Bosten Lake, Largest Inland Freshwater Lake in China

Bosten Lake is situated in the southern part of the Tianshan Mountains, within the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It covers a lake area of 1,646 square kilometers, with an average water level elevation of 1,048 meters above sea level. It is the largest lake in Xinjiang and also China’s largest inland freshwater inflow-outflow lake. Its main scenic spots include Dahekou (Xihai Fishing Village), Lianhua Lake, Ahongkou, Yangshuizhan, Bailuzhou, and Jinshatan (Golden Beach), among others.

Quick Facts

Chinese name: 博斯腾湖 Bó Sī Téng Hú
Suggested time: 3 - 4 hours
Ticket: Bosten Lake is open to the public free of charge, but different scenic spots within the scenic area charge fees, and the prices vary.
Open hours: Open all day. However, it's better to check in advance as opening hours may be adjusted during special festivals or seasons.
The best time to visit: June - September
Address: Located between Korla City and Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
How to get there: Rent a car or drive by yourself. The road conditions are generally good, and navigation can easily guide you to the lake area.

Highlights of Bosten Lake

Dahekou Scenic Area

The Dahekou Scenic Area of Bosten Lake, also known as Xihai Fishing Village, is a natural-type scenic spot. Dahekou gets its name because it is located at the entrance to Bosten Lake. It is laid out in a "gourd-shaped" structure, including attractions such as the First Pot of Xihai, the Water Stage, the Xihai Corridor, the Wetland Plank Road, the Wanghai Pavilion Wharf, the Xihai Dragon Palace Water World, and the Mongolian Camp.

Lianhua Lake

Lianhua Lake is located in the southwest of Bosten Lake. It gets its name from the abundant lotus flowers it produces and is the largest natural water lily growing area in China. The lake is the source of the Kongque River, with a lake area of 48 square kilometers. The lake is dense with reeds, the water is clear, the central water area is open, and the water depth ranges from 1.5 to 1.7 meters. In summer and autumn, animals such as wild ducks, wild geese, and egrets can be seen here. Lianhua Lake has water restaurants and water platforms, and offers various water vacation and leisure activities as well as sports projects such as yachts, speedboats, motorboats and water paragliding. The golden season to visit Lianhua Lake is from April to October.

Jinshatan (Golden Beach)

Jinshatan is located on the northeastern shore of Bosten Lake, with a coastline 2,000 meters long and 160 meters wide. It is a lake-type natural bathing beach and is known as the "Hawaii of Xinjiang". The scenic area consists of landscapes such as beaches, lake waters, reed marshes, and waterfowls.

Educational Value

Located in the basin at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, Bosten Lake’s formation is closely related to the Tianshan orogeny and basin subsidence. The dunes, alluvial plains and other landforms around the lake clearly show the process of surface morphology being jointly shaped by internal and external forces such as plate movement, river sedimentation and wind action, which helps in understanding geological principles.

Activities to do at Bosten Lake

Water entertainment activities: In the scenic area, you can experience exciting projects such as water bikes, jet skis, speedboats, and water supercars, as well as participate in parent-child cooperative fishing competitions and enjoy a variety of water entertainment facilities.

Folk cultural activities: During traditional Chinese festivals, the Dahekou Scenic Area holds a Dragon Boat Festival cultural market to showcase intangible cultural heritage projects such as reed painting making and five-color rope weaving. Visitors can also participate in folk events such as dragon boat racing and zongzi-eating competitions.

By Mia Li
Web Editor