# Sayram Lake

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For other uses, see [Sayram (disambiguation)](/source/Sayram_(disambiguation)).

**Sayram Lake** (Chinese: 赛里木湖; pinyin: *Sàilǐmù hú*; Uyghur: سايرام كۆلى; Kazakh: Сайрам көлі, *Sairam köli*; Mongolian: Сайрам нуур, *Sairam nuur*), also known as ***Santai Haizi*** (Chinese: 三台海子) or historically the "**Clean Sea**" (净海), is an [endorheic](/source/Endorheic) [freshwater](/source/Freshwater) [lake](/source/Lake) in the northern [Tianshan Mountains](/source/Tianshan_Mountains) at [Börtala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture](/source/B%C3%B6rtala_Mongol_Autonomous_Prefecture), [Xinjiang](/source/Xinjiang), [China](/source/China), less than 50 km (31 mi) from the [border with](/source/China%E2%80%93Kazakhstan_border) [Kazakhstan](/source/Kazakhstan). The name *Sayram* originally derives from [Kazakh](/source/Kazakh_language), meaning "blessing"[citation needed].

The lake is the largest (458 square kilometres or 177 square miles) and also the highest (at 2,070 metres or 6,790 feet) [alpine lake](/source/Alpine_lake) in Xinjiang, largely filled by [glacial](/source/Glacial) [meltwater](/source/Meltwater), residual [precipitation](/source/Precipitation) from the Eurasian [westerlies](/source/Westerlies) and [runoffs](/source/Surface_runoff) from the surrounding [mountain chains](/source/Mountain_chain), as well as some [groundwater](/source/Groundwater) [springing](/source/Spring_(hydrology)) and [seepage](/source/Seep_(hydrology)). It was designated an [AAAA National Scenic Area](/source/AAAA_Tourist_Attractions_of_China) in 2010 and was upgraded to an [AAAAA National Scenic Area](/source/AAAAA_Tourist_Attractions_of_China) in April 2021.[1]

## History

Sayram Lake is located along the northern branch of the [historic](/source/Historic_road) [Northern Silk Road](/source/Northern_Silk_Road).[2][3] The mountainous region it belongs had been largely uninhabited throughout history, but the valleys east of it was historically settled by [Saka](/source/Saka) nomads and various [Tocharian](/source/Tocharians) people such as [Jushi](/source/Jushi_Kingdom) and [Wusun](/source/Wusun), and later by the [Göktürks](/source/G%C3%B6kt%C3%BCrks) and [Oirat](/source/Oirats) ([Dzungar](/source/Dzungar_people)) [Mongols](/source/Mongol). Around the lake, there are also [archeological sites](/source/Archeological_site) of various ancient [rock arts](/source/Rock_art), [tombs](/source/Tomb) and [ruins](/source/Ruin) of [temples](/source/Temple), [ovoo](/source/Ovoo), [steles](/source/Stele) and [stage stations](/source/Stage_station) from different dynasties.[4]

Late [Southern Song](/source/Southern_Song) Taoist monk [Qiu Chuji](/source/Qiu_Chuji) recorded in [his famous travel journal](/source/Travels_to_the_West_of_Qiu_Chang_Chun) that the lake as "spanning 200 *[li](/source/Li_(unit))* and surrounded by snowing summits",[5] calling it a "heavenly pool".[6][5][3] Other famous visitors such as [Mongol Empire](/source/Mongol_Empire) politician [Yelü Chucai](/source/Yel%C3%BC_Chucai) and [Qing dynasty](/source/Qing_dynasty) viceroy [Lin Zexu](/source/Lin_Zexu) (who was exiled to Xinjiang after the [First Opium War](/source/First_Opium_War)) also recorded descriptions of the lake.[7][6]

A local folktale relates that the lake was formed by a young [Kazakh](/source/Kazakhs) couple who had been separated by a demon, and were forced to jump into an abyss to be reunited. Their tears filled the abyss, forming the lake.[8][9][10]

