lotus World Scenic Area)