Things to do in Akto

Baisha Lake is located right next to the China-Pakistan Highway. The scenery itself is beautiful, but it feels like a fenced-off area along the road that charges admission. I would recommend driving to the free North Shore Viewpoint instead. It offers a wider view, fewer crowds, and you can enjoy the same lake and mountain scenery without buying a ticket, making it much more cost-effective.

Muztagh Ata Glacier Park, Karakol Lake Muztagh Ata Peak, the "Father of Glaciers". You can get close to Glacier No. 4, but Glacier No. 2, a less popular spot, is currently closed. The park has a shuttle bus to 4500 meters, from where you can ride a horse or walk one kilometer to the 4600-meter viewing platform. Horseback riding costs 100 yuan one way, but hiking is oxygen-depriving, and horseback riding is expensive. I chose hiking. Actually, while hiking, if you're using your phone and climbing slowly, you won't feel oxygen-deprived (this varies from person to person). Locals say the glacier tongue has retreated significantly in recent years (reminds me of the poor Hailuogou). There are many attractions along the way from Kashgar to Tashkurgan, so you can plan your trip separately. Karakol Lake is 30 kilometers from the Glacier Park (the last three photos are also very photogenic; you can plan to visit both). It's also a good place to see Muztagh Ata Peak.

Muztagh Ata Glacier truly lives up to its name as the "Father of Glaciers." Heading to the 4,688-meter-high glacier viewing platform feels like embarking on a journey to a timeless rendezvous; what unfolds before me is a dreamlike world.

Embark on a journey to the Pamirs, fulfilling a promise to snow-capped mountains and lakes. The vastness of this plateau cannot be fully captured by photographs. The G314 highway offers breathtaking scenery: the crystal-clear White Sand Lake, the Karakol Lake reflecting the Muztagh Ata peak, creating a dreamlike scene; driving along the Panlong Ancient Road, one understands the meaning of "after all the detours, the road ahead is smooth"; strolling through the Golden Grasslands, watching cattle and sheep graze on the meadows, one feels the vibrant atmosphere of the Tajik Plateau. The journey encompasses Gobi Desert, glaciers, meadows, and lakes, both desolate and gentle. A reminder for future travelers: be sure to obtain your border permit in advance; the high altitude brings strong winds and low temperatures, so don't skimp on warm clothing; as the altitude increases, avoid strenuous activity and proceed according to your physical capabilities. Only after visiting the Pamirs can one truly understand the charm of Southern Xinjiang. The vast landscape makes this trip worthwhile and memorable.

The big scene is very good. To see the Devil's Eye, you need to ride a horse across the stream to the deepest part. We didn't go there. We only saw the 1st and 2nd craters. One had water and the other was dry. But the Eighteen Arhats Peak in the distance was very nice.

It's a less crowded scenic area; the tour guide said it hasn't been open long and isn't fully developed yet. It depends on your luck. If there are many clouds, you won't see the glaciers and snow-capped mountains. If the weather is good, you can see relatively high mountains. Its distinctive feature is its "black glacier," caused by carbon black aerosols that have made the rocks completely black. When we went, it was cloudy at first, but the sun came out later. It was pretty good.

This wetland volcano scenic area is definitely worth a visit! The Devil's Eye and the Eighteen Arhats Peaks are truly breathtaking, a testament to the wonders of nature. The staff at the scenic area, including Natsume, were incredibly welcoming. When our car had a flat tire, they proactively helped us find someone to fix it at 10 pm. We were so grateful!

The China-Pakistan Friendship Highway from Kashgar to Tashkurgan County and then to Khunjerab is very easy to drive and the scenery is so beautiful. Watch my video, there are two sections on the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway. If you don't have high sickness when driving, just go up all the way. I went there in March, when the winter snow just started to melt, it was as if people and cars were driving in an oil painting... Come and experience it!

Muztagh Ata stands majestically at the border of Akto County and Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County in Xinjiang, and is an important part of the western section of the Kunlun Mountains. Its body is rounded and broad, and its summit is covered with a layer of permanent limestone hundreds of meters thick.

You can see it on the way to Baisha Lake. The scenery is actually quite similar to the Rainbow Mountains of Zhangye, and the formation is similar as well. It's a good place to take some photos. There are just so many beautiful places in Xinjiang!