People often compare lakes to “pearls” scattered across the vast landscape of China. Some of these lakes, nestled high in the plateaus and mountains, maintain their “aloof” status.
In fact, there are quite a few of these alpine lakes, but since they are mostly hidden deep in the mountains, they are rarely seen by the average person.
Among the various alpine lakes, some were formed by volcanic activity, some by glacial deposits, and others by tectonic movements blocking river channels.
They are also known as “tianchi” or “heavenly lakes.”
Join us as we appreciate the beauty of these heavenly lakes across China.
1.Tianchi Lake, Changbai Mountain
Imagine the moment when you are exhausted from climbing a mountain, and as you round a giant rock, a tranquil lake appears before your eyes. How refreshing would that be?
This “giant basin” was placed by nature at the summit of the mountain.
The lake surface sits at an altitude of 2,154 meters.
Tianchi Lake of Changbai Mountain resembles a giant funnel, gradually accumulating water to form a massive crater lake. The water in Tianchi Lake is supplied by natural precipitation and seepage from surrounding mountains, maintaining a low water temperature throughout the year, generally below 10°C, and lacking aquatic life.
A unique vegetation community at the foot of Tianchi Lake, Changbai Mountain
The water from Tianchi Lake flows out through a gap, gently passing through the mountains like a blue silk ribbon. When it reaches the cliff, it cascades down, forming the famous Changbai Mountain Waterfall. The waterfall is over 60 meters high and quite spectacular. Its roar can be heard from 200 meters away.
It is precisely because of the high altitude and large water volume of Tianchi Lake in Changbai Mountain that it is also the source of the Songhua River, Yalu River, and Tumen River, earning it the nickname “Source of Three Rivers.”
After being influenced by volcanic activity, the top of Tianchi Lake overlooks the tundra forest landscape of Changbai Mountain.
2.Tianchi Lake, Wen County, Gansu
The Longnan Mountains are located in the southeastern part of Gansu Province, bordering the Loess Plateau of central Gansu to the north and the Gannan Plateau to the west, covering an area of about 27,800 square kilometers.
In terms of natural landforms, the Longnan Mountains are a different type of natural landscape in Gansu. They possess towering peaks, deep valleys, lush vegetation, and clear streams, which are rare in the northwestern region, subverting people’s traditional perception of Gansu.
Due to ancient tectonic movements that caused crustal fractures and blocked river channels, a jade-like lake was formed at an altitude of more than 2,400 meters on Tianwei Mountain, resembling a gourd in shape. This is Tianchi Lake in Wen County.
At such a high altitude, the Min Mountains hold up this huge mirror, reflecting the vast snow-capped mountains, perilous cliffs, and floating clouds in the sky. The average depth of this lake is 97 meters, and it covers an area of 0.88 square kilometers. Tianchi Lake is shaped like a casually carved jade gourd, with many small hills extending their horns into the water, forming nine bends and eighteen turns.
In early summer, on the mountaintops surrounding Tianchi Lake, white snow still gleams with dazzling light. Under the pure blue sky, the peaks are robust and magnificent, the lake water is clear and deep, and the forests are lush and dense, making you feel as if you are immersed in a vividly colorful landscape painting.
3.Mengda Tianchi Lake, Qinghai
Similarly nestled in the embrace of green ridges at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, Mengda Tianchi Lake in Qinghai lies quietly in the arms of nature like a shining pearl. Whenever sunlight falls on the lake surface, the rippling water looks like it is paved with glittering jewels, exuding a captivating charm.
The annual precipitation here is over 600 millimeters. The rainy characteristics have made this place the plant kingdom of Qinghai, earning it the reputation of being the “Xishuangbanna of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.”
The lake water is crystal clear, with a sweet taste. The lake and mountains, misty haze, green pines and cypresses, birds flying and fish leaping create a charming scenery.
Located within the Mengda National Nature Reserve, the forest ecosystem is complete, and lakes are densely distributed, earning it the name “Natural Botanical Garden.”
Mengda Tianchi Lake is much smaller than the Tianchi Lakes of Changbai Mountain and Tianshan Mountain. But it has its own characteristics.
The Tianchi Lake of Changbai Mountain is surrounded by several volcanic peaks, and the lush Schrenk’s spruce forest of Tianshan Mountain is located further away from the lake. In contrast, the Tianchi Lake of Mengda is completely surrounded by extremely dense forests, covering the entire area from the lakeshore to the mountaintop.
4.Mulan Tianchi Lake, Hubei
Here, you can find a crystal-clear Tianchi Lake, picturesque waterfalls, and unique trees;
Here, the mountain air merges with the azure mist, and the water is as bright as a mirror;
Here is the beloved summer resort of Wuhan people;
Here, it is known as the “Little Jiuzhai of Hubei,” this is Mulan Tianchi Lake!
In spring, Mulan Tianchi Lake is like a palette of nature. Lotus flowers bloom on the lake surface in red, pink, and white, competing with each other in beauty, contrasting with the jade-green lake water. Everywhere you look, there are spring colors.
