Tianshan Mountains

Tianshan Mountains is one of the largest in Asia, and in the ancient records, it was recorded as     “the North Mountain”' “the Snow Mountain” and “Yin Mountain”. And in the Tang Times, it was recorded as “Zheloman Mountains.” Tianshan Mountains started from the Pamirs with two branches. One branch lies in Central Asia in the north-west direction, and the another branch lies through the mid Xinjiang to the east. And this branch, about 1700kilometers long, divides the Xinjiang land into two parts: South Xinjiang and North Xinjiang. In Xinjiang, Tianshan Mountain are a symbol of the vast region.

The huge Tianshan Mountains consist of three parallel ranges. The northern part is of Alatao Mountain, Bolokenu Mountain and Yilianhabirga Mountain. And the middle part is of Wusun Mountain, Nalat mountain and Erbin Mountain. The southern part of Kekshale Mountain, Harktawu Mountain, Kekhtiek Mountain, and the eastern part is of Bogda Mountain, Balkun Mountain and Karlik Mountain. The highest peak of Tianshan Mountain is Tomur peak, 7435meters above the sea level. In the mountain there are many basins and valleys with pretty landscape, of which Yili Valley, Yuldos Basin, Turpan Basin, Zhaosu Basin, Baicheng Basin and Hami Basin are well know.

Tianshan Mountains is magnificent in scenery and rich in natural resource. And spruce trees are seen everywhere in the mountain areas. Also Tianshan Mountain has the largest area of glaciers in China, the area of glaciers takes 16% of the total in the country. The glaciers, like huge “solid” reservoirs, melt together with snow in summer time, and the water fills the valleys, and it flows into Yili River, Aksu River, Manas River and Urumqi River. And the water nourishes the basins and oases in North and South Xinjiang. And in the mountains, there is a plenty of mineral reserves and forestry resources, about 400700hectares in area.