"Walking into Xinjiang Series - (First Series. Combined Volume)"

Author: Liu Changming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The Tianshan Mountains, the symbol of Xinjiang. The Tianshan Mountains are one of China's three major transverse mountain ranges. Anciently known as Beishan, Snow Mountain, White Mountain, and Yinshan. The Tianshan Mountains are one of Asia's largest mountain systems. Within China, the Tianshan Mountains stretch from the Kizil Valley in Wucha County at the Pamir Knot in the west, meandering eastward until beyond the Xingxingjia in Hami. The Tianshan Mountains are higher in the west and lower in the east, stretching over 1,700 kilometers in length, 250 to 350 kilometers in width, with the widest point reaching 400 kilometers, and an average elevation of 4,000 meters. The main peak, Tomur Peak, stands at 7,435 meters above sea level. The Tianshan Mountains consist of three parallel transverse ranges: the Northern Tianshan, the Central Tianshan, and the Southern Tianshan. From west to east, the Northern Tianshan includes Altai Mountains, Poluoqinuo Mountain, and Yilianhabierga Mountain; the Central Tianshan includes Wusun Mountain, Narati Mountain, and Erbin Mountain; the Southern Tianshan includes Kokshalet Mountain, Harketawu Mountain, Kokfeitiek Mountain, and Horla Mountain. East of Bogda Peak lies the Eastern Tianshan, which includes Bogda Mountain, Balinkun Mountain, and Harlik Mountain. The peaks of the Tianshan Mountains are majestic, with sparkling snow and clouds shrouding the peaks. The Western Tianshan has over a dozen peaks exceeding 6,000 meters, forming vast glacial clusters. Each of the peaks stretching eastward at over 4,000 meters is covered with glaciers, making the Tianshan Mountains the largest glacier distribution area in Xinjiang. According to the "Glacier Catalog," the Tianshan Mountains have 9,128 glaciers, covering an area of nearly 9,260 square kilometers, with a water storage equivalent to the annual inflow of the Yangtze River. The Tianshan glaciers are Xinjiang's largest solid water reservoir. Every summer, the small and large glaciers and snow in the mountains melt, flowing down and merging into rivers such as the Ili River, Aksu River, Manas River, and Urumqi River, nourishing the vast basins and oases north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. The Tianshan Mountains wind and rise, with towering peaks and magnificent scenery, featuring many spectacular wonders. The crystal-clear, crystal-like snow peaks and ice cliffs have left the footprints of Chinese climbers; the Tianchi, a high-altitude lake, is like a mirror on the comb of the Queen Mother of the West in mythology, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and beautiful lake scenery; the vast natural pastures are covered with lush green grass and blooming wildflowers, as if embroidered with brocade; the mountain springs and streams flowing through the valleys and peaks, sparkling like pearls and jade, creating a scene of flowers and clouds; the lakes on the highland plains, with clear water and bright mountains, reflecting the rippling waves. The Tianshan Mountains are adorned with the traces of history and have witnessed the colors of the world. Tracing back over 2,000 years, the Tianshan Mountains once welcomed the troops of Zhang Qian and Ban Chao, and welcomed the carriages of Jieyou and Feng Yi. The long ice valleys were the arduous journey of the monk Xuanzang on his pilgrimage; the winding ancient roads were the Silk Road for merchants from China and beyond; the oases and grasslands were the battlefields where Genghis Khan rode; the rivers and streams were the milk of the Gobi Desert, desolate sand dunes, and alkali flats. The beauty of the Tianshan Mountains lies more in its grandeur and uniqueness. Snow peaks, pine forests, and meadows are the three key elements that compose the scenery of the Tianshan Mountains. Below the snow line, dense primeval forests stretch, below which are vast alpine meadows. The combination of snow peaks, dark pines, and green meadows creates a harmonious aesthetic experience, elevating the beauty of the Tianshan Mountains. From an airplane, the Tianshan Mountains appear as a vast ocean of white waves, with layered peaks like frozen waves, surging and roaring, their grandeur and majesty leaving a profound impression. Since ancient times, the Tianshan Mountains have been home to nomadic peoples. In these vast grasslands, there are Kazakh yurts, Mongolian yurts, and stone houses for winter grazing. As you wander in the Tianshan Mountains, when you find yourself at a fork in the road, with no villages in sight and no carriages behind, a sudden sense of solitude may arise. Suddenly, a white yurt appears in your vision, bringing a sense of surprise and familiarity. The curling smoke rising from the stove, the pastoral songs echoing in the ears, and the clouds-like flocks of sheep form a magical landscape, captivating the heart. The Tianshan Mountains are a treasure trove, rich in rare gems and treasures. The Tianshan Mountains contain abundant coal, copper, nickel, iron, manganese, lead, and zinc, with substantial reserves of rare metals like lithium and beryllium. There are also non-metallic mineral deposits such as mica, quartz, bentonite, and marble, not only with abundant reserves but also of high quality. For example, the Eastern Tianshan mining belt alone has 76 types of metal and non-metallic mineral deposits. The Tianshan Mountains are indeed a resource-rich area in Xinjiang. The Tianshan Mountains are also a famous protected area for wildlife and plants, home to various rare birds and animals such as deer, wolves, bears, tigers, jackals, gazelles, vultures, and eagles, which roam the mountains. Wildlife are friends of humanity, and protecting wildlife is protecting ourselves. The Tianshan Mountains also produce many traditional Chinese medicines, with the most prized being the snow lotus. In the right season, if you bravely climb above the snow line, you can see clusters of snow lotuses, like jade carvings, absorbing snowwater and enduring snowlight, exuding gentleness, elegance, and purity. Snow lotuses are precious medicinal herbs, and the timid are unlikely to find them. Generations of scholars and poets have extolled the beauty of the Tianshan Mountains. In the poem "Passing the Frontier" by Yang Su of the Sui Dynasty, there is the line, "Under the bright moon of Jiaohe at night, Yinshan seems misty in the morning." The great poet Li Bai's line, "The bright moon rises from the Tianshan Mountains, amidst vast clouds and seas. The long wind blows for tens of thousands of miles, passing the Yumen Pass," is even more famous. The frontier poet Cen Shen wrote, "April is still cold, the Tianshan Mountains are shrouded in snow," describing the scenery of the Tianshan Mountains. The Tianshan Mountains have been praised, described, and painted endlessly by ancient scholars, and even modern people find it hard to capture their essence. The beauty of the Tianshan Mountains is endless, they are vast and profound, they are enchantingly charming, and they are utterly magnificent. 2-3