A JOURNEY TO MIDDLE-EARTH

By Tao Zihui

Dramatic scenery consisting of rolling golden plains， towering mountains and enchanting valleys plays a part in creating the mythical world of Middle-earth as seen in the Hollywood blockbuster The Lord of the Rings， which captured the imagination of millions of moviegoers worldwide.

In Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region， these magnificent views sprawl out at the actual touch of a fingertip. There is one village in particular， the ideal place for shutterbugs to take amazing photos of the natural scenery brimming with epic landscapes and unspoiled beauty. “It feels like Im wandering around Middle-earth and the scenes of J. R. R. Tolkiens stories，” Gao Xinyu， a photographer from Beijing， told Beijing Review.

Located on the southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains， Tagelake in Wensu County， Aksu Prefecture， was， for many people， a little known place. But almost overnight， it found nationwide fame after its return-topastoral themed scenic area became an online sensation. “Its a pity that the place was little known before. It deserves greater popularity than it enjoys，” Gao said.

Star gazing

Xinjiang has clean air， pure skies and a dry atmosphere， all crucial elements for taking crystal clear pictures of the stars. Picturesque by day and dazzling by night， Tagelake makes for the perfect stargazing spot.

In the village， each house is a garden villa carrying the inscription of its own star sign.“Im trying to find the house of my constellation. Im a Gemini！” Gao said. “This kind of design is so romantic.”

These houses are nicknamed bubble houses because they have transparent bubbles on their roofs allowing travelers to admire the stunning nightscape.

Lying on a hammock in their houses， travelers feel theyre soaking up the stars as they explore the wonders of the night skies. Immersing themselves in the stars， planets and galaxies on display， they can also enjoy the fascinating mythology and legends attributed to celestial objects by different cultures around the world bringing the constellations to life with a blend of science and storytelling.

Wensu began the design and construction of the return-to-pastoral themed scenic area in 2019. It took one whole year to turn their creative ideas into a reality. Thus far， the operator， the Aksu Tourism and Development Group， and its partners have invested 130 million yuan（$20.36 million） in the project. Train-themed parks， ski resorts and recreational activities such as helicopter and hot air balloon rides are on offer for tourists. The county has also improved its rural living environment.