I plan to ride a bicycle to Tianshan Mountain alone in June. I am a complete amateur. I am looking for some experience.
Preparation before departure is essential
1. Physical fitness
Preparation can be done step by step, and I gradually adapted to this kind of life on the road. Let’s talk about physical strength first, so there will definitely be an adaptation process. Of course, daily exercise is also essential.
2. Car repair skills and travel knowledge
This is also the result of accumulation. I would ask experienced people for advice and then do more of my own. In the beginning, every time I went to a big city and sent the bicycle to a repair shop for debugging, I would do it together with the masters. You'll get used to it after a few times. If a new traveler is new to long-distance cycling, I would start by joining a local cycling club. There are clubs like this in every city now. You can meet many experienced people there. Learn about equipment and basic travel knowledge from them.
Then you can take a relatively short trip, how to repair a car, find a road, find a place to stay, camp, what kind of equipment is suitable for you, etc. Many problems are solved on the road. As the saying goes, build a road across mountains and build a bridge over water. You will gain experience by running. Then you can do some long-distance travel, and you will definitely meet many travelers on the road who will bring a lot of useful insights for travel. You can also travel with others and have several traveling companions.
Cycling is a very economical way to travel. It means sleeping in a tent. You can help me find cheap accommodation and all the services I need in the city. Credit cards are available, at least in the big cities.
So with one or two international credit cards, you can eat all over the world, how to bring money, what are the customs and taboos, what are the various service facilities, what are the festivals, etc.
3. Language
Language is of course also an issue. In many small villages in Xinjiang, no one can speak Mandarin at all, so it will be more convenient to quickly master some basic vocabulary of the local language, and you can communicate with others.
The Tianshan Mountains are a large mountain range in eastern Central Asia (mainly in Xinjiang, China), running across the central part of Xinjiang, China, and extending into Kazakhstan at its western end. The ancient name is Baishan, also known as Snow Mountain, with snow in winter and summer. Hence the name, the Xiongnu called it Tianshan Mountain, and in the Tang Dynasty it was also called Zheluoman Mountain. It is 21,900 feet high, about 2,500 kilometers long, 250-300 kilometers wide, and has an average altitude of about 5 kilometers. The highest peak is Tomur Peak with an altitude of 7435.3 meters, Khan Tengri Peak with an altitude of 6995 meters, and Bogda Peak with an altitude of 5445 meters. These peaks are all in China, and the peaks are covered with snow. The three major rivers in Xinjiang - Syr Darya River, Chu River and Ili River all originate from this mountain. The Tianshan Mountains divide Xinjiang into two parts: the Tarim Basin in the south and the Junggar Basin in the north.
Introduction
The ancient name is Baishan, also known as Snow Mountain. There is snow in winter and summer, hence the name. The Xiongnu called it Tianshan Mountain. In the Tang Dynasty, it was also called Zheluoman Mountain, with a height of 21,900. Baichi is the main peak of the Tianshan Mountains, and is bounded by Mount Narat to the east. It divides Xinjiang into two sections, the north and the south. It is the western section of the Tianshan Mountains. From there, it divides into two branches to the east. One branch runs southeast along the Haidu River, and is called Kuoke. The Tike Mountains are the so-called Beishan Mountains in the Han Dynasty, and the rest of the Tianshan Mountains extend to the east of Hami. Its northern branch is the Bogdola Mountains, which also extends eastward to the west of the town. It ends with another northern branch south of the Bolotala River. It is the Borobul Kasu Mountain and the one entering Tacheng further north. For the Tarbachatai Mountains.
The snow on Bogda Peak, the snowy peak of the Tianshan Mountains, does not melt all year round, and people call it the Snow Sea. On the mountainside of Bogda, there is a lake called Tianchi, with an altitude of 1,901 meters and a depth of about 90 meters. The water in the pool is made of melted ice and snow, and is as clear and transparent as a big mirror. The white snow peaks and green spruce trees reflect in the lake, forming a beautiful picture. It is a famous tourist attraction in Xinjiang.
