Nalin Lake

Nalin Lake

Nalin Lake is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national wetland park.

Nalin Lake

The Nalin Lake scenic area is located within the Nalin Tao Hai Farm, covering a planned area of 30,000 mu, with 18,000 mu of lake and wetland. It is being developed in three phases over ten years, focusing on key tourism projects including one gate, two fields, three centers, four gardens, five zones, six islands, seven wonders, eight scenic spots, and thirty-six land and water activities. It is a high-value tourism resource integrating natural ecology and scientific-humanistic elements in the heart of the Ulan Buh Desert at the foot of the Yin Mountains, and serves as an important stop for self-driving tours in western China and a core scenic spot on premium travel routes. In 2012, it was designated as a national wetland park by the State Forestry Administration, in 2013 it was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, and in 2015 it was listed as one of the first national recreational fishery bases by the Ministry of Agriculture.

In the Nalin Tao Hai Farm of Bayannur Reclamation Area, located in the northeastern part of the Ulan Buh Desert in Inner Mongolia, there lies a pristine virgin lake. With vast misty waters, circling migratory birds, speeding speedboats, swaying reeds, and the interplay of green mountains and clear waters, it offers a breathtakingly beautiful natural experience. This is Nalin Lake, known as the "Pearl of the Desert."

Nalin Lake is 40 kilometers from Dengkou County, 120 kilometers from Wuhai Airport, and 95 kilometers from Bayannur City. It is another highly valuable tourism development site for Bayannur Reclamation Area, and the second-largest freshwater lake and important wetland in western Inner Mongolia after Wuliangsuhai. The lake is irregularly crescent-shaped, with a total area of 20,000 mu, 60% of which is clean water, an average depth of 3.5 meters, and a maximum depth of up to 6 meters. It serves as a major breeding and migratory site for birds. There are over ten large and small islands in the lake, the largest of which covers about 150 mu. Eight scenic bays boast picturesque scenery and harmonious landscapes, with hundreds of species of migratory birds breeding here, including dozens of nationally protected species such as the whooper swan, black swan, common crane, egrets, herons, wild goose, pheasant, and wild duck. Local aquatic products such as Yellow River carp, grass carp, crucian carp, silver carp, catfish, Wuchang fish, river crabs, and shrimp are renowned in the surrounding regions. The lake is covered with dense reeds, yielding up to 2,000 tons annually.

There are six large and small islands in Nalin Lake, the largest covering about 150 mu. Surrounding the lake are the fertile fields of six agricultural sub-farms, each spanning thousands of mu, which are national pollution-free production bases. The famous "Nalin Brand" cantaloupes and "Wangye Di" hay are flagship green products of the farms.

Thousands of acres of populus euphratica trees are planted along the southern shore of Nalin Lake, while the northern shore features undulating sand dunes. Nalin Lake is like a dazzling pearl embedded in the Ulan Buh Desert. Together with camel shadows across the sand sea, desert sunsets, vibrant desert vegetation, and the pastoral scenery of irrigation areas, it forms the rugged grandeur of northwestern China. In summer, the air is fresh and the scenery boundless; in spring and autumn, a variety of rare birds arrive to inhabit the shimmering, sky-reflecting waters, creating a spectacular sight in the desert.

Nalin Lake boasts abundant natural resources and significant ecological value, offering great development potential and prospects. It is another prime location for the Bayannur Municipal Bureau of Reclamation to attract investment and develop tourism, and can be connected with attractions such as the San Sheng Gong Water Control Project on the Yellow River, Agui Temple, Yin Mountain rock carvings, and the Alashan Human Root to form a premium travel route. In recent years, the farm has invested millions to enhance infrastructure and renovations. Roads from the farm headquarters extend in all directions, with asphalt roads leading to the lakeside. High and low voltage power transmission lines have been extended to the lake area. To regulate water quality, eight Yellow River water inlets and a water pumping station have been built around the lake, ensuring effective water circulation and quality. Facilities such as tap water, cable TV, and communication networks are fully available. A newly built Nalin Tourist Hotel and Restaurant, capable of accommodating nearly 100 people, has been freshly renovated. Sculptures on the main street of the farm and in the central park, such as "Reclamation Rising" and the "Corps Monument," symbolize the pioneering, innovative, and aspirational spirit of the reclamation workers. The petrel poised for flight atop the monument foretells the soaring ambitions of the reclamation area’s second venture.