Scenic lake enjoys wave of popularity

Sayram Lake is the largest alpine lake in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, covering an area of 453 square kilometers with a water storage capacity of 21 billion cubic meters. As an important wetland in China, the lake has a rich biodiversity and is an ideal place for bird watching.

The water reflects the surrounding snowcapped mountains. After the rain, swans gracefully revel in the serene waters, mingling with gulls. Even the howling wind cannot deter the enthusiasm of tourists, as they eagerly capture the picturesque scenery along the lake to commemorate their visit.

As of Thursday, Sayram Lake Scenic Area received nearly 5.84 million visitors this year, an increase of 33.48 percent compared to the previous year, driving tourism expenditure to about 4.12 billion yuan ($587.4 million).