## Biology

Sayram Lake is one of the most [biodiverse](/source/Biodiverse) region in [Northwest China](/source/Northwest_China).[11] Human activities are limited around the lake,[12][13] and the unique [wetland](/source/Wetland) ecosystems around the lake exert significant importance to the hydrology and climate of [northern Xinjiang](/source/Northern_Xinjiang).[14]

### Flora

The Sayram Lake region is home to 58 [families](/source/Family_(taxonomy)), 288 [genera](/source/Genera) and 639 species of [seed plants](/source/Seed_plant), including three families and 8 species of [gymnosperms](/source/Gymnosperm) and the remainder all being [angiosperms](/source/Angiosperm).[11] The [usable land](/source/Arable_land) around the lake is predominantly [steppes](/source/Steppe), although there have been large areas of [grassland degradation](/source/Grassland_degradation) since the 1980s.[14]

### Fauna

The native [wildlife](/source/Wildlife) around Sayram Lake are steppe/[desert](/source/Desert) fauna such as [corsac fox](/source/Corsac_fox) and [bobak marmot](/source/Bobak_marmot), and wetland [waterbirds](/source/Waterbird) such as [mallard](/source/Mallard) and [whooper swan](/source/Whooper_swan).[11] Originating from glacial cirques, there were originally no fish species in the lake.[15][16] [Stocking](/source/Fish_stocking) programs for [coldwater fishes](/source/Coldwater_fish) had taken place since 1976, though with poor results. Since the 1990s, 16 fish species, including [salmonids](/source/Salmonid) such as [peled](/source/Peled_(fish)) and [arctic cisco](/source/Arctic_cisco) and [cyprinids](/source/Cyprinid) like [ide](/source/Ide_(fish)), have been successfully [introduced](/source/Introduced_species) and [naturalized](/source/Naturalisation_(biology)) into the lake.[11] The lake is currently one of the most famous bases of coldwater [aquaculture](/source/Aquaculture) in China, with a dozen species being sold on the market.[15][16].

## Tourism

Sayram Lake is one of Xinjiang’s major tourist destinations. It was designated a National Key Scenic Area in 2004. In 2005, a 79-kilometre ring road around the lake was completed, and the Sayram Lake Scenic Area Administration Committee was established to oversee management.[11] In 2007, the site was approved as a National Wetland Park of China[14], and the same year saw the launch of an annual cycling race around the lake.[17] It was designated an [AAAA National Scenic Area](/source/AAAA_Tourist_Attractions_of_China) in 2010, and in April 2021 was upgraded to an [AAAAA National Scenic Area](/source/AAAAA_Tourist_Attractions_of_China).[18]

The development of the Sayram Lake tourist zone has expanded rapidly. In 2018, the scenic area began upgrading its facilities, expanding the original 2,200 m2 (24,000 sq ft) visitor service centre to about 6,500 m2 (70,000 sq ft) and adding new gates, parking areas, signage, and a restaurant and shopping complex.[19] Construction of a new, larger visitor centre began in 2023, featuring a 15,000 m2 (160,000 sq ft) main building and 50,000 m2 (540,000 sq ft) of parking.[20] The facility officially opened in January 2025, offering expanded retail, dining, and transport amenities, and hosting several fast-food outlets such as McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King and Pizza Hut. As of 2025, the area continues to grow, with construction of the [JW Marriott](/source/JW_Marriott_Hotels) Hotel complex to the east of the scenic area. The complex covers about 118,000 m2 (1,270,000 sq ft), has a planned gross floor area of about 101,000 m2 (1,090,000 sq ft), includes 701 guest rooms, and represents a total investment of 2.9 billion yuan. It will feature three international brands: [JW Marriott](/source/JW_Marriott), [Le Méridien](/source/Le_M%C3%A9ridien), and Moxy, as part of a wider regional tourism initiative.[21]

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sayram Lake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayram_Lake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayram_Lake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.