Things to do in Emin

Emin County Wild Fruit Forest Scenic Area

Yemili Ancient City Ruins

Wudi Lake

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Sayram Lake

[Sayram Lake introduction] Sayram Lake is located at the southwestern end of Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, at the northern foot of the western Tianshan Mountains. This alpine lake and grassland national scenic area features natural landscapes including lakes, wetlands, grasslands, forests, and snow-capped mountains. Its main activities include sightseeing, eco-tourism, exploring the historical culture of the ancient Silk Road's northern route, and experiencing the ethnic customs of Mongolian and Kazakh minorities. Sayram Lake transforms with the seasons. In spring and summer, flower fields bloom in abundance, while golden fall brings a striking contrast between sky and water. Winter turns the lake into a dreamscape, with dancing ice crystals, pillars, curtains, and coral formations. Ice roses bloom freely, and mysterious blue ice eyes appear in ever-changing forms. Throughout the day, the lake presents shifting spectacles - morning glow, sunset hues, rain mist, sea of clouds, lightning, rainbows, and mist cascades. Sayram Lake covers a vast area, with a circular road around the lake spanning approx. 90 km. The lakeside scenery is exceptionally beautiful. Most visitors depart from Urumqi and arrive at the lake in the afternoon to enjoy the sunset before staying overnight. The next day, they can admire the sunrise and daytime lakeside views before heading to Huocheng, Ili, and other destinations. During the lake loop, you'll also encounter cultural relics such asGenghis Khan's Command Platform, Film and Television City, etc.These cultural structures stand quietly by the lakeside on the plateau, evoking a profound sense of melancholy and timeless grandeur. Quick guide to touring Sayram Lake

Eminxian Bayimuzha Sceneic Area

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Northern Xinjiang

World Mystery Town

World Mystery Town is located in the Gobi Desert on the northwestern edge of the Junggar Basin, and most travelers on the Northern Xinjiang loop route stop here along the way. This is a typical yardang landform, where prolonged wind erosion and water erosion have carved the Gobi into giant earth mounds of varying heights and shapes, resembling an abandoned ancient city from afar. The attraction sits right in a wind gap and is windy year-round, which is why locals also call it "Urho Wind City." There is even a saying: "One wind a year, blowing from spring to winter"—when strong winds pass through the crisscrossing gaps between the mounds, they emit shrill howls that sound like ghosts wailing at night, and this is how the name "Mystery Town" came about. In 2005, when *Chinese National Geography* held its "Beauty of China" selection for yardang landforms, this site was listed alongside the yardangs of Dunhuang and Lop Nur, making it one of the representative yardang views in China. The earthen mounds across the gobi resemble castle towers, while others look like people or animals. The attraction has given names to the most distinctive mounds, and the "sphinx" is one of the most popular sights among them. The attraction is quite large, and sightseeing is mainly done by riding the sightseeing mini train, which stops along the way at the sphinx, the filming location of "Seven Swords," the shooting spot of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Dinosaur Valley, and other stops, with a guide on board. Both the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and the TV series "Seven Swords" were filmed here, and the stops retain sculptures restored according to movie scenes, so film fans can go stop by stop to find familiar images; Dinosaur Valley was built based on dinosaur fossils such as the Junggar pterosaur unearthed in Urho, and together with the oilfield experience area that reflects the history of local oil development, these two are content rarely found in other yardang attractions, and visitors can also experience riding a camel and taking photos in the attraction. The stay at each stop is limited, so if you have not taken enough photos, there is no need to rush for the train; just wait for the next one, and a full loop takes about two or three hours. At sunset, the slanting rays dye the earthen mound a warm gold, with distinct layers of light and shadow—the golden hour for photography. However, the Gobi has strong winds and sand, plus intense sunlight, so remember to bring windproof and sun protection gear and drinking water.

Emin County Wild Poppy Valley

No. 8 of Best Things to Do in Northern Xinjiang

Dushanzi Grand Canyon

Dushanzi Grand Canyon is located in Dushanzi District, Karamay City, Xinjiang, about 28 km south of the urban area, with accessible roads for vehicles. The canyon floor is 100–400m wide, while the canyon shoulders span 800–1,000m. With a height of up to 200m from base to shoulder and an elevation of 1,070m, this attraction features spectacular canyon terrain. After breaking through the Tianshan Mountains, the river carved out a spectacular canyon in the sloping plains southwest of Dushanzi. The terraces on both sides of the canyon are clearly visible, with at least nine distinct levels. The terrace surfaces feature desert grasslands dotted with wormwood and feather grass. Within Dushanzi, the Kuitun River flows through the Dushanzi Grand Canyon, which runs nearly north-south. The canyon walls are steep cliffs, while the river at the bottom alternately converges and diverges. The canyon shoulders are covered in desert grasslands. Standing at the canyon's edge, visitors are treated to a classic grand canyon panorama. The meltwater from Tianshan Mountain and rainwater carve out these unique canyon views by forming alluvial gullies through the local soil. The canyon begins at the mountain's base, creating distinct soil layers across the grassland, primarily in shades of gray and black. Though fed by abundant snowmelt, the water turns turbid as it carries sediment through these mineral-rich soils.

Emin County City Memory Museum

No. 3 of Global Traveller-Picked Attractions in Burqin

Rainbow Cliff

Also known as the Colorful River Bank, located in the Irtysh River basin, the Rainbow Cliff was formed by natural effects, such as wind erosion, water erosion and leaching, and is a typical Yadan landform. The Rainbow Cliff is also special because of its brilliant colors and diverse shapes. Bright red, green, purple, yellow, brown and other colors appeared on the beach where there was almost nothing after thousands of years of wind erosion, rain and washing by river water.