Once again, Xinjiang

Ili is a gathering place for the Kazakh ethnic group, so on the first day, we followed the local customs. In Tangbula, we joined this nation of horseback riders to taste milk tea, roast lamb skewers, drink mutton soup, and sleep in a Mongolian yurt. Early in the morning, as the first rays of sunlight touched the grassland, the brave among us wrapped up in our thickest clothes to chase the light; the hosts of the grassland began to milk the sheep. The master said there was also horse milk, which I had never seen and certainly would not be accustomed to its taste, but the mere mention of horse milk filled me with a sense of boldness and a fully charged atmosphere. We drove towards Fairy Lake, but having taken the wrong road, we had to return the way we came and chose to ride horses instead. We brought thick shawls especially for the trip because, for us, riding horses really required a 'steel butt' that we didn't have! However, when the unexpected happened, we had to bite the bullet and get on the horses. Along the way, I kept thinking, wouldn't a motorcycle be a better choice? After all, it's faster. Passing hikers, we joked interestingly: those who haven't gotten on wish to get on, and those who have regret it. Isn't that the truth? But we just wanted to see that touch of green with our own eyes! And the scenery and local customs along the way, otherwise how could I have seen that mother, who without makeup, seemed to me stunningly beautiful and unforgettable for several days? How could I have come to admire the confidence of the 'sunset red' aunties once again? Reluctantly leaving Tangbula, the lavender fields of the Tianshan Flower Sea finally awaited us, the adorable ground cover making us jump for joy; in Kanas, cotton candy could be plucked right out of the air, and I brought Hayao Miyazaki's animations into my camera, staging a real-life version of The Wind Rises; in Qiongkushitai, with green grass and a sea of flowers, that's where Heidi and her grandfather lived! The little wooden houses on the grassland, the streams, forests, cattle, and sheep along the way, isn't that the Eastern Switzerland, captivating to the eye; hiking in Shatuo, looking up to see the snow-capped mountains right before our eyes, we kept looking, walking, and rushing towards this goal, never stopping. We also kept exclaiming: in the face of nature, humans are truly insignificant, so what do those human disputes, rights and wrongs, grudges and grievances amount to under such a landscape? Life is vast, and our eyes should not only see love and being loved, nor should they only see the immediate struggles! When you are confused, go into nature to find the answers!

11-Day Deep Tour of Northern Xinjiang

Accompany you to see the 🌿 grasslands, ⛄ snow mountains, and 🎉 lakes. This is the romance of Xinjiang's summer, isn't it? North of the Tianshan Mountains lies the alpine grasslands of Northern Xinjiang. The blue of Kanas Lake and the sunrise at Hemu Village are intoxicating. The flowers bloom splendidly in the summer of Northern Xinjiang, with 🌈 snow-capped grasslands, 🐴 forest pastures, 🐟 glacial lakes, canyons and rivers, Gobi deserts, and the hoofbeats of cattle, sheep, and horses. Itinerary: ☘️D1: Pick up from Urumqi Airport ☘️D2: Urumqi - Tianshan Tianchi - Fuyun ☘️D3: Fuyun - Keketuohai - Burqin ☘️D4: Burqin - Kanas - Jiadengyu ☘️D5: Jiadengyu to Hemu ☘️D6: Hemu - Return to Colorful Beach - Burqin ☘️D7: Burqin Devil's City - Hundred-Mile Oilfield - Kuitun ☘️D8: Kuitun - Sayram Lake - ◎Guozigou Bridge - Lavender Yining ☘️D9: Yining - Narat Grassland in Bayanbulak ☘️D10: Bayanbulak - Return via Duku Highway - Urumqi ☘️D11: Departure from Urumqi Airport

