Park or nature areaOutline guide

Tianshan Tianchi National Park

Lake in Xinjiang, China

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Yaoleilei assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Tianshan Tianchi National Park (天山天池国家公园) is in Xinjiang, in North West China. It's listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Getting there and around

Getting there

Local buses
First take 73 to the north bus station in Urumqi. (which is not the name of the stop.

Read in the guide

Getting around

In 2018 it is still possible to walk around the lake, for two people in their twenties it took approximately six hours with breaks.

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Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport

Ürümqi · International · URC

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Read before you go to Tianshan Tianchi National Park

Articles and travel topics about Tianshan Tianchi National Park and China.

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Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandSprawling on the edge of Mount Bogda and 100 km east of Urumqi, Tianchi Lake and the surrounding Tianshan Mountains are the most beautiful place in Xinjiang.

Get inThe bus from Urumqi will take you as far as the entrance to the park, but to get to Heaven Lake, you can either go by funicular or take the spectacular one hour walk up. The bus takes approx.

Fees and permits

Get aroundIn 2018 it is still possible to walk around the lake, for two people in their twenties it took approximately six hours with breaks.

SeeThe lake is spectacular, particularly at sunset when the mountains in glow red. Note the Russian dachas among the modern Chinese constructions and Kazakh yurts.

DoGo for a horseback ride with a Kazakh guide.

EatIn addition to a restaurant at the top of the funicular, there are a few kebab stands around the lake, mostly concentrated by the entrance

DrinkThere is a karaoke hall near the entrance, though beer can also be bought from the kebab stands.

SleepWhile there is a hotel near the road of Heaven Lake, press on for yurt stays. If you are there during the evening you will be approach by locals saying Zuzhu (租住) meaning that you can stay in their yurt.

Go next

Urumqi

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Tianshan Tianchi National Park" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Heavenly Lake of Tian Shan", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Yaoleilei assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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