North and South Tianshan
The Tianshan Mountains divide Xinjiang into two parts: the Tarim Basin in the south and the Junggar Basin in the north. Although these two basins are twin "brothers", their natural characteristics are quite different. The Tarim Basin is surrounded by high mountains and has a particularly dry climate. Most of it is a desert area. Dry food, cotton, fruits and vegetables can only be grown on the green land in the marginal areas. The mountains on the northwest edge of the Junggar Basin are not very high, and there are many gaps. Air currents from the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans can enter, so the climate is relatively humid. In addition to some oases in the basin where spring wheat, cotton, melons, fruits, etc. can be grown, the pastures here are excellent. Animal husbandry is developed. The famous Karamay Oilfield is also located in this basin. Below is the Kunlun Mountains and above is the Altai Mountains.
Tianshan Peaks
Overview
In the Tianshan Mountains, there are about dozens of peaks with an altitude of more than 5,000 meters, except for the highest peak, Tomur Peak. In addition, there are mainly the Sino-Kazakhstan boundary peaks, Khan Tengri Peak, Bogda Peak, Waski Pekaveri Mountain, Draskba Mountain, Solezi Mountain, Skartel East Peak, Zihabajian Mountain, etc. These towering peaks are covered with ice and snow all year round. Looking from a distance, the shining silvery snow peaks are so majestic, solemn and mysterious.
Tianshan Mountains
Bogda Peak
Bogda Peak, with an altitude of 5445 meters, is the highest peak of Bogda Mountain in the eastern Tianshan Mountains and is tied with it. There are also two majestic peaks with an altitude of 5287 meters and 5213 meters respectively. The three peaks stand side by side, resembling a penholder. Local herdsmen call them the three sacred mountains. The peak above 3800 meters is a snow-covered area that does not melt all year round. It is covered with white snow, so it is called the "Snow Sea".
Bogda Peak is 70 kilometers away from Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. It is not only a climbing target for brave climbers, but also a tourist attraction with magical charm. Driving from Urumqi, you can first go to Fukang, then go south through the huge alluvial fan of the Sangong River and enter the mountain pass. The car traces its way up the gourd-shaped valley that is sometimes wide and sometimes narrow. First, there is a green mountain grassland in front of us, and then a dense forest appears. After passing through a deep and narrow stone gorge and climbing up to a 400-meter-high natural dam, a picturesque lake with rippling blue waves appears in front of you. It is Tianshan Tianchi.
Tianchi is an alpine lake formed by ancient glaciers and debris flows blocking river channels. The lake is 1,900 meters above sea level, 3,300 meters long, and a few hundred meters to 1,500 meters wide. The maximum depth of the lake is 104 meters. It is long, narrow, winding, clear and deep. The melted snow water from the surrounding snow peaks gathers here and becomes an endless source of water for Tianchi. Tall spruce, birch, and willow trees grow on the surrounding hillsides. Exquisite pavilions and pavilions are built on the west bank. The calm and clear lake reflects the green mountains and snow peaks. The scenery is beautiful and like a fairyland. No wonder it is said that Tianchi is the "Yaochi", where the Queen Mother of the West gathers all the gods to hold a peach festival. According to the "Biography of Emperor Mu", King Mu of the Zhou Dynasty 3,000 years ago traveled westward to the Tianshan Mountains in an "Eight Horse Carriage", and the Queen Mother of the West met him at Tianchi. King Mu presented a large amount of brocade silk, silk and other specialties from the Central Plains, while the Queen Mother of the West presented rare treasures from the Tianshan Mountains in return and invited King Mu to visit the scenic spots in the Tianshan Mountains. King Mu personally wrote "Mountain of the Queen Mother of the West" as a souvenir. When leaving, the Queen Mother of the West encouraged her to drink again and again, and sang impromptuly: "I wish you a long life, and may you come again." Li Shangyin, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem praising this grand event. The poem goes: The mother of Yaochi leans against the open window, and the singing of yellow bamboo moves the earth in mourning. The Eight Horses traveled thirty thousand miles in a day, why would King Mu not come back again?
