Students charmed by views of Sayram Lake in Xinjiang

Students participating in RTHK's Solar Project on Tuesday said they were captivated by the stunning views of Sayram Lake in Xinjiang.

Led by Director of Broadcasting Angelina Kwan, more than 100 pupils visited the lake, which spans over 450 square kilometres, on the fifth day of their exchange and study tour in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

A student said the lake, with a water transparency of up to 12 metres, looked even more stunning in person than in photos.

“When I got closer to the water at the first viewing spot, I could see how clear the water really is. From this angle the lake appears massive. It also connects with the sky. It’s truly magnificent,” he said.

Another student said the lake offered a different kind of charm compared to the Tianshan Tianchi, or Heavenly Lake, they had seen earlier in the trip.

Sitting at an elevation of 2,073 metres in the in the western Tianshan Mountains, Sayram Lake is the highest and largest alpine lake in Xinjiang.

It is also affectionately known as "the last teardrop of the Atlantic", as it is the furthest point inland reached by the warm and humid air currents of the Atlantic Ocean.

Edited by Tony Sabine ...