| Sayram Lake | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Sayram Lake | |
| Location | Bortala Prefecture,Xinjiang |
| Coordinates | 44°36′N81°12′E / 44.6°N 81.2°E /44.6; 81.2 |
| Basin countries | China |
| Surface area | 458 km2 (177 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 2,070 m (6,791 ft) |
Sayram Lake (Chinese:赛里木湖;pinyin:Sàilǐmù hú;Kazakh:Сайрам көлі,romanized: Sairam köli;Mongolian:Сайрам нуур,romanized: Sairam nuur), also known asSantai Haizi (Chinese:三台海子) or historically the "Clean Sea" (净海), is anendorheicfreshwaterlake in the northernTianshan Mountains atBörtala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture,Xinjiang,China, less than 50 km (31 mi) from theborder withKazakhstan. The nameSayram originally derives fromKazakh, meaning "blessing".
The lake is the largest (458 km2 or 177 sq mi) and also the highest (at 2,070 m or 6,790 ft)alpine lake in Xinjiang, largely filled byglacialmeltwater, residualprecipitation from the Eurasianwesterlies andrunoffs from the surroundingmountain chains, as well as somegroundwaterspringing andseepage. It was designated anAAAA National Scenic Area in 2010 and was upgraded to anAAAAA National Scenic Area in April 2021.[1]
Sayram Lake is located along the northern branch of thehistoricNorthern Silk Road.[2][3] The mountainous region it belongs had been largely uninhabited throughout history, but the valleys east of it was historically settled bySaka nomads and variousTocharian people such asJushi andWusun, and later by theGöktürks andOirat (Dzungar)Mongols. Around the lake, there are alsoarcheological sites of various ancientrock arts,tombs andruins oftemples,ovoo,steles andstage stations from different dynasties.[4]
LateSouthern Song Taoist monkQiu Chuji recorded inhis famous travel journal that the lake as "spanning 200li and surrounded by snowing summits",[5] calling it a "heavenly pool".[6][5][3] Other famous visitors such asMongol Empire politicianYelü Chucai andQing dynasty viceroyLin Zexu (who was exiled to Xinjiang after theFirst Opium War) also recorded descriptions of the lake.[7][6]
A local folktale relates that the lake was formed by a youngKazakh couple who had been separated by a demon, and were forced to jump into an abyss to be reunited. Their tears filled the abyss, forming the lake.[8][9][10]
Sayram Lake is one of the mostbiodiverse region inNorthwest China.[11] Human activities are limited around the lake,[12][13] and the uniquewetland ecosystems around the lake exert significant importance to the hydrology and climate ofnorthern Xinjiang.[14]
The Sayram Lake region is home to 58families, 288genera and 639 species ofseed plants, including three families and 8 species ofgymnosperms and the remainder all beingangiosperms.[11] Theusable land around the lake is predominantlysteppes, although there have been large areas ofgrassland degradation since the 1980s.[14]
The nativewildlife around Sayram Lake are steppe/desert fauna such ascorsac fox andbobak marmot, and wetlandwaterbirds such asmallard andwhooper swan.[11] Originating from glacial cirques, there were originally no fish species in the lake.[15][16]Stocking programs forcoldwater fishes had taken place since 1976, though with poor results. Since the 1990s, 16 fish species, includingsalmonids such aspeled andarctic cisco andcyprinids likeide, have been successfullyintroduced andnaturalized into the lake.[11] The lake is currently one of the most famous bases of coldwateraquaculture in China, with a dozen species being sold on the market.[15][16].
Sayram Lake is one of Xinjiang’s major tourist destinations. It was designated a National Key Scenic Area in 2004. In 2005, a 79-kilometre ring road around the lake was completed, and the Sayram Lake Scenic Area Administration Committee was established to oversee management.[11] In 2007, the site was approved as a National Wetland Park of China[14], and the same year saw the launch of an annual cycling race around the lake.[17] It was designated anAAAA National Scenic Area in 2010, and in April 2021 was upgraded to anAAAAA National Scenic Area.[18]
The development of the Sayram Lake tourist zone has expanded rapidly. In 2018, the scenic area began upgrading its facilities, expanding the original 2,200 m2 (24,000 sq ft) visitor service centre to about 6,500 m2 (70,000 sq ft) and adding new gates, parking areas, signage, and a restaurant and shopping complex.[19] Construction of a new, larger visitor centre began in 2023, featuring a 15,000 m2 (160,000 sq ft) main building and 50,000 m2 (540,000 sq ft) of parking.[20] The facility officially opened in January 2025, offering expanded retail, dining, and transport amenities, and hosting several fast-food outlets such as McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King and Pizza Hut. As of 2025, the area continues to grow, with construction of theJW Marriott Hotel complex to the east of the scenic area. The complex covers about 118,000 m2 (1,270,000 sq ft), has a planned gross floor area of about 101,000 m2 (1,090,000 sq ft), includes 701 guest rooms, and represents a total investment of 2.9 billion yuan. It will feature three international brands:JW Marriott,Le Méridien, and Moxy, as part of a wider regional tourism initiative.[21]
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Media related toSayram Lake at Wikimedia Commons
