Snow Lotus Peak

Snow Lotus Peak

Snow Lotus Peak

Snow Lotus Peak, with an elevation of 6,627 meters, is situated at 80.9°E longitude and 42.3°N latitude in Wensu County, Xinjiang. It is located 66 kilometers northeast of Tomur Peak, the highest peak in the Tianshan Mountains within China, and is part of the Southern Tianshan Mountain Range.

Snow Lotus Peak mainly has three ridges: the southwest ridge, the southeast ridge, and the north ridge. In the vicinity of Snow Lotus Peak, there are also more than ten satellite peaks and independent peaks over 6,000 meters high, including a 6,527-meter southeast satellite peak, a 6,472-meter north satellite peak, a 6,156-meter southwest satellite peak, as well as two sister peaks to the west and northeast with elevations of 6,438 meters and 6,231 meters respectively. Especially the western sister peak — Aketao Peak — is just 6 kilometers away in a straight line from Snow Lotus Peak, with connected mountain masses, resembling a pair of twin sisters.

Snow Lotus Peak lives up to its name; viewed from afar, it resembles a blooming snow lotus, graceful and beautiful. Moreover, there are numerous glaciers surrounding Snow Lotus Peak, particularly the Bashikelimes Glacier to the north and the 30-kilometer-long, 2-kilometer-wide Muzart Glacier to the northwest. The Muzart River originates from these glaciers and becomes a tributary of the Tarim River. Additionally, there is also a glacier directly to the south of Snow Lotus Peak. The Muzart River source is less than 15 kilometers away in a straight line from Snow Lotus Peak, yet the elevation drops sharply by nearly 4,000 meters, illustrating the dramatic depth of the glacial carving.

The first recorded ascent of Snow Lotus Peak was achieved on August 19, 1990, by a Japanese mountaineering team.

The approach route to Snow Lotus Peak is similar to that of another high peak in the Tianshan Mountains — Khan Tengri Peak, a 6,995-meter border peak between China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. The route goes from Urumqi to Aksu, then north to Wensu, and eastward for 60 kilometers to Pochengzi. From there, one must hike 40 kilometers up the Muzart River Valley to Tugaibierqi. To the northwest is Khan Tengri Peak, to the southwest is Tomur Peak, and to the northeast is Snow Lotus Peak.