Barkol Lake, or Barikun Lake, is formed by the convergence of natural springs from all sides, with a width of about 12 kilometers from east to west and a length of about 20 kilometers from north to south. The lake covers an area of 112.15 square kilometers. The lake is also rich in reserves of saltpeter mines and salt fields, and the lake water contains aquatic organisms such as brine worms.
Balikun Lake was formerly known as Pu Lei Hai and Po Xi Hai. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was called Barkol Naoer, and in the Qing Dynasty, the Mongolian sand and Barkol were phonetically referred to as Balikun Lake.
There are many beautiful legends about Lake Barkol, and one of the most widely circulated is that a Han girl and a Kazakh youth named Puleihai fought against a mountain demon who destroyed the lake. The girl was crushed and petrified at the foot of a sharp mountain, and the Kazakh youth grabbed the mountain demon and sank to the bottom of the lake. They exchanged their lives for a peaceful and happy life for future generations.
In memory of them, people call the several clear springs at the foot of Jian Mountain "Han Gu Spring" and the lake "Pu Lei Hai （蒲类海） ".
Travel Tips
Address: Haiziyan Township, 18 kilometers west of Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County, Hami City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
Telephone: 0902-6826677 (Balikun County Tourism Bureau)
Opening Hours: 08:30-18:00 throughout the year
Admission ticket: CNY 10