[2024 Xinyuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Hegu Grassland (Updated Nov)
Grasslands
Address:
In Xinyuan County, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang
Opening times:
Open year round, 24/7Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
1-3 hours
Phone:
0999-5291888
A Fall Trip to Urumqi and Northern Xinjiang: This Guide Has Everything You Need!
10 Days in Urumqi and Northern Xinjiang: See All the Beautiful Scenery! Save this super detailed guide to make sure you don't miss anything in Northern Xinjiang!
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Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi, transfer to hotel, and explore the charm of the Western Regions at your leisure.
Days 2–3: Visit Tianchi Lake, cross the S21 Desert Highway, and explore the natural beauty of Kanas and Hemu.
Day 4: Depart from Hemu, visit the Yadan landform of the Ghost City, and head to Urho/Karamay.
Days 5–6: Visit Sayram Lake, experience the summer style of the Nalati Valley Grassland, drive along the Duku Highway, and stay overnight in Bayanbulak.
Day 7: Depart from Bayanbulak, head to Hejing/Korla, and experience the scenery of the filming location of "Pegasus."
Day 8: Visit the Flaming Mountains and Karez, and experience the unique charm of Turpan.
Day 9: Visit the Kumtag Desert, shop at the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, and return to Urumqi.
Day 10: Leave Urumqi, cherish your travel memories, and look forward to meeting again.
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Must-Visit Attractions:
✨ Sayram Lake: The lake is as clear as a sapphire, surrounded by grasslands with colorful wildflowers swaying in the wind.
🌊 Kanas Scenic Area: Explore Kanas, search for the mysterious lake monster, and experience the magical colors of the lake water as it changes with the light.
🏞️ Tianchi Lake: The reflection of Bogda Peak on the lake, surrounded by spruce trees, makes you feel like you're in a fairyland.
🏡 Hemu Scenic Area: Quaint wooden houses scattered in the mountain valleys, quiet and peaceful, far from the hustle and bustle, enjoy the tranquility.
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**Notes**:
🍇 Xinjiang specialties are affordable and of high quality, so don't forget to bring some home!
📸 Kanas Lake and Sayram Lake are definitely great places for photos, so don't miss the beautiful scenery!
🍜 Urumqi has many delicious foods, and pilaf and lamb skewers are a must-try!
👟 Wear comfortable sneakers, and get ready for a hiking trip in Xinjiang!
🧴 Sunscreen is a must-have, as the Xinjiang sun is no joke!
💵 The signal in scenic areas is unstable, so remember to bring some cash just in case.
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Explore Urumqi and discover the mysteries of Northern Xinjiang. More beautiful scenery and travel tips are waiting for you! Follow me now!
AveryNelson
How can I describe the autumn in Nalati Grassland, Xinjiang?
May you have a place to settle down in your life, and also have the courage to chase your dreams.
I thought I missed the summer in Nalati
I didn't expect the autumn grassland to have a different charm
Running in Nalati Grassland
Passing through the Wusun ruins
It seems to have entered the world of Zelda
The autumn in Xinjiang is like a gentle dream
Nalati Grassland is very large
It is recommended to drive into the scenic area, and the scenery is everywhere
Divided into aerial grassland and valley grassland
Wusun ruins are in the valley grassland
There is also a big tent next to it for sightseeing
The grassland is full of golden flowers
If the summer Nalati is a vigorous vitality
Then the autumn Nalati is a deep attachment
Everything will eventually pass away🍂
But before that, we will say goodbye seriously
Wait for the next reunion to bloom✨
The Culinary Cruise
Reliable travel guide to Northern Xinjiang.
🎉The wisest thing about this trip is to decide to go clockwise, perfectly avoiding the heavy rain and snow in Kanas, all the way sunny🌞
Day 1: Anjihai Grand Canyon - Duku Highway - Stay at Guyue National Style B&B in Nalati Town
❣️ Between Dushanzi and Anjihai, Dushanzi is a developed scenic spot with better overall facilities and more entertainment facilities, while Anjihai is an undeveloped scenic spot. On the way to Duku, Dushanzi is more convenient , everyone is free to choose.
