The fairyland lost in the mortal world - Tianshan Tianchi

It is said that this is the Yaochi where the Queen Mother of the West lived - "Yaochi fairyland is unique in the world, nowhere to be found in heaven and earth". Throughout the ages, literati and poets have written poems and prose, giving it the highest praise. "Eight steeds travel thirty thousand li a day, why does King Mu not return", this is a poem left by the great Tang Dynasty poet Li Shangyin; "A pool of thick ink sinks to the bottom of the inkstone, ten thousand trees with long bristles stand at the end of the pen", this is a famous verse chanted by Guo Moruo when he accompanied Prince Sihanouk to visit Tianchi in the early 1970s. At first sight, it does not disappoint, the heart is calm as water, escaping the hustle and bustle, this life is irreplaceable 🏔️Spring has begun to revive in the Tianshan Mountains. The day before yesterday, it snowed, and in the past two days, the temperature has risen, and the Tianshan Tianchi scenic area has cleared the snow, welcoming tourists for the May Day holiday. Today the sun is shining brightly, just in time to see the three seasons of one mountain with snow-covered Cangshan, spruce stacked green, and the rippling lake. 🏞️Tianshan Tianchi is located in Fukang, Changji, Xinjiang, about an hour's drive east from Urumqi. Tianchi is a high mountain barrier lake formed by ancient glacial debris flow blocking the river channel, and after three glacial accumulations, it formed a closed depression in the mountains, blocking the melting snow and high mountain precipitation, which is fundamentally different from the formation of Changbai Mountain Tianchi. 🌲The scenic area is rich in vegetation, with the most characteristic being the Tianshan spruce. Above 2000 meters above sea level, there is Tianshan spruce, which is a tree species unique to the Tianshan Mountains. It is said to have migrated from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau more than 40 million years ago and evolved into the most spectacular forest in the northwest. 🎒Travel tips: 1. Mode of touring: After entering the scenic area, there are shuttle buses 🚌 that take tourists from the ticket office to the Tianchi attractions in one stop, about a 40-minute drive, which is the main altitude climbing stage, but don't worry, there will be no obvious physical reactions. The shuttle buses have separate channels for groups and individual travelers, and the individual traveler buses will have guides explaining the touring methods of the scenic area in detail, with thoughtful tips on the transportation, touring duration, and features of each sub-scenic spot. 2. Route suggestion: It is recommended to manage your energy wisely, visit the mountain first and then the lake. At the bus parking lot of Tianchi, you can take the cable car shuttle bus 🚎 to the cable car station, and then take the cable car 🚡 directly to the top of Maya Mountain, about 5 minutes one way, costing 210 yuan for a round trip. On Maya Mountain, you can have a close view of the Bogda Peak of Tianshan, which is 5445 meters above sea level, covered with snow all year round, and has extensive glaciers; there is also a Cloud House on Maya Mountain, where you can drink coffee by the window and view the snowy mountains and the blue Tianchi. 3. Overall time: The entire scenic area takes about 3 hours for a quick tour, including about an hour and a half for the mountain shuttle bus. For a deep slow tour, it takes 1 day, and you need to catch the last bus at the shuttle bus stop before 7 pm. 4. Clothing recommendation: It's not that cold, with the highest temperature reaching about 16 or 17 degrees Celsius. The wind will be stronger by the water and on the mountain top, but a coat to block the wind is sufficient. I brought a light down jacket and only wore it on the top of Maya Mountain and beside Tianchi for a while; other times I just wore a knitted shirt. On sunny days, it's very sunny during the day, so you need to wear hats, sunglasses, etc. You can wear a sweatshirt or a thin sweater with a coat 🧥, or a three-in-one jacket, adding or removing the liner as needed.