Xinjiang Day5: Mengke Ancient Trail, a must-visit secret realm of the world!

Today's itinerary: Tekes - Mengke Ancient Trail The way to explore the Mengke Ancient Trail is to drive in on a single road, stopping here and there to enjoy the view. Despite the dusty gravel road, the upside is the sparse crowd and beautiful scenery. The 'Ten-mile Scroll' at the first parking spot is stunning, with its vast expanse of green and the stream meandering down from the mountain to its base. Along the way, you'll continuously encounter herds of cattle, horses, sheep... all busily going about their leisurely lives. My favorite sights were the 'Stone Forest' and the final 'Snowy Hot Springs,' where the babbling snowmelt water (I'm guessing, because it's very icy and blue) flows incessantly, the stones are chaotic but not messy, and the sun casts one side of the mountain in light and the other in shadow, leaving only the sound of water in the valley. It's a pity that I couldn't make it to the last stop, the Little Heavenly Lake, since I'm not a professional and didn't have the guidance of professionals or professional equipment, and didn't dare to hike there. I'll save it for next time. It's also worth mentioning that the road from Tekes to Mengke is truly marvelous and beautiful... the winding S-shaped road, the mountains on both sides, and the vast expanses of green mountains on both sides as you approach... Tips: Ticket: 200 yuan/car (for four people, it seems to add 50 yuan for each additional person) Explanation: After purchasing tickets at the visitor center, the staff will point to a large map and explain the tour route, so listen carefully. Parking: The spots marked on the map generally have a 🅿️ sign, and if there's no 🅿️ sign but it's convenient to park, you can also stop and take a look. It's recommended to mainly visit the spots on the map, as the views get better towards the end. Restrooms: Available at the visitor center 🈶️, in the Stone Forest area and the Snowy Hot Springs area in the second half of the journey 🈶️, and seemingly none at other spots, although there's a grassland ranch that charges 10 yuan for entry, photo opportunities, and dry toilets. Speed: Maintain a speed of 20-30 throughout the journey, unless you have an off-road vehicle, then ignore this. Food and Drink: There are no commercial areas throughout the trail, so prepare your food and drinks in advance, self-heating pots are essential. Tour Time: 6 hours, we took a longer time taking photos and daydreaming, but 4-5 hours should be enough if you're quicker.