There is a shade of blue called Sayram Lake blue

Sayram Lake, known as 'the last tear of the Atlantic', is recommended for a self-driving tour around the lake. To be honest, whether Sayram Lake is beautiful or not depends on the weather and luck. On my second visit to Sayram Lake, I was quite lucky as it was sunny all the way. The first time I went it was overcast, which made it less impressive. Ticket prices: 145 RMB per person for a one-day tour, 190 RMB per person for a two-day tour. For self-driving, the ticket is 142 RMB per person (including one person's ticket), and other passengers in the car need to purchase their tickets separately. Tour route (clockwise): East Gate → Moon Bay → Santai Grassland → Waterfront Beach → Film and TV City → Pointing Platform → West Sea Grassland → Kele Yongzhu → Internet-famous S Bend → Pine Tree Head → South Gate. Must-visit spots: • Moon Bay: The first parking spot after entering from the East Gate, where you can walk along the boardwalk to the lakeside and admire the 3600-meter main peak on the east coast of the lake. This place has many visitors, so it is recommended to use a drone to capture more beautiful scenes. • Waterfront Beach: There are many stones on the shore, and there is a higher chance of seeing swans. There are also large fields of flowers nearby, which make for great photo opportunities. However, during peak season, swans may congregate in the bays from Pine Tree Head to Swan Water Fun. • West Sea Grassland: The sunrise and sunset here are very beautiful, and various flowers bloom in June and July, making it the place with the most flowers around the lake. There are also boardwalks that lead to the forest, where you can experience the freshness and tranquility of nature. • Golden Flowers and Purple Plants: The famous lighthouse photo is taken here. On a sunny day, it is simply stunning. • Kele Yongzhu: One of the photo spots with a concave shape of Sayram Lake, taken from the center of the Silver Moon Dam. I didn't have time to visit due to a tight schedule. • Internet-famous S Bend: This is a great place to shoot road movies, with snow-capped mountains and flower fields as the backdrop. It is vast and beautiful, but a telephoto lens is needed to capture the S bend effect. Due to the crowd, it's hard to get a good shooting position. • Pine Tree Head: Remember to climb the mountain to overlook the entire panorama of Sayram Lake, and you might also see the Guozigou Bridge. Be sure to take sun protection measures. Dining options: There is food available at almost every scenic spot, depending on your own arrangement. We dined at the restaurant at the Pointing Platform and had Arctic salmon, but the prices were relatively high. You can also bring your own dry food and have a picnic on the grassland among the flowers. Accommodation options: • Inside the scenic area: There are options such as RVs and starry sky rooms, which are more expensive but offer beautiful scenery and the opportunity to watch the stars. For example, accommodations near Waterfront Beach, Pointing Platform, or West Sea Grassland. Staying inside the scenic area allows for more time to enjoy the beauty of Sayram Lake, especially the sunrise and sunset. However, the prices are definitely higher, and you need to book in advance. • Outside the scenic area: Near the East Gate: There are also many accommodation options. We found a Central Asia Fullna Hotel, which was quite good in all aspects and can be recommended for a stay.