Highway through Xitai Jinaier Lake, Qinghai Province, China

Cutting a surreal path through the high-altitude deserts of western China, Xitai Jinaier Lake (also known as West Taijinar Lake) is a striking salt lake in the remote Qaidam Basin.

A stretch of National Highway 315 runs directly across its shallow waters, creating the illusion of a road floating between two worlds.

On one side, the water often appears deep blue; on the other, a softer green hue, a contrast shaped by differing mineral concentrations in the brine.