China (Tian Shan Tian Chi, Urumqi, Xinjiang) May 2006 D-10

The Heaven Lake, Urumqi, Xinjiang

This morning, I joined a morning tour (Rmb130) to Tian Shan Tian Chi (the Heaven Lake), about 2 1/2 hrs from Urumqi. Tian Shan is about 2,000m high and we took a cable car to go uphill to see the Heaven Lake. The scenery surrounding the lake was stunning. The presence of tall green Alpine trees in Tian Shan mountain range made the place very scenic and charming.

I saw a few backpackers staying in yurts at the foot of Tian Shan.

For lunch, I ordered a plate of rice with roasted lamb (Rmb10) and enjoyed our meal under the sun at a local café which was within walking distance to the Heaven Lake. The weather up here was cool and pleasant , no wonder tourists enjoyed coming here.

I paid Rmb40 for entry to the Lake and Rmb30 for the cable car ride.

1) Tian Shan Tian Chi, Urumqi, Xinjiang  

2) Wuyi Night Market, Urumqi, Xinjiang - in the evening, I had my dinner in the Wuyi Night Market, a favorite eating place for the locals. The local Xinjiang Uighur food, ramen noodles & roasted lamb were our favourites and cheap to eat. A plate of succulent roasted lamb costs Rmb20 and comes in quite big portion. In the market, I bought 2 kilos of dried grapes and sultanas to take back home.

3) Urumqi railway station, Xinjiang - After the morning tour, we went to the railway station to purchase our train tickets (Rmb209) to Dun Huang to visit the Mogao Caves, a civilized wonder of the world !

Overnight train ride from Urumqi, Xinjiang > Liu Yuan (Dun Huang), Gansu

" Lush green pasture land. Heaven Lake, Alpine trees, dried raisins and sultanas, Uighur food, roasted lamb - come to Xinjiang and you will never regret "