Day23 Sayram Lake (1): First Impressions

Sayram Lake's infrastructure is comparable to Nalati, both being very well-developed tourist spots. The visitor center (Figure 2), restrooms along the way, and dining options ensure that tourists have no worries. Both places are suitable for self-driving tours with elderly and children. Annie was puzzled, 'You're going to spend two days at Sayram Lake?' Yes! We just like a slow pace. On the first day, we will circle the lake counterclockwise; on the second day, we will enter again from the east gate, still choosing to go counterclockwise, and plan to exit from the south gate (the south gate is exit-only). One impressive point is that this is the first time I've seen a marriage registration center (Figure 3) at a domestic tourist spot. It's so beautiful that it's easy to get carried away! Everyone has their own definition of the most beautiful blue before going to Sayram Lake. My high school friend Xiao Ma just went to Xinjiang last month. She said in the group: 'Sayram Lake is really beautiful, worth visiting!' We spent New Year's Day in Hemu this year. Ken skied at the Hemu Jikepulin Ski Resort. He said the snow-capped mountains there are truly beautiful! He has been frequently visiting the Xisha Islands in the past two years and has seen more of the ocean's various wonders than most people. Perhaps the scenery of Sayram Lake won't shock him! But I told him, not everyone has the chance to see the sights you've seen, so today we should be grateful for our good luck. Not only is the sun shining brightly, but last night Sayram Lake had its first snowfall of the year, and you can see snow on the distant mountains; the color of the lake water is different from the sea water, at least in my eyes, the blue of Sayram Lake is different from the blue of Sanya Haitang Bay. Elderly tour groups are always the most high-spirited and carefree group of people. They are numerous and noisy, something young people can't compare to, being relatively quiet and decent. On the road, we discussed whether there are fish in Sayram Lake. We found the answer on Baidu: Yes, there are fish called Coregonus peled. Sayram Lake is a slightly salty lake with clear water and a transparency of 10-12 meters. Cold-water fish Coregonus peled were introduced from Russia for farming. After more than ten years of effort, the first commercial fish were caught in 2000, ending the history of no fish in Sayram Lake. At various rest stops along the way, you will often see restaurants offering 'Coregonus peled'. This fish is quite expensive, averaging 300-400 yuan per fish. Haha! I scoff at this fish. The fish Ken catches in Sanya are all wild deep-sea fish, so I won't waste money on this! In short, my first impression of Sayram Lake is not that stunning because I will always remember the emotion I felt the first time I saw Namtso, and no scenery has surpassed the shock it gave me! However, Sayram Lake's scenic area is very mature, making people feel comfortable and relaxed. It's a lake you can slowly unwind and enjoy, and it feels completely different from Qinghai Lake.