Yili Swan Lake is a must-visit winter wonderland!

Heavenly swans! 🦢

Imagine a 120-acre underground hot spring bubbling away, with lake water as blue as a gemstone that never freezes. Every winter, hundreds of swans fly in, each one dancing gracefully and wandering freely in the wetlands. Add in the shimmering silver rime, ethereal mist, and swaying reeds, and you have a winter fairy tale world!

**Tickets**: CNY 30/person, great value!

**Best time to visit**: December to March, when it's most beautiful!

**Location**: Swan Lake Wetland Park, in Yining County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang.

**Travel tips**:

If you want to see the rime, you have to get up early, and it's not there every day. We recommend checking the weather forecast the night before. If it's clear and below -10°C at night, there's a good chance you'll see the rime the next day. The sun comes out around 10 am, so if you can't get up for the sunrise, wait for the sunset. We recommend spending 2-3 hours to fully enjoy the experience.

**Recommended itinerary**: 6-day Yili tour

📅**Day 1**: Urumqi - Tianshan Tianchi Ski Resort - Wujing Hot Spring - Fukang

📅**Day 2**: Fukang - Tianshan Tianchi - Kazakh family visit - Kensewat - Kuitun/Dushanzi

📅**Day 3**: Kuitun/Dushanzi - Sayram Lake - Guozigou Bridge - Liuxing Street - Yining

📅**Day 4**: Yining - Kurdening - Gongliu County

📅**Day 5**: Gongliu County - Yining Swan Lake - Bole/Jinghe

📅**Day 6**: Bole/Jinghe - Dushanzi Grand Canyon - Urumqi

**Tips**:

1. Drones are not allowed in the park, so don't bring one.
2. There are places to eat, but you can also bring your own snacks.
3. It's very cold, so dress warmly!

In short, a winter visit to Swan Lake is definitely worth it! 💖❄️🦢