Ili Tangbula Grassland - A Hundred-Mile Scroll Ice and Snow Gallery

In April, coming to Ili to photograph flowers, besides apricot blossoms, I unexpectedly encountered another kind of flower amidst the snowflakes and frost flowers. To photograph flowers, one needs good weather. Today, the whole of Ili reports 'overcast and rainy', only 'Tangbula Grassland' has 'clear skies', so off to Tangbula! Tangbula (meaning 'seal' in Kazakh) is named for the massive rock on the ridge to the east of its valley, which resembles a jade seal. Tangbula Grassland is one of the famous grasslands in the Ili region of Xinjiang, known as 'A Hundred-Mile Scroll, a Natural Gallery'. The Tangbula Grassland fulfills all one's imaginations of a grassland, with a green carpet-like pasture spreading from the high mountain spruce forest down to the valley floor, with the roaring Kashgar River in the middle, and snow-white yurts dotted along both banks, with cattle and sheep in small groups. In China, there are many scenic spots crowned with the word 'Great', but there are very few places called 'Hundred-Mile Gallery'. The entire Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery is located along the S315 provincial road, an area not yet 'managed', without any official promotion, a completely open, pure natural, free scenic area. This road is casual and free; here, one does not need to deliberately search for a particular spot, nor a guide. Just stroll along the highway and the 'Kashgar' River to enjoy the original and magnificent scenery. There are many attractions in the Tangbula Grassland, it is said that there are 113 gullies, each with its own characteristics. Hence the saying 'Each gully has its own scenery, each ravine its own heaven'. Zhang, who once won a place in the Ili 'Half Marathon', is a master of hiking. He drove his car along a quiet mountain gully all the way to the snow peaks, until a huge block of ice sealed the road. At this moment, the snow peak in front, like a maiden, slowly lifts her cloud-like veil under the blue sky to reveal her true face, while cattle and sheep graze leisurely on the slopes. The gully is much colder than the outside. I just put on the warm sheepskin-lined army coat prepared by the hospitable Xinjiang hosts when a Kazakh herdsman happened to pass by on horseback. Seeing his contented demeanor, this place is so far from the hustle and bustle, so open and peaceful, it's truly worth breathing deeply and savoring. Tangbula has no fenced management, and one can freely choose a small side road to get close to the grassland. Crouching down to take a closer look, among the pastures extending to the foot of the snow mountain by the roadside, there are some small white flowers scattered about. This is a plant that lives in the north, which can germinate even in ice and snow, and only when spring warms up do the flower stems stand up and bloom. People call it 'Ice-Top Flower', meaning it withstands frost but still blooms beautifully. Tangbula is a fairyland of the Tianshan Mountains, and the 'Ice-Top Flower' is the grassland sprite that has fallen into this pure land. It is the brightest natural beauty of Tangbula, the most dazzling white space in the rich colors. It is unassuming yet radiantly beautiful. Perhaps it's a case of 'a blessing in disguise', searching for flowers, in the frost flowers and snowflakes, I found the 'Ice-Top Flower'. Unexpectedly, this Ice-Top Flower is also called 'Wild Lily', and listening to Meng Tingwei's 'Wild Lilies Also Have Spring' here couldn't be more appropriate— 'Don't forget the lonely corner in the valley Wild lilies also have their spring As if it's all a dream Our meeting is so brief You're like a gentle breeze, softly and tenderly blowing into my heart...'

North Xinjiang 7 Days, enjoy the full panorama without retracing your steps

North Xinjiang Panoramic 7-Day Tour Sayram Lake Kuitun S101 Urumqi Dushanzi Grand Canyon Yining Tangbula Grassland Tekes Nalati Kalajun Grassland Bayinbuluke D1: Urumqi-S101 National Defense Highway-Kuitun 300 kilometers D2: Kuitun-Sayram Lake Circuit-Stay at Sayram or Yining 320 kilometers D3: Sayram Lake Sunrise-Yining 180 kilometers D4: Yining-Kalajun Grassland-Tekes 280 kilometers D5: Tekes-Nalati-Bayinbuluke+most beautiful sunset 380 kilometers D6: Tangbula Grassland+Fairy Lake Horse Riding 200 kilometers D7: Tangbula Grassland-Duku Highway-Dushanzi Grand Canyon-Urumqi 400 kilometers Duku Highway

Tangbula Grassland (Guide)

Xinjiang's underrated grassland must include a nomination for Tangbula. When everyone is crowded at popular attractions, there are no tourists here❌ no internet celebrities gathering❌ no admission fee❌ Snow mountains, streams, hot springs, grasslands, wildflowers The uncommercialized pristine ecology is simply a camping holy land. Off-roading✅, RVs✅, camping✅, hiking✅ Don't miss this if you like outdoor activities! - 📍Location: Tangbula, Nileke County, Yili, Xinjiang 🚇Transport: About 1.5h drive from Xinyuan County 🛰Navigation: Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery 🎫Admission: Free 🍽Dining: There are freshly grilled beef skewers in the scenic area, outdoor hot pot and barbecue at the campsite, restaurants (mostly Qia'erma) 🏠Accommodation: Small wooden houses in the manor, RV and camping sites (wild camping is also an option) - 【Tangbula Grassland】 The west end is the Heifeng Manor Eco Hotel The east end is Qia'erma where the Duku Highway intersects with S315 *When the Duku Highway is closed, it is not possible to complete the entire journey, and you need to detour to Bee Town - ⛰Recommended scenic spots to check in: 1️⃣Mengket Ancient Trail A little-known spot that few people know about, you can drive directly to the foot of the snow mountain! The undeveloped pristine ecology, glacier blue stream water + grassland combination is super photogenic! (I've written a note about it before) 2️⃣Hundred Mile Gallery Similar to Qiaxi Scroll, the scenery is on both sides along the way. Along National Highway 315, you can reach the middle section of the Duku Highway, with several viewing platforms along the way where you can stop and take photos at any time 3️⃣Fairy Lake A lake hidden in the mountains, every summer the valley is full of wildflowers, maybe it's called Fairy Lake because the photos taken here look like a fairyland *The herders charge 10 RMB per person for admission, and 200 RMB per person for the round trip up and down the mountain 4️⃣Bear Gully The homeland of local herders, there are quite a few grazing 'three brothers', suitable for a leisurely stroll or a picnic here 5️⃣Marmot Hill Opposite the confluence of the rivers coming down from the Hundred Mile Gallery, there is a small hill with many cute and chubby marmots running around! - 📌Travel Tips: *There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening in the mountains, keep warm when camping *You can bring a drone without needing to report *Most of the roads are primitive dirt roads, drive carefully

