Sayram Lake is a natural beauty that needs no editing｜The ultimate guide to taking great photos

In winter, Sayram Lake feels like the end of the world. 😎 The pure white sand dunes, the cool white tones before sunrise, the pink tones of the morning glow, the golden mountains, and the afterglow of the sunset are all so stunning. 😍 The beauty is almost unreal. You must visit Sayram Lake in winter! 📍Address: Sayram Lake 📅Photo time: December 16–17 🎫Tickets: CNY 110/person for self-driving, valid for 48 hours 🏷️Travel tips: 1️⃣The weather in Xinjiang is unpredictable in winter. Check the weather before you go. On cloudy days, you can't see the surrounding snow-capped mountains, and Sayram Lake looks like an ordinary lake. 2️⃣It's best to plan a two-day trip. Arrive before 5 pm on the first day. Enter from the east gate and turn left to see the beautiful sunset. 3️⃣To take photos of the empty lighthouse and the golden mountains, drive to the lighthouse the next morning. Arrive at 10 am to see the pink sky. The sky will be less pink later. You can take photos of the golden mountains at around 10:10 am. 4️⃣Next stop: Rǔhǎi Zhīyuán Parking Lot. You can see swans in the sunlight. After the 22nd, you can also see a lot of broken ice. 5️⃣Next stop: Moon Bay. You can see the man-made ice city and white sand dunes. There are also many large ice blocks left over from construction, which are great for photos. 6️⃣The scenery along the road around the lake is amazing. You can stop at any time to take photos. It takes about 2 hours to drive around the lake. We walked along the lake and drove slowly for 5 hours. The more time you have, the better the experience. 7️⃣We stayed at a hotel in the scenic area. There are options from CNY 400–700. The accommodation is good.