Snow-covered Trees Resemble Pear Blossoms in Xinjiang's Desert

▲ Moisture in the cold air condenses on the branches, turning once-barren trees into silver-covered wonders.

Photo & Text / Huang Shiyuan

Rime, also known as tree hoarfrost, most commonly appears in cold climates. Moisture in the air condenses and freezes on tree branches due to the frigid temperatures, coating them like a white garment. Southern Xinjiang in November is very cold, but aside from some mountainous areas, it rarely snows. However, due to the large diurnal temperature variation and frequent sub-zero nighttime temperatures, you might occasionally spot what were once bare trees transformed into glistening, silver-white wonders — as if pear blossoms have suddenly bloomed.


▲ Rime, also known as tree hoarfrost, most commonly appears in cold climates.

Traveling between cities in southern Xinjiang often means covering hundreds of kilometers. When the bus speeds along the highway, looking left or right across the boundless desert, apart from desert plants like camelthorn and saxaul, there’s little else to see. Though the scenery may be monotonous, the air contains enough moisture and the temperatures are low enough that thousands of camelthorn and saxaul bushes are also cloaked in white, offering a unique kind of charm.As shown in the photo below)