May Day Xinjiang Travel | Yili Loop 7-Day Attractions + Itinerary Guide

Some say🌈 when nature is biased enough, it forgets balance and puts all the 'stunning beauty' into the same painting~ This is the true portrayal of the beauty of Yili!! Highly recommend to friends who don't know where to go for May Day~ Snow mountains, lakes, Gobi, canyons, sea of flowers, grasslands, forests, everything you want is here, plus a 7-day travel itinerary oh~~ . 🎯Itinerary Highlights ✔️7-day in-depth experience of Yili's popular + niche attractions ✔️Self-drive around Sayram Lake with ample playtime ✔️Free and comfortable itinerary, reasonable planning with stops at will . 🎨Essential Attractions Guozigou Bridge: The towering bridge spans between the blue sky and white clouds, heading north to Sayram Lake, south to the Ili River Valley, with canyons filled with characteristic fruit trees such as apples, walnuts, and apricots Tips: Open all day for free💰, note that parking on the bridge is not allowed, it is recommended to bring a drone for shooting📸 . Sayram Lake: The blue of the plateau lake sets off the colorful prairie flower sea, with the distant snow mountains winding and long, the clear lake water reflecting the playful swans, making this place full of infinite vitality Tips: Enter the scenic area from the east gate and play counterclockwise, there are accommodations near the south gate closer to the popular S Bay . Xia Ta: Snow mountains and glaciers blend with forests and grass seas, the landscape is rich in layers, it is the grassland landscape closest to the snow mountains in the Yili area, and also a holy land for hiking enthusiasts Tips: Plan to ride horses, it is recommended to book early or queue; the last interval car down the mountain departs at 8 pm🚋 . Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery: 'Natural long scroll, hundred-mile gallery', Fairy Lake set against the green sea of grass, wildflowers blooming everywhere🌸 surrounded by lush forests, a little-known fairyland Tips: No🎫 but not many accommodations around, walking is tiring, it is recommended to ride horses or bicycles . Kuerdening: Hike through dense spruce forests and vast grasslands, check in at the real-life movie scene in the log cabin🏠, comparable to the dreamy grasslands of Switzerland Tips: No need to buy tickets in advance, you can buy tickets on-site📱, the price for horse riding in the scenic area is about 80/h . Qiongkushitai: Comic-like blue sky and white clouds☁️, green grasslands dotted with fresh flowers, cattle and sheep freely wandering on the slopes, fully enjoy the pure beauty of nature Tips: The road conditions behind the mountain are not very good, you can prepare motion sickness pills💊 just in case . 🚘Itinerary D1⃣️Urumqi - Sayram Lake - Guozigou Bridge - Yining D2⃣️Yining - Xiatage Ancient Trail - Zhaosu D3⃣️Zhaosu - Qiongkushitai - Tekes D4⃣️Tekes - Qiaxi Grassland - Kuerdening - Xinyuan D5⃣️Xinyuan - Narat Grassland - Narat D6⃣️Narat - Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery - Mengketi Scenic Area - Northern Section of Duku Highway - Kuitun D7⃣️Kuitun - Anjihai Grand Canyon - s101 Highway Selection - Urumqi

May Day Holiday | Yili, Xinjiang 6-Day Loop Tour | Travel Guide

Some say that Yili is suitable for tourism all year round🌈. In spring, the grasslands are covered with wild flowers competing in splendor, and the lavender manors are romantically purple. In summer, the fruits of Xinjiang are fragrant, in autumn the forest valleys turn golden, and in winter, Yili becomes a pure white snowy land... But if you haven't decided where to go by May, I think there's no place more suitable than Yili, where the hills are covered with fresh flowers🌸 at the end of spring and the beginning of summer! . 🎯Highlights of the Itinerary ✔️7-seater MPV with large space + skylight table and chairs + karaoke device ✔️Drone and SLR throughout the journey, capturing beautiful moments ✔️Outdoor camping + Tangbula Grassland barbecue party ✔️Self-driving tour around four major scenic areas for an immersive experience . 🌟Attraction Strategies S101 Baili Danxia: Approximately 146km long, the most colorful section of Provincial Highway 101, an excellent route for self-driving photography Tips: ⚡The yellow sign S101 is the iconic photo spot here ⚡Manas River Valley is suitable for camping + night sky ⚡Chibi Tianhu Reservoir is the most beautiful in color, suitable for drone photography . Sayram Lake: A high mountain lake backed by snow-capped mountains, with extremely clear and deep blue water, and a vast sea of flowers and grasslands by the lake Tips: ⚡Drive around the lake from the east gate, the south gate is exit only ⚡There are many scenic spots along the way, and solid-colored skirts are more suitable for photography ⚡Swan habitats are at Kele Yongzhu and Swan Music Water ⚡The perceived temperature is cool, but the UV rays are strong, so be prepared for sun protection . Lavender: Xinjiang Yili is one of the world's three major lavender planting bases, the purple romance of the Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall Tips: ⚡The flowering period of lavender is from May to August ⚡There are bees in the scenic area but they won't sting easily, just walk gently ⚡White clothes + straw hats are the preferred attire for photos, and evening is the best time ⚡The manor is supervised by villagers, it is recommended to keep your ticket🎫 well . Kalajun: A landscape dominated by rolling hills, diverse and rich in scenery, including snow-capped grasslands, forests, and valleys Tips: ⚡Kalajun Grassland is divided into East Kalajun and West Kalajun ⚡The famous Five-Flower Meadow, Fresh Flower Platform, and Falcon Platform are in East Kalajun ⚡There is a big temperature difference on the mountain, so bring a windbreaker or thick coat ⚡The Fresh Flower Platform is known for hugging lambs for photos, and the Falcon Platform is known for horse riding . Duku Highway: A natural elevator that shuttles between cliffs and forest snow mountains, a scenic avenue with changing views Tips: ⚡It passes through various landscapes such as grasslands, canyons, snow mountains, and Gobi ⚡It goes through high-altitude snow areas and is only open from early June to early October ⚡The weather changes unpredictably along the way, so be aware of keeping warm . 🚘Itinerary D1⃣️Urumqi-S101 Baili Danxia-Kuitun D2⃣️Kuitun-Sayram Lake self-driving tour around the lake-Lavender-Kazanqi-Yining City D3⃣️Yining City-Kalajun Grassland self-driving tour-Tekes D4⃣️Tekes-Nalati Air Grassland self-driving tour-Nalati D5⃣️Nalati-Fairy Lake-Monkette Ancient Trail self-driving tour-Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery D6⃣️Tangbula-Duku Highway-Dushanzi Grand Canyon-Urumqi