In summer, Mulan Tianchi Lake presents a lush and vibrant landscape. The trees on both sides of the lake are thriving, and under the embrace of the high mountains, the lake water is clear to the bottom. Boats ride the waves, passing through the lake water reflecting the green mountains and white clouds, as if entering a fairyland on earth.
In autumn, the autumn leaves turn yellow and then red, red and then yellow, and the layered autumn colors come rushing towards you. The entire Tianchi Lake scenery is adorned with colorful autumn leaves, making it stunningly beautiful and intoxicating.
In winter, due to the high altitude here, it becomes one of the snowiest regions in Hubei Province. On snowy days, Mulan Tianchi Lake is like an ink painting, with the mountains, lake, and trees echoing each other. Sometimes, the branches on both sides are hung with crystal-clear icicles, like exquisitely carved and transparent works of art.
5.Bigu Tianchi Lake, Yunnan
Every year in late May and early June, when the rhododendrons are in full bloom, it is the most gorgeous season in Shangri-La.
Bigu Tianchi Lake is called “Chu Zhang” in Tibetan, meaning a small lake. Because it is located in the Bigu pasture, it is named Bigu Tianchi Lake. The surrounding area not only has large tracts of primeval forests and green pastures with tranquil herds of cattle and sheep, but what is even more stunning are the flowers by the lake.
The lakeside is full of rhododendron forests, some tall and straight, some twisted like coiled dragons. The flowers are mostly large-crowned, brightly colored yellow rhododendrons, white rhododendrons, and red rhododendrons. If Baima Snow Mountain is famous for its rhododendron flower tides, then the rhododendrons of Bigu Tianchi Lake are known for their large crowns and bright colors, hidden in the deep mountains, unrecognized by people.
Located in the Hengduan Mountains, the surrounding area of Bigu Tianchi Lake, covering tens of square kilometers, is all primeval forest, with tall and straight trees, mostly spruce and fir.
Due to the steep terrain of the Hengduan Mountains, the natural environment is less affected by human activities, so it has primitive vegetation types from low to high altitudes. It forms vertical vegetation belts in the form of evergreen broad-leaved forests, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, subalpine coniferous forests, rhododendron moss dwarf forests, alpine rhododendron shrubs, alpine meadows, and alpine gravel fields.
Every late autumn and early winter, the first snow begins to cover this sacred Tianchi realm. However, the water covered by ice and snow is still clear, the trees are still verdant, and the rhododendron trees without flowers and the pastures without green grass are more intriguing with the adornment of snow.
6.Tianshan Tianchi Lake, Xinjiang
Speaking of Tianchi, how can we forget about Tianshan Tianchi Lake?
Tianshan Tianchi Lake in Xinjiang is one of the glacial lakes of the Bogda Snow Mountain, but it is much larger than the surrounding glacial lakes. Many geographers believe that it is actually a “glacial dammed lake,” with its embankment heightened by glacial debris flows, thus “upgrading” its water storage capacity.
The deepest part of the lake bottom is about 100 meters.
Here, the mountains surround the lake, the water is clear and the sky is blue, and the snow peaks are majestic and towering, reflecting in the lake water, blending the lake scenery and mountain colors into one.
Tianchi Lake is completely different from the local environment in Xinjiang. The climate here is humid all year round, with abundant precipitation, fresh air, and cool and pleasant weather, thus it is also known as the “Pearl of Tianshan.”
From May to October is the most beautiful time at Tianchi Lake. In addition to the bright blue lake water, even more beautiful is the distant scenery. Looking south, you can see the solemn and tranquil Bogda Peak, which forms the most beautiful landscape of Tianshan together with Tianchi Lake. In the distance, it is ice-bound and silver-wrapped, with the lake and mountain scenery being endlessly beautiful.
7.Aershan Tianchi Lake, Inner Mongolia
Similar to the formation of Changbai Mountain Tianchi Lake mentioned earlier, Aershan Tianchi Lake is also formed by volcanic activity and belongs to a volcanic crater lake.
Every summer, Inner Mongolia becomes a popular tourist destination. Coming here, the scenery of Aershan Tianchi Lake will undoubtedly become the choice of many people.
At the top of the mountain, Aershan Tianchi Lake, nestled in the forest, is like a bright mirror, exuding a mysterious and charming luster, as if it came from outside the world.
Aershan Tianchi Lake is located 78 kilometers northeast of Aershan City, upstream of the Halaha River, at an altitude of 1,334 meters, only lower than Changbai Mountain and Tianshan Tianchi Lakes. It covers an area of about 3.9 square kilometers. It is a high mountain lake with deep and clear lake water, surrounded by lofty mountains and magnificent scenery.
On the way to Arxan Tianchi Lake, volcanic landforms are widely distributed.
It is hard to imagine how hot and fiery the river of lava once flowed here, surging and overwhelming, changing this place, and then going through freezing, condensing, weathering, collapsing, and shattering… to form what it looks like today.
This is the Stone Pond Forest.
In summer, the temperature here is only 15-25°C, making it a natural summer resort. Coming here is like being in a natural oxygen bar, making people feel refreshed and invigorated.
A dammed lake formed after a volcanic eruption
