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NASA Astronaut photograph CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Barkol Lake

Lake

In Xinjiang's Barkol County, Barkol Lake lies amid steppe and low hills; visitors come for migratory birds, pastoral landscapes, horseback riding and local nomadic culture.

Barkol Lake ÜrümqiKashgarKaramayAksu CityAltay CityYarkant CountyKorlaYizhou District, HamiBarkol Lake
In this guide

Barkol Lake essentials

Address: Barkol Lake, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
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About Barkol Lake

Barkol Lake is a natural lake in Barkol County in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. It lies within the steppe and mountain-foothill landscape of eastern Xinjiang.

The lake and its surrounding grasslands are used historically by local herding communities and provide habitat for waterbirds and other wildlife. The area is valued for its open scenery and seasonal bird concentrations.

Barkol Lake is a longstanding natural feature in the Barkol area and forms part of the local ecological and pastoral landscape.

Located in eastern Xinjiang on the northern foothills of the Tian Shan range, the lake sits within Barkol County and is accessible from the county seat and regional roads.

  • Birdlife: Seasonal use by migratory waterbirds makes the lake of interest to birdwatchers, especially during spring and autumn migration periods.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Barkol Lake

Summer and early autumn are the best windows for travel; avoid winter due to heavy cold and snow.

Summer
June-August · 10-25°C (50-77°F)
Best for access; wildflowers on the steppe and milder weather.
Autumn
September-October · 0-15°C (32-59°F)
Clearer skies and migrating birds; colder nights.

Weather & Climate near Barkol Lake

Climate

Barkol Lake's climate is classified as Cold Desert - Cold Desert climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -21°C to 25°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 66 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustSeptember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
37°
Warmest Month
-29°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor -21° - -10° -21° 2 mm partly cloudy 67% 1.9 m/s 0.2 low 9.2h
February Poor -18° - -6° -17° 2 mm partly cloudy 54% 2.4 m/s 0.4 low 10.3h
March Good -9° - 2° -8° 6 mm partly cloudy 38% 3.4 m/s 0.8 moderate 11.8h
April Good 1° - 12° 3° 16 mm partly cloudy 34% 4.0 m/s 1.3 high 13.3h
May Very Good 8° - 18° 13° 16 mm partly cloudy 31% 4.3 m/s 1.8 very high 14.5h
June Very Good 13° - 23° 18° 31 mm partly cloudy 34% 3.9 m/s 2.0 extreme 15.2h
July Excellent 14° - 25° 20° 34 mm partly cloudy 34% 3.5 m/s 2.1 extreme 14.9h
August Excellent 13° - 24° 18° 27 mm partly cloudy 32% 3.3 m/s 1.8 very high 13.8h
September Excellent 7° - 18° 13° 20 mm some cloud 33% 3.2 m/s 1.3 high 12.4h
October Very Good -1° - 9° 2° 13 mm mostly sunny 39% 2.8 m/s 0.7 moderate 10.9h
November Good -10° - 0° -9° 5 mm some cloud 53% 2.4 m/s 0.3 low 9.5h
December Poor -17° - -7° -17° 4 mm partly cloudy 64% 2.0 m/s 0.2 low 8.8h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Barkol Lake

Reachable by road from Hami (≈200-300 km depending on route) or Barkol County town. Long-distance buses and hired vehicles are the usual means; roads are rural and travel times can be long. A 4x4 is useful in adverse conditions.

Tips for Visiting Barkol Lake

  • Visit early morning for mirror-still water and better birdwatching.
  • Bring warm layers even in summer-the lake sits at altitude and winds pick up suddenly.
  • Hire a local guide if exploring the surrounding steppe; roads can be confusing and cell service patchy.