A 5-day tour of Northern Xinjiang

For those planning to go to Xinjiang in 2024, it's recommended to directly copy this itinerary, as this is a place where budget travel is hardly feasible—only with a sufficient budget can you truly experience its quality. How can one not like Xinjiang in the summer? With its log cabins and herds of livestock, the bursting vitality is everywhere, there's Sayram Lake surrounded by mountains, and the white yurts scattered on the grasslands with distant peaks and waters. : D1: Urumqi→→Yining D2: Yining→→Tekes D3: Tekes→→Bayanbulak Town D4: Bayanbulak Town→→Narat D5: Narat→→Urumqi

Wait a whole year just for the summer in Xinjiang!

Wait a whole year just for the summer in Xinjiang!🐿 Xinjiang is truly a treasure trove Every visit brings different surprises! 👣 Take a trip to Xinjiang this summer with someone you like 🌸 Stroll through the endless sea of flowers, 🌲 lie in the embrace of the grasslands 🏔 Witness the endless snow-capped mountains, 🌌 gaze at the lakes and stars. The mountains do not see me, but I go to see the mountains. 🏔 If you have time to go to Xinjiang, then you must visit these places~ 1⃣ Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery 🖼 The Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery is a whole stretch of road, with lush grasslands on the roadside, dotted with dense little flowers, a river running through the entire grassland, horses, cows, and sheep grazing slowly, with spruce forests in the distance. The forest leads up to the continuous mountain ranges, adorned with white yurts, as if you've stepped into an oil painting world. 2⃣ Yizhao Highway 🚙🚗 From Yining to Zhaosu, a lesser-known section of road that rivals the Duku Highway, known to locals. From Yining to Zhaosu, 180 kilometers, you will experience 'four seasons in one day, ten miles with different skies.' From grasslands to flower seas to canyons to horse farms to lavender fields, the scenery along the way is rich. Vehicles with fewer than 7 seats can pass. 3⃣ Qiaxi Forest Park 🌲 Qiaxi is a little-known spot in the Ili grasslands of Xinjiang that has become popular in the last two years. The entrance fee is 30 yuan, and you can drive in yourself. You can see the snow-capped mountains from April to June. If you have the time, be sure to bring camping gear for camping, as there are not many grasslands in Xinjiang that are cheap and allow self-driving entry. 4⃣ Sayram Lake 🌊 Sayram Lake is known as the last tear of the Atlantic. If you've seen enough mountains and want to see the sea, and if you've seen enough sea and want to see mountains, in Yili, there are endless forests and grasslands, making Sayram Lake especially precious. In June, the mountains around the lake are full of blooming flowers, half green grasslands, and half blue lakes. The hillsides by the lake are covered with fresh flowers in June. 💗 When visiting Xinjiang, be sure to avoid these 1️⃣ The ultraviolet rays in Xinjiang's summer are strong, so make sure to protect yourself from the ☀️ sun. Even if you've applied sunscreen, be sure to wear a hat𣲙䄂 2️⃣ The most beautiful scenery in Yili's summer is on the road, so if you don't get carsick, don't miss the view outside the car window 3️⃣ Be sure to bring a thick coat, as the temperature in the mountains can change dramatically, and you may encounter rainy and snowy weather. 🚗【6-8 Month Yili Circuit In-depth Tour】 D1: Urumqi--Sayram Lake-Guozigou Bridge-Qingshui River D2: Qingshui River-Huocheng Lavender--Yizhao Highway-Zhaosu County D3: Zhaosu-Xiata Scenic Area-Tekes D4: Tekes-Qiaxi Forest Park--Gongliu D5: Gongliu-Nalati Sky Grassland-Nalati D6: Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery-Fairy Lake-Duku Highway-Kuitun D7: Kuitun-Anjihai Grand Canyon-Urumqi

