Bogda Feng Berg

At 88.3 0E and 43.8 0N, Bogda Feng of 5445 meters, which is in the rank of the famous peaks in the east of the Tian Shan Mountain Range, lies in Fukang County of Xinjiang.

Common as the altitude of Bogda Feng is, it is unusually difficult to sur-mount. Seven high peaks high peaks over 5000 meters above sea level are arranged on both the east and west sides of the main peak. The steep Bogda Feng has its west slope and south slope of up to 700-800 and its northeast slope, which is a little bit gentle. Therefore, in spite of the fact the English and former Soviet Moun-taineering Teams came here to ascent it before the year of 1980, it was not until June 9.1981 that 11 persons from Kyoto Team of Japan began to make it .

Composed of three peak pinnacles which are bounded closely together, Bog-da Feng is covered by an expanse of white snow, reputed as “a sea of snows”.At the peak top, the uncovered bed rocks stand steeply and toweringly while in the middle section, ice and snow cap the peaks and never melt. The terrain below the top, however, is strategically situated and difficult of access, with its glaciers and valleys. Four ridges stand there-the Northeast Ridge, the Sounthwest Ridge, the North Ridge and the Southeast Ridge. Many peaks being rather close to each other and clustering together, short cycles are available for mountain climbing and small-scaled mountaineering teams may go on to sumount the peaks one after another. Moreover, “Tianchi” (Heavenly Pool), the well-known scenic spot at the foot of the peak, enjoys limpid lake water which is as green as jade with invertedly reflected towering dragon spruce (Picea asperata) and silky snowy peaks, fusing mountain-climbing with tourism and favored especially by mountaineering fans and tourists.

Chiefly under the influence of the northwest air current and lying in the waist of the Asian Continent, the climate of obvious characteristics produces such a fact that it is arid and schorchingly hot on the level ground of the moun-tain foot and humid and cold in the middle and upper section of the mountain area. The four seasons are not so distinct, January being the coldest month when the temperature averages-16℃-19℃, while July, the hottest month, has an average temperature of 10-12℃. With the yearly precipitation of on more than 200 mm, the months of July and August have the heaviest rainfall, taking 2/3 of that in one year. The period for snow accumulation comes between the end of September and that of May of the next year, during which time the snow is up to about 65 centimeters and makes it inconvenient to go into the mountain. The average velocity bing 2.7-2.9 meters per second, strong wind seldom frequents the peak area. In one day, it generally turns bad after noon when the velocity and cloudiness increase. In Short, it is not advisable to have mountaineering activities in the three months of June, July and August of a year.

The route line to the muntain. Go along the highway from the City of Urümqi to the east of Fukang County, and turn southward up the slope and walk through a winding mountain highway, near which are steep mountains and nar-row valleys. There you can locate “Tianchi”, measuring 1900 meters above sea level. It totals 102 kilometers to travel from Urümqi to “Tianchi”. Thereafter, motor boats will ship mountain climbing materials and goods to the south bank of Tianchi. Then trek a long way forward on animal’s bike or in man-drawn wag-ons. Two route lines to the muntain lie here, which amout to 25 and 30 kilo-meters respectively. One, being rather gentle, leads you to go east along the Dadong Ditch and then to turn southward over Sangeca Daban. The other, be-ing rather steep, will see you go southward and turn east along Jangjun Gou over “Yikenqi Daban”. But it should be cautioned that you’d better be corre-spondingly well-prepared for fear of swamps and depressions all over the valleys. The mountaineering base camp site can be located at the north foot of Bogda Feng of 3540 meters in height.