Aiding Lake: Standing at China's Lowest Point in the Salt Sea of Moonlight

Aiding Lake, located at the bottom of the Turpan Basin approximately 50 kilometers south of Turpan City, is a geographical wonder recognized as the lowest point of land in China. Situated at an altitude of 154.31 meters below sea level, it is the second-lowest depression in the world, surpassed only by the Dead Sea. Known in Uyghur as "Aiding" meaning "Moonlight Lake," it earned this name because the vast, shimmering white salt crust resembles a landscape bathed in perpetual moonlight.

Geologically, the lake was once a massive freshwater body fed by the snowmelt of the Tianshan Mountains. Over thousands of years, extreme evaporation in China's "Heat Pole"—where ground temperatures can reach 70°C to 80°C—has transformed the water into a crystalline salt desert. Today, the lake bed is a surreal expanse of white salt crusts, which wind and water have sculpted into patterns resembling ripples, mountain ridges, and honeycomb structures.

The area is famous for its unique natural phenomena, most notably the "Salt Flowers"—exquisite salt crystals formed as water evaporates, taking on shapes like coral, feathers, or stars. Due to the intense heat and significant temperature fluctuations, mirages are frequently observed on the horizon, where distant Tianshan peaks and desert bushes appear to float over non-existent water. Despite the extreme salinity and aridity, specialized halophytes (salt-tolerant plants) survive along the edges, creating a rare ecosystem that demonstrates the profound resilience of life in one of earth's most demanding environments.