Explore the Secret Realm of Yili · Tangbula Fairy Lake

In the vast grasslands of Yili, Xinjiang, there lies a little-known earthly paradise—the Tangbula Fairy Lake. It is like a carefully inlaid emerald by nature, and its name alone can trigger infinite reveries about a poetic place afar. Compared to the well-known Sayram Lake, it is more like a tranquil and mysterious fairy, quietly guarding a corner of untouched natural purity. 🍃🌸 As you truly step onto this magical land, the Fairy Lake will greet you in its most splendid form, with a path of blooming flowers leading you to the lakeside, as if guiding you to a fairyland. Before your arrival, it has always been silently watching over this pristine land, away from the hustle and bustle of the world, maintaining its peace and harmony. 🏔️🏞️ Looking up, towering snow-capped mountains stand against the sky, with green mountain ranges and dense forests complementing each other, together protecting this treasure in the grassland—the Tangbula Fairy Lake. The lakeside is blooming with colorful flowers, the scenery is like a dreamy garden from a fairy tale, unbelievably beautiful! Riding a horse up the mountain from the foot costs only 120 yuan per person one way, and 200 yuan for a round trip. If you start from Xinyuan County, it only takes 2 hours by car to reach the picturesque Tangbula Fairy Lake. 🌟 Travel Tips: saddle_up: It is recommended to experience the beauty of nature in a unique way, choose to view the scenery on horseback, ride up the mountain leisurely, and walk down the mountain, because those intoxicating landscapes are often hidden along the way, waiting for you to discover and savor. At the top of the mountain, you can behold the unparalleled beauty of the Fairy Lake, which is like nature's darling, nestled close to the snow-capped mountains, forming a moving love story. The beauty here requires no artificial embellishment, just a heart to feel and understand. 🍃🌊 Strolling by the Fairy Lake, the diverse colors of Xinjiang's land intertwine together. Here, there are snow-capped mountains, green grasslands, babbling streams, dense forests, leisurely cattle and sheep, wildflowers everywhere, and the rippling lake, all painting a series of vivid and charming pastoral landscapes. Being here, it's as if you can hear the breath of nature and feel its vitality. 📷 Keep Moving: During the walk down the mountain, every moment is full of surprises, and you can stop at any time to capture those heart-stirring beautiful moments with your camera. Every step is an expression of awe and love for nature. We sincerely invite you to step onto this magical land of Yili, to deeply feel the charm of nature, to find that long-lost peace and beauty in your heart. By the Tangbula Fairy Lake, every trip will harvest a wealth of memories and emotions. Come, let us join hands to embark on this exploration journey of China's great beauty!

Experience the beauty of Yili, Xinjiang with an in-depth 11-day tour

The best time to visit Yili is from May to June each year, when the grasslands turn green and the snow-capped mountains have not yet melted. Most importantly, it is not the peak season, so flight tickets are cheaper and the scenery is beautiful with fewer people. This 11-day in-depth tour of Yili allows you to deeply experience the beauty of Yili💗. With an average travel time of less than 4 hours, you can enjoy a relaxed and in-depth trip without rushing. - ⭕️11-Day In-Depth Yili Itinerary: D1: Yining airport pick-up - Hotel (20 minutes) D2: Yining - Visit Sayram Lake (3H) D3: Visit Sayram Lake - Guozigou Bridge - Lavender Base - Kazanqi Folk Village (3H) D4: Zhaosu - Xiatang National Park (2H) D5: Xiatang Scenic Area - Visit Qiongkushitai (5H) D6: Spend a whole day in Qiongkushitai Village D7: Qiongkushitai - Narat Valley Grassland (5.5H) D8: Spend a whole day on the Narat Sky Grassland D9: Narat - Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery - Fairy Lake - Northern Section of Duku Highway (4H) D10: Dushanzi - Dushanzi Grand Canyon - $101 National Defense Highway - Colorful Danxia (4H) D11: Urumqi airport drop-off (20 minutes) - ⭕️Highlights: 🌲Sayram Lake: The last tear of the Atlantic, watch swans play on the lake surface 🌲Narat: One of the six most beautiful grasslands, with both the soft beauty of streams and the ruggedness of mountains 🌲Qiongkushitai: A poem written by God to the world, the starting point of the ancient Usun Road 🌲Xiatang: An undeveloped niche spot, which was a transportation station from Yili to Aksu in ancient times 🌲Tangbula Grassland: Nearly 80 kilometers long, with picturesque scenery throughout, hence known as the 'Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery' 🌲Duku Highway: Open only for 6 months a year, experiencing all four seasons along the way, a must for self-driving - ⭕️Travel Tips: ⚠️Be sure to keep your ID card safe, there are many checkpoints and it's difficult to move around without an ID card ⚠️Long car journeys are inevitable when traveling in Xinjiang, remember not to miss the scenery along the way ⚠️Xinjiang is quite dry, sisters from the south can bring a small humidifier, drink more water and do good sun protection ⚠️Some remote mountain areas may have slightly poor signals, and navigation might lead you astray, ask locals for small directions, but rely on navigation for the main route - ⭕️Design Concept: ✔️This itinerary is personally designed by a product manager after field research, rejecting mediocre trips ✔️The product design includes many niche secret spots and treasure inns, allowing you to experience the beauty of Yili from the most comfortable perspective ✔️The itinerary may seem busy, but it is actually very relaxed, with a daily wake-up call and an average travel time of less than 4 hours ✔️Stay in luxury quality hotels throughout the trip, truly living in the scenery ✔️Equipped with a full set of outdoor gear, including a canopy and outdoor table and chair setup