The Duku Highway is only open 4 months a year, all the way through the four seasons, the snow-capped mountains are a bit high, after walking feel the highway is not so stunning, but the snow-capped mountains are very beautiful, remember to wear an old cotton-padded jacket, really cold!
Day 2: Nalati - live in Yining all season
🏆Nalati can choose a self-drive tour oh, it feels very good, tickets 200r/person. There are three points in Nalati and we visited two (Aerial Grassland and River Valley Grassland). The aerial grassland is the most crowded at the core point, there are three stations in this place, the first station is at the observation deck to look at the grassland, the second station is walking to the grassland (here there is horseback riding a kind of 80r / h, a kind of 50r / lap .
✨ Stay in Yining all season at night, after checking in to six-star street strolled around, the night is more and more lively, check-in Gurandam ice cream (shop decoration is very characteristic, buy ice cream ingredients casually add, at least ten Plant small ingredients, many celebrities have been), Ga Alley powder soup (want to eat lamb, lamb offal results are gone, ordered beef powder soup and beef bones are quite good oh), after eating then blindly walk for a while
Day 3: Sailimu Lake - Live in Kuitun
Mr. Sa did not deceive me, the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean was too worth it to take the picture of life. Driving admission ticket price 143r, to add a basic attraction 60 or more half price, 65 free ticket, but the ticket is not discounted oh. The lake race is 90km, worth a good look, the eyes will have BB, the lake and snow-capped mountains are too beautiful, the photos can not record the beautiful, everything is not as good as seeing with your own eyes. We live in Kuitun is not very good so we will not introduce it
Day 4: Devil’s City—live in Burzin Star Course
To depart from Ili to Altay, on the way will pass through the devil city, Yadan landscape, the feeling is to avoid the day on the road, plus Karamay is a must-pass, there is a lot of oil extraction on the road. There is a small train inside Devil's City, with a total of five stops. It is recommended to get off on 2.3.4. 100 meters oil field + entertainment facilities, 2 camel riding, 3 seven swords down Tianshan, 4 crouching tiger hidden dragon, 5, dinosaur park
💖 Burzin ate hot pot, hot beef is not too good to eat, after eating the celebrity bridge, around 9:30 at night will be closed and lights up, people can walk up, the side of the celebrity bridge more photos oh, Remember to buy a cup of Calves Kern and choose the signature knock good drink 🚀
CK. Jessica 38
Xinjiang deserves your attention for the next trip with kids, stick to this level
is definitely the pinnacle of family travel‼️Had an 8-day trip to Xinjiang with the kids and it was quite rewarding~
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🙌Random thoughts
1⃣Attractions and the time allocated for visiting must be arranged reasonably✅The distances between places in Xinjiang are not only far, but the scenic spots are also very large, it's easy to end up rushing and not resting enough or not enjoying the visit
2⃣Hotels must be child-friendly quality hotels🏨Those who travel with kids know that both children and adults can have more fun when they rest well, and it helps stabilize everyone's mood
3⃣Xinjiang is located on a plateau with large temperature differences between day and night, and strong ultraviolet rays, so be sure to prepare clothes and sun protection items🕶to avoid colds, fevers, and getting sunburned to a crisp~
4⃣When visiting Xinjiang, you can't just skim through without paying attention to the scenery, you must hire a guide for the cultural areas and museums🗣Otherwise, it would be a wasted trip, and it would be even better if there were in-depth local explanations or a family tour leader to answer questions at any time
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👣Talking about my 8-day itinerary
👉【D1: Head to Urumqi→Private car pick-up to the hotel→Evening camp opening ceremony】Meet other little friends and understand the itinerary precautions
👉【D2: Urumqi→Duku Highway →Nalati】
Morning: Duku Highway Museum, deeply understood the historical significance of the Duku Highway with the guide, then set off through the northern section of the Duku Highway
Afternoon: Visit the Qiaojialma Martyrs' Cemetery, listened to the national moral model Mr. Chen Jungui's explanation of the Tianshan Road, and offered flowers, arrived at Nalati in the evening
👉【D3: Nalati→Gongliu】
Morning: Go to Nalati Sky Prairie to ride horses, freely walking, stopping, and taking photos
Afternoon: Visit the valley prairie on your own
👉【D4: Gongliu→Kuerdening】
Morning: Go to the lesser-known secret spot of Kuerdening, check in at the Ten-mile Gallery, the Bee Fragrance Station, experience horse riding in the spruce forest
Afternoon: Experience a light trek in the primeval forest led by a Kazakh guide, picked wild mushrooms🍄with the kids and learned to identify some animals and plants
Evening: Arrive at tonight's stay Bairui Campsite, face the snow mountain outside the camp and taste a ceremonial dinner, fully enjoy the relaxation that nature brings
👉【D5: Kuerdening→Chapuqi Sea →Kalajun →Tekes】
Morning: Drive to see the lesser-known secret spot Chapuqi Sea, arrive at the Kalajun Prairie
Afternoon: Experience the speed and passion on the prairie—UTV off-roading, visit Kazakh nomads
👉【D6: Tekes→Huocheng Lavender →Sailimu Lake】
Morning: Go to Huanghuang Village to pick seasonal fruits and vegetables by hand, then take photos at Huocheng Lavender Manor
Afternoon: Head to Sailimu Lake to experience sailing and taste afternoon tea
👉【D7: Sailimu Lake→Yining】
Around Sailimu Lake went to Guozigou Bridge, in the evening had a Citywalk in Kazanqi, experienced making naan, watched intangible cultural heritage performances...
