The Modern Glaciers in Daxigou Valley, Urumqi

The Modern Glaciers in Daxigou Valley, Urumqi

Attractions Overview

In 1959, the Lanzhou Institute of Glacier and Frozen Soil of the former Chinese Academy of Sciences established the Tianshan Glacier Observation and Research Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences at the source of the Urumqi River, which made the glacier play an important role in international glacier research.

Chinese Name: 天山一号冰川
English Name: The Modern Glaciers in Daxigou Valley, Urumqi
Type: Urumqi Scenic Area, Urumqi famous spots & Urumqi attractions
Best Time: All Year Around
Recommended Visiting Hours: 2-3 hours
Location: The glacier is located in urumqi county, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 120 kilometers southwest of Urumqi

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Why is The Modern Glaciers So Special?

Over 70 glaciers of different size compose a scenic spot for those who are fond of geological exploration. The biggest glacier, marked as No.1, is formed by glittering and translucent ice with a length of 2.4 kilometers, a width of over 500 meters. It’s an ideal place to observe and study the formation and movement of modern glacier. Into the glacier, there excavates a tunnel of 80m long and 2m high, and people can walk into the tunnel to appreciate the magic scene of an icy silver world.

Where is The Modern Glaciers

Located at the northern side of the Victory Pass 120 kilometers to the south of Urumqi, these glaciers are the most famous ones in China.

History of The Modern Glaciers

The Modern Glaciers was formed in the Tertiary Glacier Age and has a history of 4.8 million years. Due to the concentration of modern glaciers, the typical glacial landforms and sediments, and the intact and clear preservation of ancient glacial remains, glacier no.1 has the reputation of being a “living fossil of glaciers” and has become the best place to observe and study modern glaciers and ancient glacial remains in our country. Glacier alluvial landforms are very obvious here. For geological science investigators, they can explore the development process of Urumqi River in hundreds of millions of years. was formed in the Tertiary Glacier Age and has a history of 4.8 million years. Due to the concentration of modern glaciers, the typical glacial landforms and sediments, and the intact and clear preservation of ancient glacial remains, glacier no.1 has the reputation of being a “living fossil of glaciers” and has become the best place to observe and study modern glaciers and ancient glacial remains in our country. Glacier alluvial landforms are very obvious here. For geological science investigators, they can explore the development process of Urumqi River in hundreds of millions of years.

Main Attraction of The Modern Glaciers

The Modern Glaciers is close to the city with convenient transportation, and the ancient glacier remains are well preserved and clear. It has the reputation of “living fossil of glacier” and has become one of the best sites for glacier observation and research in China. Below glacier no.1, at an altitude of more than 3500 meters above sea level, you can see layered gullies, rock banks, rock basins, ice buckets, sheep’s backs and other ice erosion landscapes. glacial deposits of various periods are preserved in valleys above 2800 meters above sea level. The whole glacier has various shapes of “tongue-shaped glacier front”, “pyramid-shaped tind” and “arc-shaped glacier end moraine”.

Glaciers are crystal-clear and blue inside, with vertical and horizontal cracks in the ice surface. Pyramid-shaped tind, serrated ridges, curved glaciers and noisy glacier rivers are unique and impressive. Below The Modern Glaciers, at an altitude of more than 3500 meters above sea level, you can see layered gullies, rock banks, rock basins, ice buckets, sheep’s backs and other ice erosion landscapes. glacial deposits of various periods are preserved in valleys above 2800 meters above sea level.

Best Time to Travel The Modern Glaciers

The best time to come to Urumqi is every summer.

The top of the glacier’s ancient snow mountain is covered with snow all the year round. The mountain peaks are strewn at random with bright silver under the sunshine. It is very spectacular and is the soul of the whole scenic spot. Glacier scenic area has good environmental protection and complete resource combination, i.e. modern mountain glaciers, waterfalls, lakes and virgin forests, which often bring unexpected surprises to tourists.

How to Get There

  • Self driving
    Driving route: the whole journey is about 106.2 kilometers.

Useful Travel Tips

  • The road to and from The Modern Glaciers in Tianshan mountain is headed by the word “danger”. drivers who are familiar with mountain road should drive carefully.
  • In order to protect Urumqi’s water source from pollution, the Urumqi municipal government banned tourists from visiting The Modern Glaciers.

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Edited by Doreen/张洋