Ayaq-Qalqan

Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, China

Location: Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, China
Water type: bicarbonate
Temperature: 38 °C
pH: 8

Water profile

Thermicity

Neutral

38 °C

LowHigh

Soothing — neither hot nor cold, perfect balance.

Mineralisation

Restorative

LowHigh

Loaded with major ions — the essential minerals (Ca, Mg).

Buoyancy

Standard buoyancy

LowHigh

Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.

BicarbonatesSodiumCalcium

Ayaq-Qalqan is a bicarbonate-rich mineral spring in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, its name drawn from the Uyghur or Turkic language tradition of the region's indigenous population, reflecting the presence of a natural spring that local Central Asian communities have used for drinking and bathing across centuries of nomadic and settled life in the Tarim Basin or Tian Shan foothills. The bicarbonate mineral waters of Ayaq-Qalqan have long been valued by Uyghur communities within a tradition of natural spring water bathing, the alkaline mineral content associated with well-being in keeping with traditional Central Asian knowledge of natural springs. The spring embodies the rich water heritage of Xinjiang's oasis communities, where natural springs have historically played a central role in sustaining human settlement in the arid landscapes of China's northwestern frontier.

Insider tip — Ayaq-Qalqan, whose name means foot rest in Uyghur, is a bicarbonate thermal spring nestled in the Tian Shan foothills of northwestern Xinjiang. The mildly alkaline water has long served as a resting waypoint for travelers and herders crossing the arid Central Asian steppe. The spring pools are simple and surrounded by open grassland, offering a raw and uncrowded soaking experience. Best visited in late spring when snow-fed streams fill the surrounding landscape and temperatures are comfortable.

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