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The Tianchi Lake (Heavenly Lake) is located at the mountainside of the Bogda Peak, the highest peak in the east range of Tianshan Mountain (Heavenly Mountain), about 110 kilometers to Urumqi of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The lake has a reputation of the Pearl on Heavenly Mountain for its fascinating scenery and was listed among the first group of the national key scenic spots in 1982.
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In ancient times, mud-rocks that flowed down from the glaciers and blocked the river course formed the Tianchi Lake. About 1,980 meters above sea level, the lake has a shape of half-moon and covers an area of 4.9 square kilometers. The climate here is moist with plenty of rainfall. In summer, the Tianchi Lake is a perfect resort in the sweltering desert. One can enjoy the pure and fresh air as well as the cool and pleasant weather.
The name of the Tianchi Lake can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It comes from two words, Tianjing, meaning the heavenly mirror, and Shenchi, meaning the pool of immortals. The lake water is crystal blue, just like a bright mirror. Lying at the mountainside of the snow-crowned Bogda Peak, the Tianchi Lake is surrounded by numerous towering verdant dragon spruces, tall and straight. The lake also has various waterfalls with constantly changing cloud and mist, forming a splendor and open plateau landscape.
Tianshan Mountain is abundant in snow lotus and snow chicken as well as a number of medicinal materials such as mushroom, root of Co donopsis Pilosula, membranous milk vetch and fritillaria. Moreover, there are also rich mineral resources such as copper, iron and mica. The Tianshan Lake is attractive to geologists, geographers and tourists with its rare birds and beasts, glaciers, special landscape and rich resources.
(Source: chinaculture.org)
