天山

Why this place

The Tian Shan runs for 2,500km across Central Asia and divides Xinjiang into its northern and southern halves — everything about the region's climate, irrigation and history follows from it. Its Bogda peak and the Tianchi lake are the classic excursion from Urumqi.

What to see

• Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) — a glacial lake below Bogda Peak, with Kazakh yurts
• The Nanshan and the Kazakh herding valleys south of Urumqi
• The Tomur and Khan Tengri peaks on the Kyrgyz border, for serious mountaineering
• The Bayanbulak grassland on the range's southern side

What to eat

• Kazakh food: boiled mutton, milk tea, kumiss and naan
• Xinjiang's melons and dried fruit, sold at every road stop

How to plan

One day for Tianchi from Urumqi, longer for the southern range.

Best time

June–September