Sinter Landscapes

Sinter Landscapes

Sinter Landscapes

The sinter landscapes are located on the banks of the Ayilangsu River and Kemzisu River, two tributaries of the Suyuk River, about 30 kilometers northwest of Tuoyun Township, Wuqia County in the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture. Accessible via provincial highways and local rural roads, the site lies 165 kilometers from Kashgar, a major city in southern Xinjiang. The area offers beautiful natural scenery centered around rivers, mountain streams, springs, and sinter formations. Visitors can learn about natural phenomena, admire sinter landscapes, enjoy pristine nature, and engage in landscape photography and painting. Sinter is a type of travertine landform, similar to stalactites and stalagmites. It forms when calcium-rich spring water flows out of the ground and oxidizes on rock surfaces, creating vibrant, multicolored crystalline deposits. These are naturally formed crystals from colorless, transparent spring water, resulting in richly colored and vivid hues. Key attractions in the area include the Ayilangsu Sinter Zone and the Kemzisu Sinter Zone. Among them, the largest sinter overflow in the Ayilangsu Sinter Zone is located beneath a massive boulder. The spring vent resembles a basin, with water gushing up in a column about 30 centimeters high, bubbling upward before cascading back into the basin and flowing down the rocks into the river. Wherever the water flows, it leaves behind colorful crystalline deposits dominated by bright red, transforming the clear stream into a series of small, multicolored pools and creeks. The creek bed is covered with a variety of colorful stones, predominantly bright red, interspersed with golden yellow, light yellow, pale blue, sapphire blue, emerald green, and milky white — all shining brilliantly under the sunlight.