Tianshan Mountain
The majestic Bogda Peak is set against the south side of Tianchi. To climb Bogda Peak, you need to ride a horse from the west bank of Tianchi Lake to the southern end of the lake and go up Dadonggou. The Dadonggou Valley is gentle and open. The valley bottom and shady slopes are densely covered with spruce trees, and the sunny slopes are covered with shrubs. It is above 2800 meters above sea level and the terrain is relatively gentle. In summer, this is a vibrant grassland scene. On the alpine meadows, grasses, Polygonaceae, Carex and other pastures weave green carpets with their thin stems and leaves. Gentians, aster, nasturtiums and anemones also use their bright colors to embroider the green carpets. The green felt is embellished into a beautiful picture of colorful colors. Along the flat river banks, on the raised ancient moraine ridges, and on the gentle slopes facing the mountains, there are herds of cattle and sheep singing melodious pastoral songs. This is the alpine pasture where Kazakh herdsmen graze cattle and sheep.
Along the valley, you can see well-preserved ancient moraine and glacial erosion landforms everywhere. At the source of Dadonggou, due to the erosion of glaciers, the back wall of an ancient snow basin has been eroded down, becoming only 3,660 meters high. It is the main transportation route for alpine pasture on the north and south slopes of Bogda Peak - Guban Bog. Dashan Pass, also known as the Three Mountains Dashan, is the mountain pass. Standing on the Guban Bogda Pass and looking out, Bogda Peak and a large glacier on its north slope can be seen at a glance. After the geologist Mr. Li Chengsan inspected Bogda Peak, he once vividly summarized the majesty of its mountains and glaciers with a few short sentences: "Silver peaks rise in anger, ice flows block the valley, and thousands of mountains are robed, but this one is the only one." The effect is powerful. According to statistics, there are more than 300 glaciers in the entire Bogda Mountains, and the Bogda Peak District accounts for more than a quarter. Bogda Peak is surrounded by steep slopes of about 60°, with deep snow deposited on the slopes. There is a lot of snowfall on Bogda Peak, deep snow and steep mountains, which can easily form avalanches. Avalanches are an important source of supply for glaciers and play a huge role in continuing the life activities of glaciers.
A glacier on the north slope of Bogda Peak, covering an area of about 11 square kilometers, is the largest glacier in the Bogda Peak area. Its grainy snow area is very steep, but the ice tongue is relatively gentle, and the cracks are crisscrossed and dense like a spider web. This glacier melts intensely in summer, and the melted water merges into many glacial river channels. The largest is a deep meandering river with a width of three to four meters and a depth of five to six meters. The roar of the water is endless. The ice surface is covered with large and small glacial boulders.
When the ice surface around the boulders declines due to melting, the ice covered by the boulders will form icicles, which look like mushrooms. People call this complex of boulders and icicles an icicle. Ice mushrooms. After several ice flows of this large glacier on the north slope of Bogda Peak merge into a unified ice tongue, they flow into the Sigong River on the north slope and the Guban Bogdaguole River on the south slope respectively, becoming the two largest ice streams in northern and southern Xinjiang. Part of an inland watershed.
The past and present massive glacial activities in the Bogda Peak Region have resulted in the formation of colorful ancient glacial relics and periglacial landforms in the area.
Almost all the upper reaches of the rivers near Bogda Peak have perfect U-shaped valleys, tens of meters high, on which spruce trees, alpine shrubs or ancient terminal moraine ridges have developed into alpine meadows, with different heights and sizes. Different sheep's back stones, moraine lakes and glacial lakes of different shapes, ancient ice ridges tens or even hundreds of meters high, and ancient cirques remaining on the valley slopes? As typical representatives of periglacial landforms Polygonal soil, stone rings, stone belts, frozen mud flows, thermal melt landslides, etc. are also everywhere here. Being on Bogda Peak is like visiting a living glacier landform museum, which is eye-opening and amazing.
