If the summer heat of Hami is unbearable, take a day trip out to the cooler climes of Barkol Lake (B膩l菒k奴n H煤), on the north side of the Tian Shan. Kazakh herders set up their yurts here in summer and offer horse riding for 楼10 per hour. Sadly it's not possible to swim, but the bucolic setting and views are well worth the trip.
To reach the yurts, first take a bus from Hami鈥檚 central bus station to B膩l菒k奴n town (楼30, three hours, hourly between 8.30am and 5.30pm). From B膩l菒k奴n it鈥檚 16km to the yurts. A return taxi starts at 楼50. Along the route from Hami, keep an eye out for the remains of ancient beacon towers slowly disintegrating by the roadside.