👉【D8: Free day in Yining→Return trip】
GlobetrotteurErrant.
Accidentally entered the home of Heidi and Grandpa | Narati
🎫Ticket
❤️ Shuttle bus 95+Sky Prairie 40+Valley Prairie 24=159/person
💛Self-driving 300/person
💚Snow Lotus Valley 60/person Separate ticket required
❗️Is the self-driving ticket really worth it?
I personally think it's very worthwhile, and if possible, you definitely should get one!
1️⃣ The self-driving ticket allows for unlimited entries into the scenic area within 48 hours
We went there three times in total
D1 morning Sky Prairie, the famous bridge
The weather turned bad at noon, so we went back to the guesthouse to rest
In the evening, it rained in Narati and we took many pictures of the rain
D2 Valley Prairie, Panlong Valley Road
2️⃣ No need to worry about weather changes
The prairie weather is unpredictable, and it can go from sunny to rainy in an instant. On the first afternoon, it suddenly started to pour, and the shuttle bus service was insufficient, leaving many tourists waiting in line for a long time to get a ride down the mountain. This is not an issue with a self-driving car.
3️⃣ Access to less popular places that the shuttle bus doesn't reach
For example, this time we accidentally entered Panlong Valley Road, which everyone agreed was the most beautiful part of Narati, but it was almost impossible to find any information about it when searching for travel tips beforehand.
Just walk towards the forest park to see the signpost, and you'll hardly see any other cars along the way, as if you've entered a green secret realm.
Most people head straight for the famous bridge at the nomad's home for their first stop, but it's crowded and the scenery is quite ordinary. Instead, walking along the creek inside is more beautiful.
aetheria_5770
Nalati's vast green fields are like a real-life version of the 'Emerald City'
Only by visiting Ili can one truly appreciate the beauty and charm of Xinjiang.
Without setting foot on the Nalati Grassland, it's hard to grasp the picturesque beauty of the grasslands.
This place is known as 'the first to greet the sunrise', once called 'Deer Park'.
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, towering dense fir forests, rolling hills, and wide meadows, the winding streams complement the scenery beautifully.
With pastoral songs everywhere and mountains full of flowers, the Nalati Grassland welcomes everyone with its most genuine and simple posture.
📝 Travel Guide: Nalati Grassland is divided into four areas: Sky Grassland, Valley Grassland, Panlong Valley Path, and Snow Lotus Valley.
🌟 Visit Order: Valley Grassland—Panlong Valley Path—Sky Grassland—Snow Lotus Valley.
✅ Valley Grassland:
The best times for photography are in the early morning and at dusk, hence the Sky Grassland can be the first or the last stop. Main attractions include the unique landscape of the valley and the harmonious blend of grassland and water.
✅ Sky Grassland: A must-visit!! All the charter drivers will tell you, if you're short on time and can only visit one place, it must be the Sky Grassland!! The beauty of the Sky Grassland lies in its tranquil and serene atmosphere, which touches the heart.
