Lakes nourish the Altun Mountains

Shiliuyun–Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Cai Zengle) news: As the wheels slowly rolled over the Ambalaxikan mountain pass at an elevation of 4,485 metres, the view suddenly opened up. At the foot of the mountains, in the height of summer, Ayakum Lake lay like a giant sapphire, quietly embedded in the vast desert. Its clear surface shimmered gently, reflecting the pure, high-altitude sky.

Photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows a view of Ayakum Lake in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

“There are more than 100 lakes of various sizes in the reserve, and Ayakum is the largest,” said Shang Peng, a staff member of the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve Administration. Most of these lakes are distributed in intermountain basins, formed at the ends of rivers, and receive recharge from both surface water and groundwater, forming a unique inland lake ecosystem.

Photo taken on July 3, 2026 shows a view of Yixiekepati Lake in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Ayakum Lake, as the lowest point of the reserve (at 3,885 metres), covers an area of over 1,100 square kilometres. About 70 kilometres upstream, Yixiekepati Lake shines like a pearl. This is a high-altitude inland freshwater lake with both inflow and outflow, fed primarily by small rivers formed by the overflow of numerous surrounding springs. Its water quality is excellent, with low mineralisation, and it even harbours aquatic organisms such as Gammarus (amphipods), nourishing the surrounding wetlands and wildlife.

Photo taken on July 5, 2026 shows a distant view of Greater Shazihu Lake in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Continuing deeper into the desert, in the heart of the Kumukuli Desert, lie the more mysterious Greater and Lesser Shazihu Lake (Sand Lakes). Both are freshwater lakes, belonging to the same inland lake group in the Altun Basin as Ayakum. The Lesser Shazihu Lake is upstream of the Greater one, at an elevation of about 4,105 metres, while the Greater Shazihu Lake stretches like a jade ribbon across the sea of sand. Their presence brings vitality to the barren desert, serving as crucial water sources for wildlife.

Photo taken on July 4, 2026 shows a view of Lesser Shazihu Lake in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

In addition to freshwater lakes, there is also Jingyu (Whale) Lake, at an elevation of up to 4,720 metres. Half of it is fresh water and half saline -a remarkable spectacle among plateau lakes.

From Ayakum Lake to Jingyu Lake, the lakes in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains are scattered like stars, each with its unique form. They are not only magnificent natural landscapes but also the key to maintaining the balance of this high-altitude desert ecosystem. They sustain rare wildlife such as Tibetan antelopes and wild yaks, collectively composing a paean to life on the plateau.

Photo taken on July 4, 2026 shows a view of the wetlands of Yixiekepati Lake in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

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