Fuyun Riverside Scenic Area

Fuyun Riverside Scenic Area

Fuyun Riverside Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

 The Ertix River Landscape Belt mainly consists of the southern riverbank landscape of the Ertix River, the pedestrian suspension bridge, the Kalatongke Lake Island musical fountain, sluice dam landscapes, and more. It aims to improve the city’s ecological environment, living conditions, tourism appeal, and investment climate. By using light and music to enhance the night scene, it creates a distinctive riverside landscape on both banks. At night, the activation of the musical fountain transforms the Lake Island musical fountain, the flat bridge, landscape stones, swan sculptures, flamingos, more landscape stones, and the artificial beach into a major highlight of Fuyun County. It has also become a popular spot for leisure, entertainment, and sports among the various ethnic groups in Fuyun.

The Ertix River originates from the Jialegeziga Peak at the southern foot of the Altay Mountains. It is the only outward-flowing river in China that drains into the Arctic Ocean system. With its source elevation at 3,100 meters and a total length of 2,969 kilometers, it flows from east to west (as most people know, rivers usually flow eastward, but the Ertix River flows westward). This is because the river is located on the piedmont zone of the southern Altay Mountains and the northern edge of the Junggar Basin. Due to the basin tilting from southeast to northwest, the Ertix River basin follows the southeast–northwest fault line and flows out of the country. It crosses through Altay and enters Lake Zaysan in Kazakhstan. Downstream, it is called the Irtysh River, which eventually flows into the Arctic Ocean in Kazakhstan. It is the only oceanic river in the arid land of Xinjiang. Within China, it stretches 600 kilometers, with a drainage area of 57,300 square kilometers, and flows for 148 kilometers within Altay City, Xinjiang. Due to orogenic movements and crustal fractures, all its tributaries develop on the northern side of the main stream.

There are hundreds of species of poplar trees growing along both banks of the Ertix River. The main varieties include the eastern poplar, bitter poplar, silver poplar, black poplar, Ertix poplar, desert poplar, pointed-fruited oleaster, and white poplar. These are characterized by their wide variety, fast growth, high-quality timber, and multiple special uses. Four of the world’s five major poplar lineages—the eastern poplar, white poplar, desert poplar, and black poplar—are concentrated here, especially the European black poplar, which is particularly precious due to its scarcity. The valley native forests in the basin belong to the temperate deciduous broadleaf forest type, primarily composed of moisture-loving and mesophytic poplars, supplemented by xerophytes.

The climate of the Ertix River region is a continental desert and semi-arid desert climate. The eastern part is influenced by the Mongolian High Pressure, while the northern part is affected by the Arctic Ocean and Siberian cold currents. As a result, cold waves and moisture enter the Altay Mountain area through the Ertix River valley, playing a significant role in plant growth and animal reproduction. According to climate data, the Ertix River basin experiences little rainfall throughout the year, severe cold in winter and spring, frequent snowstorms, large temperature variations, and long hours of sunshine, yet it has abundant water resources—creating rare ecological conditions along the Ertix River. Common animals in the area include goitered gazelles, argali, wild boars, cape hares, and otters. There are 11 species of reptiles, such as the green toad, patterned snake, and steppe viper. Bird species include the Eurasian nightjar, grey shrike, blue-capped redstart, common redstart, and yellow-throated bunting.

The diversity of plant communities here fosters a rich variety of waterfowl. Tall poplars and willows, along with dense reeds, provide shelter for local water birds. The area is also home to cold-water freshwater fish species, including the sterlet sturgeon, northern pike, taimen, long-tailed whitefish, and 10 other species such as the peled.

The Ertix River not only nurtures the people of Altay but also nourishes tens of millions of acres of high-quality natural grasslands, supports agricultural irrigation, and provides hydroelectric power and aquatic resources. The people of Altay call it the Mother River.