Ayding Lake

　　    Ayding Lake is situated in Qiatekale Township, approximately 50 kilometers south of Turpan City. Its name in Uyghur, "Moonlight Lake," reflects its crescent-like shape. This inland saltwater lake covers an area of about 22 square kilometers (at its peak in the 1940s, the lake surface spanned up to 152 square kilometers). With a surface elevation of 154 meters below sea level—averaging less than 0.8 meters—it holds the distinction of being China’s lowest lake. Its Uyghur name, "Moonlight Lake," comes from its moon-like shape.

　　    The water of Ayding Lake mainly originates from the Alagou River, formed by the convergence of meltwater from 42 modern glaciers on the Kalawuqeng Mountain to the west, and seven rivers including Baiyanggou, Dayehgou, and Talanggou, fed by the meltwater of 183 glaciers on the southern slopes of Bogda Mountain to the north. Additionally, underground flows from snowmelt along the northern edge of the basin contribute to the lake. Hundreds of millions of years ago, Ayding Lake was nearly 50,000 square kilometers in size—an inland sea with shimmering blue waters and picturesque mountain reflections. Over time, however, it drastically shrank, transforming the surrounding lake basin into barren salt marshes devoid of vegetation. The climate in the Ayding Lake area is extremely arid, and the landscape is starkly desolate. The surface is covered with uniquely developed salt crusts, forming a spectacular and untouched primitive scene that holds special appeal for tourists.

　　    Millions of years ago, Ayding Lake was a freshwater lake over 1,000 times larger than its current size, formed as a result of the Himalayan orogeny 249 million years ago. Today, aside from a very shallow layer of water remaining in the southwest, most of the lake consists of wrinkled, dried-up lakebeds dotted with silvery-white, glistening salt crystals and salt crusts that shine brilliantly under the sunlight. Locally, the Uyghurs call it the "Moonlight Lake." Visitors to Ayding Lake can easily be misled by mirages and the illusion of water on the dry lakebed, sometimes leading them to step into muddy traps.

　　    There are no fish or birds in sight here—only swarms of small insects that occasionally zip by, and the occasional wild rabbit or mouse darting beneath your feet. Due to its unique geographical conditions and classic desert landscape, the site attracts a continuous stream of domestic and international tourists for sightseeing, photography, and exploration. As Ayding Lake has rapidly shrunk and nearly dried up, it has turned into a vast salt marsh. The center of the lake is covered with glistening white salt crystals. In summer, only meltwater from snow and ice flows into the lake, but intense evaporation in summer and autumn dries it up again, resulting in extremely high mineral content in the water. It's easy for visitors to be captivated by the "mirages" here. As the world’s second-lowest land depression, Ayding Lake boasts an ancient, desolate environment. To exploit the lake’s salt and mirabilite resources, the Qiquanhu Chemical Plant was established in 1959. The plant produces refined salt, anhydrous sodium sulfate, and other products, which are continuously exported both domestically and internationally, earning widespread acclaim from users.