Jinshatan Tourist Resort is located in Wushitala Township, Heshuo County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on the northeast shore of Bosten Lake, at the traffic hub of northern and southern Xinjiang. It is 23 kilometers away from National Highway 314, 60 kilometers from Heshuo County, 150 kilometers from Korla City, and 360 kilometers from Urumqi. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, covering a total area of 5 square kilometers, with a planned construction area of 3.23 square kilometers. The beach along the lake shore is 2,000 meters long and 160 meters wide. The sand is golden and fine, with a crystal clear color, a sand grain fineness of 1 mm, and a purity of 96%. The lake water is clear, and seagulls gather, making it a unique lakeside natural bathing place, enjoying the reputation of "Xinjiang Hawaii".
The scenic area integrates various tourism functions such as lakeside leisure, entertainment, catering, accommodation, sports, and consulting services. It is equipped with water entertainment equipment such as speedboats, motorboats, and pedal boats, has more than 500 guest rooms, and can receive up to 20,000 tourists per day at most.
History and Culture
The Bosten Lake area where Jinshatan is located has a long history. It is said that mysterious women once bathed here, enjoying the baptism of sunlight and lake water. In August 1984, the 10th Panchen Lama also came here for three baths, leaving a deep impression on the local people. In addition, it has repeatedly hosted large-scale events such as international motorcycle races, national men's and women's beach volleyball tours, national water skiing championships, Silk Road Model Competition, Xinjiang Miss Swimsuit Competition, and Bazhou Camel Competition. The dragon boat race of the 14th Autonomous Region Games held in 2023 attracted tens of thousands of tourists from all over the country, adding rich cultural connotations and a lively atmosphere to the scenic area.
In 2003, it was awarded the emblem of the National Key Scenic Area by the State Council. In 2007, it was rated as a "National 4A-level Tourist Attraction". In 2019, it was rated as a "China Sports Tourism Boutique Line". In 2024, it was rated as an autonomous region-level tourist resort.
Main Attractions
Golden Beach
The beach along the lake shore is 2,000 meters long and 160 meters wide. The sand is golden and fine, with a crystal clear color, a sand grain fineness of 1 mm, and a purity of 96%. It is a natural high-quality beach where you can enjoy the comfort of sun and sand to the fullest.
Colorful Wave Sand Embankment
Newly built in 2024, it is equipped with bubble houses, beach BBQ, wave theaters, coffee houses, wine bars, beach volleyball courts, etc., providing tourists with diversified leisure and entertainment choices.
Boardwalk Pier
The newly built boardwalk pier allows you to enjoy the lake view here and take water transportation such as yachts to feel the vastness of Bosten Lake.
Mingsha Mountain (Singing Sand Mountain)
It is a natural landscape in the lake. The sand mountain makes a sound when blown by the wind, which is very strange.
Bird Island
It is a habitat for many birds. Tourists can see various waterbirds and feel the vitality and energy of nature.
Reed Marsh
Large reed marshes form a unique wetland landscape. The wind blows the reeds, making a rustling sound, and the scenery is beautiful.
Delicacies
Roasted Fish
Using fresh fish from Bosten Lake and through special roasting techniques, the skin is golden and crispy, the inside is tender and juicy, and the aroma is rich.
Whole Fish Banquet
Using various fish from Bosten Lake as raw materials, it is carefully cooked into a variety of fish dishes with different flavors, such as steamed, braised, and stewed, allowing tourists to taste a rich variety of lake delicacies.
Roast Whole Lamb
A traditional Xinjiang food, using high-quality local lamb, roasted until the skin is golden, the meat is fragrant, and the taste is tender. It is a must-miss special dish.
Hand-Grabbed Meat
The mutton is cut into large pieces and cooked, paired with seasonings such as onions. It tastes tender and has a rich flavor, with a strong national characteristic.
Baked Pancake
A local special pasta, baked until the surface is golden, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It can be eaten with various dishes and is very delicious.
Mongolian Milk Tea
With a rich milk flavor and rich nutrition, it can not only quench thirst but also satisfy hunger. It is a necessary drink to experience nomadic customs.
Admission Tickets
The ticket price is 35 yuan per person. Some experience projects in the scenic area require additional fees.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "金沙滩景区" in WeChat to get the latest information or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open 24 hours during the operation period.
Tour Route
In the morning, you can first enjoy the sun and sand on the Golden Beach, and carry out activities such as swimming and sand bathing; at noon, taste delicious food in the scenic area restaurant; in the afternoon, go to the Colorful Wave Sand Embankment to experience various leisure and entertainment projects, or go to the Boardwalk Pier to take a yacht to tour Bosten Lake; enjoy the beautiful sunset in the evening; at night, you can stay in the starry sky homestay or tent camping base to feel the quiet night. If you have enough time, you can also arrange time to visit natural landscapes such as Mingsha Mountain, Bird Island, and Reed Marsh.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Urumqi, drive along the Lianhuo Expressway, get off the expressway at the Heshuo exit, and then follow the road signs to the scenic area, about 360 kilometers away; starting from Korla, drive along National Highway 314, get off the national highway at the Wushitala exit, and drive south about 25 kilometers to reach the scenic area, about 150 kilometers away.
- Tourist shuttle buses: The scenic area has specially opened tourist shuttle bus lines in Urumqi and Korla for visitors' use.
- Chartered car/Group tour: You can choose to charter a car or join a tour group to go there, such as the "Two-day Tour of Bosten Lake" departing from Urumqi, including transportation + tickets + accommodation, starting from 280 yuan per person.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Golden Beach: A high-quality beach where various beach activities can be carried out, and it is an excellent place to enjoy the sun and lake water.
- Colorful Wave Sand Embankment: A newly built characteristic attraction with rich leisure and entertainment facilities, which can meet the needs of different tourists.
- Boardwalk Pier: You can enjoy the lake view and take a yacht to feel the beauty and vastness of Bosten Lake.
Tour Tips
- The sunlight is strong in summer, so take sun protection measures and carry sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats, etc.
- If you want to experience water projects, it is recommended to carry swimsuits, swimming trunks, slippers and other relevant equipment.
- You can prepare some light clothes for easy replacement when the weather cools down in the evening.
- There are many mosquitoes in the scenic area, so it is best to carry mosquito repellent.
- Understand the opening hours and charging standards of each project in the scenic area in advance, and reasonably arrange the tour time and budget.
Notes
- Abide by the regulations of the scenic area, care for the environment, and do not litter.
- When carrying out water activities, strictly follow the guidance of the staff, pay attention to safety, and wear life-saving equipment.
- If you choose to camp, pay attention to keeping warm and preventing snakes and insects, and do not set up tents in prohibited camping areas.
- Respect the local customs and religious beliefs.