Beyond the Great Wall lies the Jiangnan of the frontier

The Ili grassland develops in the central Tianshan Mountains and its intermontane basins, one of the largest mountain ranges in Asia. Surrounded by mountains on the north, east, and south, its western part opens up to welcome the moist air currents from the west, creating a 'wet island' with unique scenery in the desert area, which promotes the complete development of the Ili grassland's vertical zonation. From high to low, it is successively distributed with alpine meadows, montane meadows, montane steppe meadows, montane steppes, montane desert steppes, plain deserts, and river valley meadows, with rich diversity. In the upper reaches of the Kashi River is the mountain pasture of Nileke County, where people come in summer to travel for the Tianshan rhododendrons. By mid-May, the Ili River valley meadows turn into a sea of Tianshan rhododendrons. The delicate fiery red color spreads across the mountainside. How can one miss the grassland after seeing the flowers? There is a saying, 'One does not know the vastness of China until they have been to Xinjiang, and one does not know the beauty of Xinjiang until they have been to Ili.' Once you are on the Ili grassland, you know that there is no exaggeration in this statement. The beauty of the Ili grassland lies in its three-dimensionality; meadows and blooming flowers form the foreground, with forests and snow-capped mountains in the distance, and flocks of sheep and yurts scattered about, making every spot scenic. This three-dimensional beauty is due to the geographical location of the Ili grassland, which develops in the central Tianshan Mountains and its intermontane basins. The unique geographical position and climate create the beauty of Ili. Baigou pasture, located by the Gongnaisi River, becomes luminously green overnight after a spring rain. The most amazing part of the Tangbula grassland is the combination of forest, grassland, rapids, and mountain rocks, stretching for miles. Walking along the valley, one often encounters a scene of 'sudden brightening after a dark willow path': Lush secondary forests, rugged canyon rapids, peculiar mountain rocks standing in rows, and fields of colorful flowers... As the terrain undulates, several landscapes often alternate, dazzling the onlooker. Hidden among the flowers and grasses are many ancient Tianshan petroglyphs. The Tangbula grassland is named after the Tangbula Grand Canyon because there is an enormous rock on the mountain ridge on the east side of the valley, shaped like a jade seal, hence the name Tangbula. What people usually refer to as the Tangbula grassland is the lush montane grassland and river valley meadow on both sides of the Kashi River. The torrential Kashi River water flows endlessly, and on the south bank of the Kashi River, the grass is lush. If you are lucky, you can see the beautiful scenery of a myriad of flowers in full bloom. Entering the Tangbula Gorge, the stream babbles, and the spruce forest is lush and tall, especially in summer, picturesque and layered with greenery.

Tangbula Fairy Lake: The Emerald Jewel of the Ili Grassland

Tangbula Fairy Lake, her beauty deeply touched me, as if it were a masterpiece meticulously carved by nature. Everyone knows that Sayram Lake is known as 'the last tear of the Atlantic', yet nestled in the embrace of Ili, there lies such a little-known green paradise—Tangbula Fairy Lake. The name alone is enough to make one's heart flutter and become intoxicated. Once you set foot on this magical land, the Fairy Lake will greet you in her most splendid attire, with flowers blooming in profusion, as if a dazzling floral path extends to the lakeside. And if you have not yet arrived, she quietly guards this pure land, far from the hustle and bustle, serene and peaceful. Looking around, towering snow-capped mountains stand against the sky, green hills stretch endlessly, reflecting off the lush forests. Tangbula Fairy Lake is like a bright green gem, set in the embrace of this natural grassland pasture. Lakeside flowers bloom in abundance, colorful and splendid, as if one has stepped into the back garden of Alice's Wonderland, unbelievably beautiful! 🏔️ Tangbula Fairy Lake 🐎 Horseback riding from the foot of the mountain up is 120 per person, round trip 200 per person 🚗 A 2⃣️-hour drive from Xinyuan County 🐎 Travel Tips: 🏔️ It is recommended that you choose a unique way to experience the beauty of nature—ride a horse up the mountain and hike down. Because those intoxicating sceneries, half of them are hidden along the way, waiting for you to discover. 🐎 Riding to the top of the mountain, you will be able to see the charm of Fairy Lake. She is close to the snow-capped mountains, as if she is the princess of nature, performing a beautiful love story with the prince of the snow mountains. The beauty there needs no filter, you just need to feel it with your heart. 💐 By the Fairy Lake, you will appreciate the colorful tapestry of Xinjiang's land. Snow mountains, grasslands, streams, forests, cattle, horses, wildflowers, lakes... These elements are woven together to form intoxicating landscapes. Being there, you feel as if you can hear the breath of nature and feel its pulse. 🚶‍♂️ The journey of hiking down the mountain may only be a little over an hour, but every step is full of surprises. You can stop at any time to capture those heart-stirring moments with your camera. Every step forward is a reverence and love for nature. 🌲 Come, let us feel the charm of nature on this magical land, and find that peace and beauty in our hearts. Here, you are sure to harvest a wealth of memories and emotions.

