今天，我们将行驶在中国最美的G315国道上，体验大西北的荒凉和孤独，感受延伸到天际的U型网红公路，还将在号称青海版马尔代夫的东台吉乃尔湖徒步，体验乌素特水上雅丹，穿过一边蓝一边绿的西台吉乃尔湖。

除了靠近景区和加油站的地方，一路基本是没信号的，记得提前告知家人和朋友。一路行驶在茫茫戈壁中，有自由飞驰的快乐，也有对严酷环境的敬畏。偶尔停车爬山某个山坡，四面八方满眼尽是戈壁滩。

网红U型公路就位于G315国道上，其实U型公路在青海新疆很多，只是前往东台吉乃尔湖路上有两段特别明显。第一个在山坡上有空地，可以停好车爬到路边山坡上拍摄，如果想在路中间拍人像，一定要注意安全，每年都有被撞出事的，如果遇到抓住就罚款。第二个其实坡度更加陡峭，只是不太方便停车，而且两个山坡间距离有些远。

东台吉乃尔湖是个原生态的盐湖，走进去白茫茫一片盐碱，远远就望见蒂芙尼蓝，白色盐碱如同沙滩，在湖中间还有条隆起的地块，要从左手侧浅滩淌水过去。

虽然风景很美但是很难拍照，如果正对着湖水拍，就没有任何线条美感，要想沿着湖岸拍，那些岸边早已挤满了人群。其实只要沿着湖岸往右走十分钟，然后越过那些收费拍照的人们后面几乎就是无人的纯净秘境，但是几乎没有人愿意动动腿，不知道这是为什么？其实只要你愿意多走几步，就能超过90%以上的人，而我整整走了半个多小时。

lake water color change with light and distance, near the shore is clear and transparent, gradually becoming green, blue to deep blue. The beach on the shore due to salt deposits forms a natural and romantic "beautiful sand", looking soft but actually hard as stone. Hiking along the lake shore for half an hour more or less, in the distance there was another team of travelers who had driven their cars to a less crowded place but were surprised when I appeared.

After walking for about 30 minutes along the lake's edge, where three sides are surrounded by water, I decided to turn back. Today's itinerary was tight; we still had to go to Usumati Water Sand Yard and Xitai Lake before heading to Mgangyai for accommodation at night.

Sometimes you find people too many and noisy; sometimes you feel that landscapes aren't beautiful enough - it's just that not far enough has been walked. Only those willing to walk under scorching sunbeams have seen true beauty of Xitai Lake.