Bosten Lake

Bosten Hu covers around a thousand square kilometres east of Korla, fed by the Kaidu river and draining into the Konqi, which makes it a rare large freshwater body in an otherwise arid basin. Its western and northern edges hold extensive reed marsh, among the largest reed beds in China, harvested commercially and important for waterbirds including swans, herons and large numbers of migrants. The southeastern shore is sand, where dunes run to the water and beaches have been developed for swimming and boating. Fishing is significant, and lake fish appear on menus around Korla.

What you actually see

• The reed marshes - vast beds along the western and northern shores.
• The waterbirds - swans, herons and migrants using the wetland.
• The sand shore - dunes meeting the water on the southeastern side.
• The fishing - working boats and lake fish in local restaurants.

When to go

May to October for warm weather and boating; the lake freezes in winter. Bird numbers peak on migration in spring and autumn. Summer weekends bring crowds from Korla to the beaches.

Honest expectations

Developed beach areas charge entry and are busy in summer. Water levels and salinity have fluctuated with irrigation upstream. Reed harvesting is industrial in places.

Nearby

Korla lies west; Bayinbuluke is northwest up the Kaidu.