Ili in Xinjiang, as beautiful as Switzerland, remains picturesque in winter!

When it comes to Ili, Xinjiang, the first thing that comes to mind is the grasslands and snow mountains in summer. You probably can't imagine what Ili looks like in winter, so winter is definitely the off-season for tourism in Ili. Visiting Ili at this time is extremely cost-effective! ⭐Ili has many famous grasslands, which turn into natural ski resorts and snow nests in winter. The snow scenery in my picture is from the grasslands along the way and the Tangbula grassland. The snow scenery is beautiful, and you can play in the snow or even ski. The snow here is very soft and thick, and you can step down to your knees. It's not inferior to Switzerland at all! ⭐The sunset in Ili, Xinjiang is the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen, without a doubt! ⭐Swan Spring, a must-visit for photography enthusiasts. When winter comes, swans from Siberia will come here to spend the winter. If you're lucky, there will be rime and snow in the early morning, coupled with elegant swans, it's a perfect picture! Small tips: Arrive before sunrise, it will be very cold in the early morning, it is recommended to wear more, the wind may be strong so pay attention to wind protection, rime is not every day, it depends on luck, so if you have time, it is recommended to come a few more times, we went twice but there was no rime. ⭐Ili is a gathering place for ethnic minorities, mainly Kazakhs. Young and old Kazakhs like to play on Liuxing Street. After a day of fun, you can also go to Liuxing Street to experience the cultural charm of the Kazakhs. ⭐When you come to Ili, you can't miss Xinjiang's delicacies: hand-grabbed mutton, and the very popular ice cream. Eating ice cream at minus ten degrees, don't be too cool!

It's really a beautiful and less-known scenic spot in Xinjiang

You must visit this hidden gem when you come to Xinjiang. It's really a beautiful and less-known scenic spot in Xinjiang! Entering from the Duku Highway, the whole journey is scenic. Forests, lakes, wildflowers, strange rocks, everything is in its original state. The scenery is no less than that of Narati, and there are few people, quiet and free. It can be described as my dream place. - 🎫Ticket: Free Best time to visit: June-August ✔【Must-see guide]🥰 ① Gallery: From the Bee Town all the way to the lake, the whole journey is beautiful, blue sky and white clouds, green grass, babbling streams, ice peaks and snow ridges reflected in the water, a step a scene, beautiful, the hundred-mile gallery is not a false name. ② Lake: 🎫Ticket: 10/person (collected by herdsmen, be sure to bring cash💰) Transportation🐴 1.Horse riding: cost 200💰/person, round trip time about 3 hours, the first section is really steep, after this uphill section is all kinds of walking on the grassland, full of beautiful scenery! 2.Hiking: walk along the horse trail, the road is quite muddy, very tiring, about 2 hours one way. 📸 1. There are three paid💰grasslands by the lake, choose the one on the right hand side of the mountain, the lake view is better, the middle one is also okay, presenting a semi-circular lake surface🌴 2. Especially suitable for taking📸beautiful photos, the gem green lake surface, flowers🌸everywhere, you can wear a white long skirt and pull a horse by the lake to take photos, 📸really super beautiful! 3.You can fly🛸drones, some friends must bring them! ⚠️【Precautions] 1.Sun protection, strong ultraviolet rays 2.Poor signal on the mountain, prepare some cash! 3.The climate on the alpine grassland is changeable, bring a coat 4.It's very important to wear a pair of comfortable shoes!

Classic Quality 10-Day Tour of Northern Xinjiang

If you only have 10 days in Xinjiang, this northern Xinjiang route is recommended for you. This route has forests, wildflowers, streams, flocks of sheep and horses, a single-plank bridge crossing the stream, and the rolling snow-capped mountains in the distance, just like the scenes in Andersen's fairy tales~ Weather Notice May: 5-20°C June: 17-22°C July: 21-35°C August: 23-38°C September: 13-23°C October: 5-14°C Northern Xinjiang Route D1: Urumqi - Airport pick-up D2: Urumqi - Tianshan Tianchi - Fuyun D3: Fuyun - Keketuohai - Wuyuan Beach - Burqin D4: Burqin - Kanas - Jiadengyu D5: Jiadengyu - Hemu D6: Hemu - Devil City - Wuerhe D7: Wuerhe - Sayram Lake - Guozigou Bridge - Qingshui River D8: Qingshui River - Lavender - Narati D9: Narati - North Section of Duku Highway - Urumqi D10: Urumqi - Airport drop-off Xinjiang Delicacies 1. Meat: Nang Pit Meat, Red Willow Mutton Skewers, Spicy Lamb Hooves, Grilled Lamb Ribs, Grilled Beef, Altay Cold Water Fish, Smoked Horse Meat, Horse Sausage, Jar Meat, Big Plate Chicken, Spicy Chicken, Pepper Chicken, Roasted Whole Lamb, Hand Grab Meat.. 2. Pasta: Nang, Roasted Buns, Latiaozi, Rice Sausage, Noodle Lung, Noodle Flag, Powder Soup, Jiupianzi, Doudou Noodles, Dingding Fried Noodles, Dry Stir-fried Noodles, Oil Tower....

