Tomur Glacier [Akesu]

"One of Top Six Most Beautiful Show Caves in China"
Ranked by China National Geoegraphy Magazin

Tomur Glaciers in Wensu County, Akesu Region of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: The snow peak’s gift to the arid desert

Being the highest peak of the Tianshan Mountains, Peak Tomur is 7439 meters above sea level, and located in northwest of Wensu County, geographically an important key position. The Beidieli Pass was an important passageway for communication between the western world and China in ancient times. The Tomur Peak is well known for spectacular and marvelous nature landscape. It was described: the rough topography, steep ridges and peak, arduous and high glaciers and the thousand feet high precipitous crags aloft hanging over the heaven. A Chinese mountaineering expedition first reached the peak on July 25, 1977 and the red metallic mark was set up at the peak. In 1980, the Tomur Peak Natural Reserve was set up, with an area of 1000 square kilometers. As an alpine forest synthetic natural reserve, the main objects under protection are forest, alpine medicinal plant, glacier, and a great number of wild animals such as ferrets, snow pheasants, deer and it is also an attraction for mountaineering tourism and scientific research and investigation. The Hantengri Peak, 6995 meters above sea level, faces the Tomur Peak at a distance, on which hundreds of glaciers are concentrated and interweaved, like grand jade dragons flying magnificently in the air, and which is the one of the four largest glaciers in Xinjiang.

Mount Tomur means 'iron mountain' in Uygur. Tomur is the highest peak of the Tianshan Mountains and one of the largest centers of glaciations in China. Tomur’s glacier area accounts for a quarter of all the total glacier area in the Tianshan Mountains. Mount Tomur has 510 glaciers. It is not only a region where modern glaciers develop but also one of the regions where traces of ancient glaciers are well preserved. The glacier stretches upwards towards 3,800 meters altitude. In these snow-capped peak surroundings, glaciers wiggled and curved their ways on the snow mountains like flying jade dragons. Under the rays of the sun, ice peaks glistened and glaciers surged. Such a world of power and wonder!

Best time to go
The weather is change constantly so the best time to go is only 5 or 6 days.
The temperature is below 32F all year. The coldest temperature gets to -40F and in July and August from 44.6F to 46.4F. The rain is centered in July and August.

Ticket
RMB 20/person

Around Landscape
Kuche Great Temple, Kezil Thousand-Buddha Grottoes, Relics of Qiuci Old City, Big & Small Dragon Pond, etc

Local Snacks and Specialties
White Apricot, Mulberry, Sweet Melon, Knife, Mutton-bunch, etc

Travel Tips
Much more cost! Much more difficult! Much more challenge!
Pay attention to the time! Beijing time here means that the sun doesn't rise until 09:00 and it is still light at midnight in the summer months.
Be sure to take warmer clothes for the nights and always carry plenty of drinking water even in the cooler months.
Be sure to respect local ethical customs and traditions.
You must register on Akesu Forest bureau before going.
When the rain season, the glacier will thaw soon in July and August so please make best preparation to ferry.

Distance
Beijing (3768 km) Urumqi City ( 739 km) Akesu City (25 km) Wensu County (100 km) Tomur Glaciers