Tomur Peak
"The bright moon rises above the Tianshan Mountains, among the vast sea of clouds." Tomur Peak, which is more majestic than Bogda Peak and reaches straight into the sky, has a unique snow-capped mountain scenery. The highest peak of the Tianshan Mountains is located 20 kilometers southwest of Khan Tengri Peak, the boundary peak between China and Kazakhstan, within the borders of the Republic of China. There are more than ten peaks above 6,000 meters around it. In addition to Khan Tengri Peak, there is also Snow Lotus Peak that looks like a flower. Aktash Peak (White Jade Peak) is covered with white marble and looks like a crouching tiger. Chalebos Peak (Tiger Peak) is a scientific peak named by the Mountaineering Expedition Team of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in commemoration of the victory of the Second Science Conference of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1978, and so on. These towering peaks are covered with ice and snow like silver helmets, shining with silver light under the azure sky.
The most spectacular scenery in the Tomur Peak area is the Tuihan Tengger Glacier. Among the more than 800 glaciers in the Tomur Peak region, Khan Tengri Glacier is the longest at 60.8 kilometers long and is one of the eight largest valley glaciers in the world. The ice surface of the glacier is covered with rocks of different sizes, and people can walk on it. On the glacier, there are countless unfathomable ice lakes, ice cracks hundreds of meters deep, as well as light blue ice melt holes, ice stalactites, crystal walls, ice towers, ice cones, ice mushrooms, ice tables and Glacier wonderland such as the Bingxia River. The weather here is changeable. Sometimes the sky is clear, and suddenly there is a loud thunder. Looking up, snow dust not far away is billowing and falling down, setting off snow waves tens to hundreds of meters high. The rising snow mist rises and spreads like a mushroom cloud, and the scenery is very spectacular. But this kind of snow-capped mountain wonder that happens from time to time - avalanche, is the most dangerous enemy for glacier researchers and mountaineers. The strange scenery in the thrilling environment of Tomur Peak can only be understood and appreciated by brave warriors who are not afraid of hardships and dangers. It can be said that "the infinite scenery is on the dangerous peak".
Tianshan Mountains
China's No. 1 Glacier is located on the Kalawucheng Mountain King Peak in the middle section of the Tianshan Mountains in the Nanshan District of Urumqi, on the north side of the Tiangeer Peak watershed, 118 kilometers away from Urumqi. The glacier was formed during the Third Ice Age and has a history of 4 million years. The shape of the glacier is a double-branch iceberg glacier. The upper limit of the glacier is 4474 meters above sea level. The end of the glacier tongue is 3790 meters above sea level. The length of the glacier is 200 meters and the area is 1.74 square kilometers. In 1957, the Chinese Academy of Sciences built China's No. 1 Glacier Observation Point, which is the most complete glacier tracking research point in the world. Due to its scientific research transportation and environmental conditions, it is the only glacier in my country that can be commercially developed.
In addition to the spectacular glaciers, the Tomur Peak area also has many famous hot springs. Alasan Hot Spring, located on the east side of the Beimuzart Valley, is one of them. In summer, the rivers here are murmuring, the springs are tinkling, and the surrounding dense Tianshan spruce and birch forests are surrounded by yellow sage flowers blooming one after another. This has become a famous health resort in Xinjiang. The spring water in Alasan changes seasonally. It basically dries up in winter and spring, and has the largest amount of water from June to August. Hot spring water contains trace amounts of sulfide and soda and other minerals, which have certain curative effects on many diseases. Every summer, Kazakh, Mongolian, Kirgiz, Uyghur, Russian and other ethnic herders from more than 100 kilometers away come here in groups on horseback to bathe and recuperate, despite the long and dangerous journey.
