Colorful autumn leaves are adorning the shores of Taitema Lake in Ruoqiang County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, creating dreamlike scenery that draws visitors from near and far.

With the continuous flow of water from the upper reaches, the surface of Taitma Lake is expanding. Previously exposed sand dunes are now fully submerged.

Under the sun, the surface of the lake sparkles brightly as birds roam the area in large flocks.
 
Taitema Lake is the terminal lake of the main stream of the Tarim River, the longest inland river in China. After two decades of environmental remediation of the Tarim River Basin, water is now flowing again in the downstream reaches, which had been dry for nearly 30 years.

(Cover image via VCG)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)