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The
last stop on your westward journey along the Silk Road is Urumqi, the
capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, situated at the northern
foothill
of the snow-capped Tianshan Mountains.
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Urumqi, Capital of
Xinjiang Autonomous Region |
Urumqi, meaning
"fine pasture" in Mongolian, was first
inhabited by a mixture of ethnic groups about
3,000 years ago. Since
the northern route of the Silk Road passed through the
city, it was
a heavily
guarded fort in the Han Dynasty, and remained so for many
centuries. Today, the city itself has few historical sites to
offer tourists, except for the museum of the autonomous region that
houses some valuable relics unearthed along the Silk Road. An excursion
to Tianchi, however, is worthwhile.
Tianchi, or “Lake of
Heaven,”
is about 30 miles southeast of Urumqi, at an elevation of 6,435 feet
above sea level. It is a beautiful highland lake, flanked by rugged
pines and cypresses, and with clear waters that reflect the surrounding
mountains. In winter, it provides an ideal alpine skating rink. In fact,
China's winter skating games have been held there.
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Lake of Heaven (Tianchi) |
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