Plant Resources
Overview
Although many snow peaks in the Tianshan Mountains are covered with ice and snow all year round, there are still abundant flora and fauna below the 3,000-meter snow line. resource. The foothills and valleys of Tomur Peak and Bogda Peak are covered with spruce and Tasmania pines, evergreen all year round. The dense forests on the north and south slopes of Tomur Peak are one of the main timber-producing areas in Xinjiang. There are more than 80 kinds of medicinal plants, including caladium, comfrey, henbane, polygonatum, nepeta, motherwort, rhubarb, etc. in grasslands and forest grasslands; wild roses, dangshen, etc. can be seen everywhere in spruce forests; In the alpine meadows, patches of nasturtiums are blooming in the wind, and their branches are swaying; among the rocks near the snow line, the snow lotuses blooming in the cold cold are exuding fragrance. Looking from a distance, the snow lotuses are like white jade rabbits. A world of ice and snow brings vitality. The Tianshan region is also a gene bank for excellent pastures. There are 55 species of Graminaceae plants that have been discovered, including many fescues, bluegrass, Elymus edulis, Siberian sedge, Stipa psoma, wild oat, wild black grass and so on. Wheat, etc., as well as wild alfalfa, sweet-scented osmanthus, etc. from the leguminous family, are all excellent pastures and play an important role in the development of animal husbandry.
Tianshan Snow Lotus
Tianshan Snow Lotus, also known as "Snow Lotus", is called "Tagayilis" in the local Uyghur language. It is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family.
It is a rare and precious Chinese herbal medicine unique to Xinjiang. It grows on steep cliffs and in ice-stained rock crevices at an altitude of about 4,000 meters in the Tianshan Mountains. The climate there is extremely cold and the snow remains all year round, so ordinary plants cannot survive at all, but Snow Lotus does. It can grow tenaciously in the severe cold of dozens of degrees below zero and in the hypoxic environment with thin air. This unique living habit and unique growth environment make it natural and rare, and create its unique pharmacological effects and magical medicinal value. People regard snow lotus as the "king of herbs" and "the best medicine".
Best Season for Travel
June, July and August are the best seasons for travel. It is early summer in the central part of the Tianshan Mountains. Beautiful grasslands, golden wildflowers everywhere, pure lakes, reflected snow-capped mountains, herds of cattle and sheep, snow-white lambs, endless golden rapeseed flowers, and simple ethnic customs form a beautiful scene. Picture scroll.
If you come to Tianshan to enjoy the winter scenery, it is best to go before December or after February. December to February is a severe cold period, with strong winds above level 8 often blowing. Autumn in Altay, northern Xinjiang, usually begins in mid-September. Winter comes after October, and ice and snow close the mountains and block roads.
Please pay attention to the weather forecast about sandstorms. There is a big temperature difference between day and night here, so even if you travel in summer, you should prepare warm clothes.
Animal Resources
There are many rare birds and animals in the Tianshan Mountains. Various birds and animals inhabit and breed in the peaks below 3,000 meters above sea level, in the deep forests of the mountains and in the grasslands. natural place.
Marmots and otters are precious fur animals found all over the Tianshan Mountains. The otter skins here are an important export product in Xinjiang. The Tianshan argali, snow leopard, lynx, Tianshan deer, Tianshan antelope, etc. are also protected animals.
The goshawks of the Tianshan Mountains are known for their length and ferocity. A goshawk spreads its wings and is more than two meters long, like a small airplane. Sometimes it soars up leisurely, sometimes it hovers carefreely in the air. Once it spots a hare, gazelle or other weak animal, it cuts down across the sky like a sharp sword with lightning speed. These delicate animals soon become a delicious meal for the goshawks. Among the animals in the Tianshan Mountains, the most alert ones are the wild camels. It is timid and suspicious, and will run away at the slightest sign of disturbance. Its limbs are slender and powerful, and its soles are about 5 centimeters thick, as if pressed on rubber pads. It runs as fast and silently as the wind. Its extra-large stomach bag can hold 70 kilograms of water at a time. After drinking enough, it can keep it from drinking water for several months. Therefore, it has become the best vehicle in the desert and has always been known as the "Ship of the Desert". The Tianshan's yellow sheep, big-headed sheep, roe deer, Chateng big-tailed sheep and snow chickens near the snow line are the main hunting targets of Tianshan people, especially the yellow sheep and big-headed sheep, which are distributed in large quantities. After people catch them, they sometimes set up a bonfire and barbecue them on the spot. Paired with fine wine, it becomes a unique and mouth-watering picnic.
