Tianshan Grand Canyon

The vast expanse of the Tianshan Grand Canyon Scenic Area boasts abundant tourism resources, including continuous towering mountains with steep forested slopes, holy snow-capped peaks and glaciers, mysterious virgin forests, vast valley grasslands, crisscrossing canyon rivers and rich nomadic customs. It encompasses all natural landscapes in Xinjiang except deserts.

Highlights of Tianshan Grand Canyon

Tianmen

Tianmen sits at an altitude of 2,780 meters, the highest scenic spot in Tianshan Grand Canyon. From here, you can overlook the entirety of Swan Lake and Qiaoya Grassland. When gazing down at the canyon from above, its winding path resembles a ribbon meandering across the Western Regions landscape. In the distance, the imposing Yaowang Mountain stands as one of the most stunning attractions in northwestern China.

Swan Lake

Swan Lake

Swan Lake is surrounded by mountains, forests and meadows. It is a typical alpine meadow lake with a lake area of about 2.5 square kilometers, an average lake depth of 5.8 meters and an altitude of 2,400 meters. Every summer and autumn, beautiful swans stop by the lake, and later people gradually called it Swan Lake.

Twelve Linked Lakes

In the valley, a river with clear water meanders forward. This place is called "Twelve Linked Lakes", which is 12 interconnected artificial lakes, consisting of landscape lakes and flood control channels, with water ranging from shallow to deep. The lakeside is shaded by green trees, green grass like a carpet, gravel paths, winding and twisting, pavilions and corridors, simple and simple. It is not only a good place to cool off and take a leisure stroll, but also shoulders the important task of flood discharge.

Bilong Bay

Bilong Bay

When the reservoir is full, the water surface resembles a coiling dragon, hence the name Bilong Bay (Coiling Dragon Bay). The top of Tianshan Dam is the best vantage point to overlook both Bilong Bay and Zhaobi Mountain. From the dam's summit, visitors can progressively appreciate the stunning scenery. The interplay between the water surface and the tall spruce trees offers exceptional visual delight.

Zhaobi Mountain

Zhaobi Mountain

The most beautiful Zhaobi Mountain in Tianshan Grand Canyon is the main mountain at the entrance of the Tianshan Grand Canyon Scenic Area. It is densely covered with pure forests of Tianshan spruce. The mountain stretches in a northeast-southwest direction, surrounded by water on three sides, and its side forms a pyramid-shaped peak reaching 400 meters in height. According to folklore, Zhaobi Mountain got its name because its shape closely resembles the Zhaobi (screen walls) of the mansions of princes and nobles in ancient times.

Due to the unique terrain, a strange spectacle of "three suns" appears in the sky after heavy rains. This is actually an optical phenomenon known as a sun dog. Sunlight is refracted and reflected by ice crystals in the clouds, creating multiple virtual images of the sun, which adds a mysterious and fantastical touch to Zhaobi Mountain.

Recommended shooting spot: Tianshan Dam

Educational Value

Located within the Tianshan fold belt, Tianshan Grand Canyon preserves a geological record of ancient plate collisions and crustal uplift. The clear rock layer bends (folds) and fault lines on the canyon walls vividly demonstrate the traces of the Earth's internal forces. As such, it serves as a natural classroom for geological research.

Activities to do at Tianshan Grand Canyon

Youth Science Popularization and Research Tours: Launch projects such as geological hiking, plant specimen collection, and water quality monitoring. Incorporate tools like telescopes and GPS locators to cultivate participants' observation and data analysis skills.

Art Sketching: As a scenic summer retreat integrating grasslands, forests, and lakes, the area’s diverse landforms provide rich creative inspiration, making it ideal for art sketching.