Fruit Valley
( 2005-09-13 )

The Fruit Valley, (Guozigou in Chinese) stretches along in the rough direction of the Urumqi-Yining Highway, which is also known as the north route of theSilk Road. The Fruit Valley is a natural storehouse of plant species with a wide range of fruits and herbs growing wild in the area, which is especially famous for wild apples.

The Fruit Valley served as a controlling strategic section of north Silk Road in ancient times. In the end years of theSouthern Song Dynasty(1127-1279) in early 13th century, Qagatay, the second son ofGenghis Khan, led thousands of troops and workers through the Fruit Valley, the controlling section of the ancient road leading to Yili, presently the controlling section of Urumqi-Yining Highway.

The Fruit Valley, about 28 kilometers long, is located at the place about 40 kilometers northeast the seat of Huochen County. This wild and fertile patch of land flows southwards towards the northern section of Tianshan Mountain. The shore of the Sayram Lake is visible from the northern highest point -- the Songshutou -- of the Fruit Valley.

In the valley, wild fruits and apricot trees spread all over the valley, and the rare trees and exotic flowers are everywhere. The valley takes on different outlooks in different seasons: I

In the spring, air in the valley is filled with the aroma of wild fruit tree flowers blossoming snow-white; in the summer, the cool and comfortable wind blows the waves of forest; the autumn witnesses various colors; and in the winter, only pines reach their green heads out of the sea of snow (lines by Hong Jiliang).

As Lin Zexu described the valley: The secluded and devious ancient road with clean and chilly spring waters on either side: On this 20-li (need to also state how long this is in metric measurement) road, with every step you take, you'd be so much attracted by the beautiful scene that you couldn't help but to enjoy it.

At Songshutou, the Sayram Lake, the biggest lake in the Tianshan Mountains, presents itself before you like a huge sapphire. You cannot help praising the present bestowed by nature, the Fruit Valley, and the Sayram Lake.