Agriculture and animal husbandry
The Tianshan region is located inland and has a typical continental climate. Most areas have a dry climate and little rainfall, which is suitable for the development of animal husbandry. In particular, the Ili area in the north of Tomur Peak is mainly engaged in animal husbandry, and is particularly famous for horse breeding. The ancient "Tianma" originally came from here, and was later called Ili horse, and it still enjoys a high reputation today. There are also important production areas for excellent military horses and production horses. Cattle, sheep, and camels are also widely distributed here. In addition, rice and other crops are also grown in the plain area on the southern slope of Tomur Peak in the Tianshan Mountains. Aksu rice has a history of hundreds of years. It was a tribute rice paid to the imperial court in the Qing Dynasty. It is known as "Aksu rice is sweet and fragrant". Tianshan area is also the hometown of fruits. Historically, grapes, alfalfa, flax, melons, walnuts, etc. imported from the Western Regions were introduced to the Republic of China through here. There are more than 10 types of fruit trees in Wensu County in the south of Tomur Peak, mainly including apples, walnuts, grapes, peaches, apricots, pears, angustifolia, cherries, catalpas, red dates, etc., especially apples, walnuts, apricots, etc. , the most diverse.
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Southern and Northern Foothills
The vegetation distribution at the southern foothills and northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains is also different. The vegetation on the northern slope from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain is: Mountain steppe, mountain meadow steppe, coniferous forest, alpine steppe, high flash cushion plants, snow-covered glaciers. From the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, the southern slope is: desert, desert steppe, arid mountain steppe, mountain steppe, denuded mountains, and snow-covered glaciers. Dense forests grow on the northern slopes of Tianshan Mountains, but not on the southern slopes. The main reasons are: the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains is affected by the water vapor of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and the annual precipitation is greater than that of the southern slope, which is suitable for forest growth; there is a gap in the western part of the Junggar Basin, which facilitates the entry of water vapor; while the southern slope of the Tianshan Mountains is a leeward slope with less precipitation and is a sunny slope. The amount of evaporation is large and the water conditions are not suitable for forest growth.
Historical inheritance
Tianshan Mountain, located in the northwest border of the Republic of China, has been an important channel connecting the Republic of China with Central and West Asia since ancient times. The south and north Muzart valleys east of Tomur Peak were an important branch of the ancient Silk Road. In the Western Han Dynasty, Princess Xijun and Princess Jieyou married King Wusun through this route. Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk from the Tang Dynasty who is well-known at home and abroad, also passed here when he went to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures in 629 AD. In his "Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty", he vividly described the thrilling environment in the Tomur Peak watershed area. It is said that Genghis Khan, the "Prodigy of a Generation", once climbed to the Bogda Peak of the Tianshan Mountains and met Qiu Chuji, a real man from Changchun who came to the West to preach at that time.
During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, the "Yaochi Protectorate" was set up under Bogda Peak to manage the Tianshan area. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Xinjiang Governor Mingliang once climbed Bogda Peak and Tianchi area to survey the terrain, dig mountains and divert water, and set up a stone tablet near the mouth of Tianchi Canal to commemorate this move. There are many places of interest and historic sites near Tianchi. In the past, more than a dozen ancient temples were built here. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the Fushou Temple was built here. Because it was built with blue bricks and iron tiles, it was also called the "Iron Wax Temple". There are also the ruins of Dongyue Temple to the west of Tianchi, and the Wuji Temple under the pool. These scenic spots and historical sites add to the attractive charm of Tianshan Mountain.
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Tianshan Tianchi
Tianchi is located halfway up the mountain under Bogda Peak in Fukang County, 110 kilometers east of Urumqi, with an altitude of 1,981 Mi, is a natural mountain lake. The lake is half-moon-shaped, 3,400 meters long, about 1,500 meters wide at its widest point, covering an area of 4.9 square kilometers, and its deepest point is about 105 meters. The water of the lake is clear and as crystal clear as jade. Surrounded by mountains, green grass and wild flowers. It has the reputation of "Pearl of Tianshan Mountain". Tall and green spruce trees and tower pine trees cover the mountains and ridges, blocking out the sky and the sun.
