Bogda Peak at 5,445 metres is the highest summit of the Bogda Shan range and the dominant feature visible from Tianchi Lake, rising in a massive face of permanent snow and glacier directly to the south. In clear weather the peak is reflected in the lake surface, an image that has made the combination one of the most photographed views in western China. It is snow-capped year-round, and in spring and autumn the fresh snow on the upper face is brilliant white against a sky that at this altitude is deep rather than pale blue.
For experienced high-altitude mountaineers, Bogda Peak has technical routes that require proper expedition equipment and local permits. For trekkers, the trails into the Bogda Shan above the lake's western shore approach the glaciers without requiring technical climbing and give a perspective on the massif that the lakeside viewpoints cannot match. These trails are marked but not maintained, and conditions change with the season.
The peak is best seen in the morning before cloud builds on the upper face. Early June and September are the most reliable months for clear views.