Bandier Blue Lake, a breathtakingly beautiful place

Bandier Blue Lake, with its waters reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, and the surrounding mountains creating a picturesque scene, is as beautiful as a fairyland. After a night's rest, we gradually recovered from the high-altitude reaction of the previous day at Muztagh Ata. In the morning, we completed the Panlong Ancient Road, known as 'all the winding roads of today,' and indeed, 'from now on, it's all smooth sailing.' All the hardships and discomforts of the previous journey could be left behind. On the way back to Tashkurgan, our driver specially took us to see a lesser-known but incredibly beautiful lake with stunning colors, which is Bandier Blue Lake. Bandier Blue Lake is located in Bandier Township, Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County, on the Pamir Plateau, at an altitude of 3050 meters. The lake covers an area of about 3 square kilometers and has a depth of about 30 meters. Bandier, in Tajik, means 'originally existing.' Due to the mineral content in the water, the lake appears blue, serene, and deep, like a fairyland. It is like a drop of tear that nature has left behind, quietly lying in the embrace of the Pamir Plateau. That deep blue hue is purer and more stunning than any filter!