Tianshan Tianchi
To the southeast of Tianchi is the majestic Bogda main peak ("Bogda" in Mongolian, meaning spiritual mountain and holy mountain) with an altitude of 5,445 meters. There are two more peaks connected to the left and right of the main peak. Looking up into the distance, you will see three peaks rising side by side, standing abruptly in the clouds, like a pen stand. The glaciers and snow on the peak are shining with silver light, which contrasts with the clear blue water of Tianchi, forming a graceful and colorful natural landscape of high mountains and flat lakes. Tianchi is a moraine lake. Geoscientists believe that since the Quaternary glaciers, there have been many violent cold and warm movements in the global climate. Two hundred thousand years ago, the earth's climate turned cold for the third time and the ice age came. Spectacular valley glaciers developed in the Tianchi area. The glaciers carried gravel and slowly moved down the valley, eroding the ice bed with intense friction, digging and carving the valley, forming a variety of ice-eroded terrains. Tianchi Valley became a huge ice cellar, with the front end of its ice tongue Due to squeezing, melting, and meltwater leaking down, the rock debris and boulders they carried gradually stopped and accumulated, becoming giant moraine ridges across the valley. Later, as the climate warmed and the glaciers receded, water accumulated here and formed a lake. That is today's Tianshan Tianchi. Before the liberation of Xinjiang, due to the high mountains and dangerous roads, only those who were bold, determined and good at riding could explore Tianchi. After liberation, the People's Government specially allocated funds to build a winding road directly to Tianchi, and built unique pavilions, hotels, restaurants and other tourist facilities on the lakeside, opening this famous tourist attraction to Chinese and foreign tourists.
Tianshan Tianchi
Tianchi is now not only a summer resort for Chinese and foreign tourists, but also an ideal alpine skating rink in winter. Whenever the lake freezes, ice athletes from Xinjiang or other provinces and regions gather here for skating training and competitions. In March 1979, the speed skating competition of the Fourth my country Games was held in Tianchi. In the mountains surrounding Tianchi, snow lotuses and snow chickens grow on the snow line. Dogs are found in the pine forests. Mushrooms grow everywhere, as well as medicinal materials such as dangshen, astragalus and fritillary. There are rare birds and animals in the mountains and ravines, fish and waterbirds in the lake area, modern glaciers on the tops of the peaks, and various minerals such as copper, iron, mica, etc. Such rich resources and unique natural landscapes in the Tianchi area are even more attractive to biological, geological and geographic workers who conduct field investigations. In 1982, it was listed as a national key scenic spot.
The legend of Tianshan Mountain
The story of the Queen Mother of the West holding a peach party in Yaochi has been passed down for thousands of years. So where is Yaochi? It turns out that there really is a Yaochi in the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, which is also called "Tianchi".
Tianchi is located on Tianshan Mountain, at an altitude of more than 1,980 meters. Coming to Tianchi is like climbing into a fairyland. "The fairyland of Yaochi is unique in the world, and there is nothing like it in heaven and earth." There is a legend about the Queen Mother of the West and Tianchi:
The Queen Mother of the West hosted a banquet for Mu Tian who traveled to the west in Yaochi, and the two secretly fell in love. The Queen Mother of the West is immersed in sweet love, especially loves beauty and grooming. So, she used fairy magic to draw three Tianchis at the foot of Tianshan Mountain, one for washing her face, one for bathing, and one for washing feet. The largest bathing area is the Big Tianchi, the one who washes the face is the East Xiaotianchi, and the one who washes the feet is the West Xiaotianchi. These three large and small Tianchis are filled with snow water flowing down from the Tianshan Mountains. The water is as clear as jade juice. The three large Tianchis are specially used by the Queen Mother.
Tianchi is used by the Queen Mother of the West to wash herself. Others are not allowed to come in and out at will, not even to take a peek. The Queen Mother built a stone gate outside the West Xiaotianchi. This stone gate is flanked by two peaks, connected by a line in the middle. The gate is only more than 10 meters narrow, making it very easy to guard. There is a door in the bathing place of the Queen Mother of the West, so I sent Xiao Bailong to guard it, so that everything would be safe.