Northwest Five Provinces (Regions) Autumn Self-driving Tour (Thirty-nine): Traveling through the Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery

At 2:05 pm on October 7, 2023, we left Qiaojia and entered the Tangbula Prairie. The Tangbula Prairie is located in Nilka County, Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, and is a general term for the canyon prairie landscape upstream of the Kashgar River. It is named Tangbula (meaning seal in Kazakh) because there is a huge rock on the ridge on the east side of the valley that looks like a jade seal. From Nilka County along the Kashgar River upstream, the lush mountain prairies and valley prairies on both sides of the river are commonly referred to as the Tangbula Prairie, one of the five famous prairies in Yili. In summer, the green carpet-like grassland spreads from the spruce forest on the mountain to the bottom of the valley, with the rushing Kashgar River in the middle. The white felt tents are scattered on both sides, and the cattle and sheep are in groups, leisurely and contented, earning it the reputation of a 'hundred-mile scroll, natural gallery'. It has snow-capped mountains, lakes, forests, hills, grasslands, cattle and sheep, streams, wildflowers, etc. In terms of scenery, Tangbula is not inferior to Narati, Kalajun, etc., and it is also a fully open and natural free scenic area. Here, we don't need to deliberately look for a certain spot, nor do we need a guide. We can appreciate the original beauty by just walking along the road and the Kashgar River. The starting and ending points of the Hundred-Mile Gallery are the road from Tangbula Summer Resort to Qiaojia, about 130 kilometers. Here, the blue sky and white clouds, the green grass, the rolling springs, the gurgling streams, the dense spruce forest, the ice peaks and snow ridges reflected in the water, the Kashgar River traverses the whole territory, it is really a step by step, like a poem and a painting, beautiful. The essence of the Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery is from Fairy Lake to Bee Town, this section of the road is about 60 kilometers. The landscape here is mainly narrow valley grasslands and mountain forest landforms. Along this road slowly to Yining, there are no high mountains on the Duku Highway, no continuous mountain bends, and no messy expensive tickets. These are the reasons why I chose Tangbula Prairie. After entering the Tangbula Prairie, we continued to head west along National Highway 315, walking and taking pictures. At 3 pm, we arrived at the viewing platform of the Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery, stopped the car, climbed up the viewing platform along the wooden plank road, and the snow-capped mountains, forests, hills, grasslands, cattle and sheep, and streams were all in sight. The only shortcoming is that the green grassland has turned yellow. At 4:30 in the afternoon, we paid a toll of 20 yuan at the Jilin Station toll station. I only knew that the national highway in Inner Mongolia was charged, but I didn't expect that the national highway in Xinjiang was also charged. At 5:20 in the afternoon, we passed Nilka County, and then in the dense forest on the right side of the highway, a village with Uighur architectural style appeared, appearing and disappearing, I hurriedly took a few photos, but in the end I didn't figure out which village in Yining County this was. At 6 pm, we entered the Yidun Expressway at the Dunmazha Interchange.

When you come to the beautiful Tangbula grassland, you can feel the vast world of innocent, the rich and rich scenes of the grassland under the blue sky and white clouds. The beautiful Donpra Prairie is one of the five prairies of Erie. Although it is not as famous as the Nalati Prairie, the excellent pastures, beautiful snow-capped mountains, and pure and bleak original life still make this a place. A great choice for a relaxing summer break. While driving from Yining, it takes a long journey all the way. The scenery on the road is very varied. From the Gobi Desert to the green grass and grass, the road is far away and the mood is very comfortable. After driving into the Tangra Prairie, the horizon immediately became wider, the green in the distance continued to extend toward the sky, and the beautiful yurt was dotted around it, immediately giving people the feeling of incarnation of herders. Here, you can live in a unique Kazakh yurt, in the unique ethnic style of the station, the most traditional Kazakh national ornaments, as well as modern entertainment facilities, you can feel the local folk customs, but also Relax and relax here. Out of the yurt, it is an endless pasture, and the mountains in the distance are rising and falling. In the blue sky, the white clouds are free to float in the wind. This is a scene often seen in dreams. On this vast grassland, you can ride a horse to run freely, you can climb the mountain, look at the vast scenery in the distance, or stroll along the beautiful river, feel the charm of pure nature [traffic The best way to get to the grassland is by Yining. If you take public transportation, you can take a long-distance bus from Yining Bus Terminal to Nilek County.