✅ Panlong Valley Path: Winding through the lush backdrop along the mountain road, colorful flowers and plants decorate the edges, forming large patches or bands, blending naturally; the vast grassland, the snow-capped mountains, and the meandering Kaidu River reflect the infinitely beautiful scenery of the setting sun.
✅ Snow Lotus Valley: The best time to visit is in May and June. If you're only there to see the snow-capped mountains, July may not be the best choice as the snow begins to melt. Additionally, tickets for Snow Lotus Valley must be purchased at the highest point of the Sky Grassland from the nomadic family's home, and if missed, they cannot be bought.
👗 Dressing Suggestions:
White, light green, light pink, and ethnic clothing are all very photogenic.
As the weather in Nalati is changeable, it is recommended to bring a windbreaker, raincoat, or umbrella.
💰 Ticket Prices:
Scenic Area Main Ticket + Shuttle: 95 RMB/person
Sky Grassland: 40 RMB/person
Valley Grassland: 24 RMB/person
Panlong Ancient Path: 40 RMB/person
Snow Lotus Valley: 60 RMB/person (Tickets sold at the nomadic family's home at the end of Sky Grassland)
🏠 Accommodation Recommendations:
Accommodation prices around Nalati vary, with options ranging from several hundred to over a thousand yuan. The hotels and homestays I've stayed in all had good environments and sleep quality.
TheodoreLivingston21
Nalati fell in love with the fairy-tale world of this forest stream
The small bridges, flowing water, grasslands, cattle, and sheep make the summer in Xinjiang so anticipated. In June, I just want to give Nalati crazy calls!
The summer in Nalati is super beautiful
Driving through the scenic area
The feeling of freedom is really good
Also saw the snow-capped mountains, cattle, sheep, and sunset
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Must give 💯 to the stream next to the nomadic homes
We followed the stream all the way into the mountains
It was really beautiful
There were also a lot of cattle and sheep around
I felt like I was in a fairy-tale world
The photos were also super good-looking!!!
🏔️【Nalati Scenic Area Information】
🚗Self-driving: 300/person
It was my first time choosing to drive in because I always feel that driving and sightseeing is the yyds in travel! The ticket is valid for 48 hours, and the Panlong Ancient Path and the Sky Prairie are worth it. Actually, many places do not allow cars, but being able to watch the sunset, I am overall very satisfied
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🚌Ticket interval bus: 135/person
The interval bus can go to the River Valley Grassland, Panlong Ancient Path, and Sky Prairie. You can first go to the River Valley Grassland and ride a horse up the mountain for a panoramic view. Then take the bus to the Panlong Ancient Path, and the interval bus can take you up the mountain. Then the stream in the Sky Prairie is my favorite part of Nalati!
🌲【How to Play in the Scenic Area Most Reasonably】
River Valley Grassland - Panlong Ancient Path - Sky Prairie
We went straight to the River Valley Grassland in the morning, and at the end, we could only choose to hike or ride a horse up the mountain for a panoramic view, not much fun if you don't want to walk! Generally
Then the Panlong Ancient Path by self-driving is very beautiful, and there are many parking spots along the way, I don't know if the interval bus route would be more spectacular
Then it's the central area of Nalati Prairie, the Sky Prairie, where you can climb the observation deck at the top of the mountain to see the entire prairie. Then the most recommended is the stream behind the nomadic homes! This is the hottest spot in Nalati Prairie, the little wooden bridge is very crowded, we went to take pictures when there was no one waiting for the sunset, hahaha
🍃【Dressing and Photography】
Nalati's entire scenic area is very well developed, and the play is very leisurely, so wearing a dress for photos is very beautiful, because there is a stream, a fairy-tale dress is the most suitable
🌟【Precautions】
1. Be sure to apply more sunscreen, both sunscreen clothing and sunscreen
2. Bring more water and food, there's not much to eat inside, it's recommended to bring self-heating rice
3. If you have time, you can take a bus to Xuelian Valley, 60/person
4. The little wooden bridge is best photographed in the morning when there are fewer people
JESSICA THORNTON
Spring dance Nalati, stroll through the valley grassland. The cattle and sheep are everywhere, and the snow-capped mountains; through the Wusun historical site, towering Tawusani. As far as I can see, everywhere~