Besides, there was originally a water monster in the Tianchi. Because the Queen Mother of the West did not invite him when she held the peach party, the more he thought about it, the more angry he became: "These gods and gods, your Queen Mother has invited so many people from all walks of life." The gods came to attend the Peach Fair, but I, the Lord of Tianchi, did not invite them. Therefore, he made trouble and caused the water in Tianchi to boil, preventing the Queen Mother of the West from taking a bath. This is not bad, dare to go against the Queen Mother of the West, the Queen Mother of the West was furious, pulled out the hairpin from her head and threw it into the Tianchi. Suddenly, the hairpin turned into a big elm tree and locked the water monster. Ordinarily, elm trees cannot survive at an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters, but there is this thousand-year-old elm tree beside Tianchi. It is still standing tall and lush beside the pond, and no matter how high the water in the pond is, it cannot reach its roots. This is because it was transformed from the precious hairpin of the Queen Mother of the West. People call it the "Sacred Needle of Zhenhai" and it has become one of the eight scenic spots in Tianchi.
The workers' anger touched Buzhou Mountain and broke the sky. Even the Western Sky was about to collapse. Maybe the Tianchi Lake would be destroyed. The Queen Mother of the West wanted to protect her Western Heaven and her Tianchi, so she split a peak of the Tianshan Mountains into three pillars with her hands to support the Western Heaven. The western sky will not collapse because of these three stones. Thousands of years have passed, and the three stones that crown the sky are still standing beside Tianchi. The Queen Mother of the West’s empire is eternal.
The little white dragon guarding the stone gate was dishonest. One day, he secretly bypassed the West Small Tianchi, crossed the East Small Tianchi, and climbed up to the Big Tianchi to peek at the Queen Mother washing herself. Of course, the Queen Mother noticed Xiao Bailong's intention and enlightened him when he was about to reach Tianchi. As a result, Xiaobailong became the Bailongxia Waterfall between Datianchi and East Xiaotianchi. The silver chain of Bailong Gorge Waterfall hangs high, the mist is misty, and it makes a shocking sound. This is the cry of the little white dragon begging for mercy from the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother of the West washes herself in the Tianchi every day. Because the snow water is the essence of the heaven, earth, sun and moon, which is jade juice and nectar, clear and crystal clear, the Queen Mother of the West washes herself every day, making her younger and more beautiful. The jade girl accompanying the Queen Mother was envious and surprised, so she came to Tianchi one early morning before Queen Mother of the West got up. At this time, the morning light on the sea peak, the red sun rising from the top of Tianshan Mountain, and thousands of rays of rays of light pouring into the pool, reflecting the fairyland like a dream. The jade girl couldn't help but undressed, took off her clothes, threw her hair and barefoot, plunged into the Tianchi, and swam to her heart's content. When the Queen Mother of the West woke up, she didn't see the Jade Girl. When she found the Tianchi, she suddenly saw that the Jade Girl dared to swim in the pool. She was furious and shouted loudly. When Jade Girl heard this, she was frightened and hurriedly climbed up to the west bank, but it was too late. As soon as she climbed ashore, she was enlightened by the Queen Mother, and her beautiful hair turned into the emerald green spruce of the West Mountain. One of the eight scenic spots in Tianchi, the spruce trees in the West Mountains stand tall and graceful, just like the jade girl's shawl and flowing hair. However, the jade girl is full of grievances, and this spruce tree always emits an oppressive cold air. People call this scene the "cold pines in the west mountains".
Trouble always happens in Tianchi. The little white dragon, the water monster, and the beautiful girl all get into trouble. There are always people who want to step onto the territory of the Queen Mother of the West. So as soon as the Queen Mother flicks her sleeves, a "" Sweat grass" comes. This grass looks ordinary, but people and animals cannot get close to it. Once they touch it, it will be like being cut by a sharp knife, with blood flowing like a stream and unbearable pain. With this "Blood Sweat Grass", the Heavenly Lake of the Queen Mother of the West can no longer be approached. This Tianchi is also more mysterious and confusing.