Glacier No.1（一號(hào)冰川）

Glacier No.1 [File photo]

Located about 120 kilometers southwest of Urumqi city, Glacier No. 1 is the headstream of Urumqi River. It was formed some 4.8 million years ago during the third Ice Age. Among the five glaciers found around Urumqi, Glacier No.1 is the largest and claims the name of the one glacier closest to any metropolis in the world. Its height ranges from 3,800 meters to 4,000 meters, with a length of about 2.4 kilometers and average width of 500 meters. The glacier has been well-preserved and its landforms are very typical. The Glacier No.1 is referred to by geologists as "a living fossil," as it is the best place in China for both observing and researching modern and ancient glaciers.

Admission: 15 yuan (US$2.41) / person