A land of breathtaking beauty leaves lasting impression

At the very northern tip of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, where the borders of China, Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan collide, there exists a geological oasis.

Altay prefecture inhabits a picturesque corner of Xinjiang roughly the size of Cuba. With an elevation range from as high as 4,178 meters to as low as just 246 meters above sea level, a short coach trip can take you from snowcapped peaks and glaciers all the way down to the desert, complete with herds of wild camels.

My recent trip to the prefecture took my breath away. While others snoozed on the coach as we descended the mountains, my nose was glued to the window, not being able to take my eyes off the enchanting scenery scrolling past.