Shawan: Half Glass Sea, Half Desert, with Stilt Trees

This is Shawan, a place whose information is hard to find accurately in the Chinese internet context. But if you search for its official name—Peschany Bay, you'll find plenty of details. This is a stunning bay on Lake Baikal, covered with fine golden sand on its shores. Shawan hides a grand secret: half is a glass-clear sea 🌊, and half is a desert 🏜️! Sprint through the chilly lake water, and the next second you can roll into the warm, fluffy dunes～ (Who understands this split-personality joy!) 🔥 Must-Try Experiences 1. Mini Cruise A 4-hour round-trip mini cruise to get up close with this azure beauty. 2. Seagull Feeding Frenzy Bring bread! Raise your hand on the boat and instantly become the "Seagull Prince" 🕊️! Flocks of white wings swoop in for food, perfect for snapping dramatic close-ups like "The Birds' Revenge" 📸. 3. The Millennium Tale of "Stilt Trees" and Wind In Shawan, you’ll see many "stilt trees," known locally as "walking trees." These trees stand tall against the wind, their dense roots gripping the ground. Legend has it that fierce winds and waves constantly batter the lakeshore here, eroding vegetation and turning the soil sandy, causing erosion. Short-rooted grass and shrubs gradually vanish, while some sturdy pine trees survive. ✨ Geography Buffs Must Read! The Science Behind the Wonder These seemingly unreal "stilt trees" hide a millennium-long battle between wind and sand. 🌈 The Real-Life Drama: ▫️ Stage: The 25-million-year-old Baikal Rift Lake ▫️ Stars: Siberian pines + 60m/s Sarma winds ▫️ Plot: The sandy shoreline is relentlessly carved by storms and waves, but only the deep-rooted trees hold their ground, eventually sculpting the 3-meter-high "tree legs" spectacle! Cross the hills to the other side of Shawan, and you’ll find a completely different scene. This is the leeward side, where the environment is less harsh, and vegetation thrives. The trees by the cliffs stand tall and graceful, framed by the blue hues of Lake Baikal—a photo under the blue sky and white clouds that’s truly divine.