Bayinbuluke Swan Lake

Bayinbuluke Swan Lake

Introduction Around April each year, rare bird species such as mute swans, whooper swans, black-necked swans, and terns gradually return from the south to breed here. Under the sunlight, the swans, lake water, mountain peaks, and cloud shadows merge into an extremely spectacular scene. The scenic area also includes the A’ersha and Gongnaisi Gully areas. A’ersha means “healing spring” in Mongolian. The hot spring area is located on the north bank of the A’ersha River, with 12 springs spread along a 400-meter-long valley. These include cushion springs, cold springs, and eye springs. The area has a tourist guesthouse and hot spring baths. The Gongnaisi Gully area, known as the “snow mountain zoo,” is home to more than 20 rare animals including snow cocks, snow leopards, red deer, and goitered gazelles. The area features dense spruce forests that undulate along the mountainsides, and the valley is rich in pasture and blooming flowers.

Reminder: As Swan Lake is a marshland, visitors should go with a guide to avoid sinking into the swamp. The best time to view the swans is from May to early June when they are incubating eggs and raising their young. Locals regard swans as sacred birds, so visitors must be especially careful not to harm them. The weather in Bayinbuluke Grassland changes frequently, with frequent rainfall and sometimes very low temperatures—bring enough warm clothing. Dining / Accommodation / Shopping: Beds in the scenic area cost 10–30 RMB each, with hot water available, but mobile phone service is unavailable. Phone calls cost 2 RMB per minute. Transportation: The seat of the Bayinbuluke District Government is 338 km from Hejing County, with buses running every other day. Most travelers reach Bayinbuluke via the Yining–Nalati route, hitching a ride from Nalati to Bayinbuluke. Buses may pass by early in the morning, after 4 PM, or between 9 PM and midnight, but road conditions along the way are poor, vehicles are old and often overloaded—be prepared. It’s best to take buses heading from Yining to Kashgar or Korla, as those departing from Xinyuan only have hard seats. There is a passing bus from Bayinbuluke to Korla at 5 PM, but seating isn’t guaranteed; the 200-plus-kilometer journey takes at least 8 hours.

Kuerle, Xinjiang