Things to do in Kokdala

Yili General's Mansion is a garden-style ancient Qing Dynasty building complex, which includes the main gate, the inner hall, the general pavilion, the east and west barracks, the guest rooms, the study, etc. After entering the majestic black lacquer gate, you will see the spacious courtyard with towering ancient elms, the left and right barracks, the east and west wing rooms, the main hall, the quadrangle, etc., with black columns and flying eaves, winding paths and corridors, simple and profound.

Strolling along Yining's Liuxing Street, sunlight bathes the streets in an exotic atmosphere. Century-old alleys wind like poems, their blue walls and stained glass windows telling the story of time. Uyghur artisans strike bronze instruments, their clinking echoing through time. The aroma of baked buns fills the street corners, and the rhythm of hand drums awakens the dormant bricks and tiles. Every tile here is engraved with a story, and behind every carved wooden door lies a warm smile. The hexagonal streets and alleys, like blooming flowers, quietly embrace diverse cultures.

Yili Old Town Cultural Tourism Area (Kazanqi Subdistrict) Kazanqi, now officially known as the Yili Old Town Cultural Tourism Area (a 5A-level scenic area, formerly known as the Kazanqi Folk Tourism Area), is located in the old city of Yining. Kazanqi means "pot-maker" in Uyghur. Two to three hundred years ago, this area was a gathering place for various craftsmen, including pot casting, blacksmithing, and leatherworking, hence the name. It is a living residential area, not a man-made replica of an ancient scenic spot. Tens of thousands of locals still live here, a multi-ethnic community that has coexisted for generations, earning it the nickname "museum of folk dwellings." Features: 1. Yili Blue Dwellings: The varying shades of blue in the courtyards and colorful carved wooden doors of the houses along the streets and alleys create what is known as the "Blue Town." This blue is a color blended by the locals themselves, complementing the flowing water, flowers, and grapevines in front of the houses. It blends Uyghur, Russian, and Chinese architectural styles, with over 300 old buildings dating from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period perfectly preserved. 2. Hadik Carriage: A traditional six-stick horse-drawn carriage with a melodious bell, a signature experience in the old town. Ride through the blue alleyways, where the driver will explain the history of the streets and lanes – a truly iconic experience (at your own expense). 3. Folk Customs and Food: • Visit a family in one of the marked homes, enjoy milk tea and fruits under a grape trellis, and experience Uyghur family life. • Must-try street food: handmade traditional ice cream, baked buns, lung noodles, and kvass. • Highlights: Tudahongbai Courtyard, Shaanxi Grand Mosque, old shops, and intangible cultural heritage handicrafts (leather goods, wood carvings, carpets). Practical Travel Information: The street area is free and open all day; carriage rides, family visits, and museums are charged separately, no reservations required. Search "Yili Old Town Cultural Tourism Area North Gate" on your navigation app; entering from the North Gate is the most convenient. Best time to visit: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, when the light is soft, there are fewer crowds, and it's the best time to take photos against the blue walls. Arrive at Kazanchi, the old town of Yining, Yili. Kazanchi means "pot-maker." This nearly 300-year-old town still has tens of thousands of residents, making it a truly living blue-themed town. The courtyard walls, in varying shades of Yili blue, are paired with colorful carved wooden doors, and a babbling brook flows in front of each door. You can ride in a Hadi horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by the crisp sound of bells, through the alleys. Hidden in the alleys are century-old handmade ice cream shops, freshly baked buns, and you can even step into a local family's courtyard and enjoy milk tea under a grape trellis. It blends Uyghur, Russian, and Chinese architectural styles, a fusion of multi-ethnic cultures. This isn't a man-made tourist hotspot; the alleys are filled with the authentic, everyday life of the old town of Yili.

伊犁河发源于广袤的天山山脉，是我国北疆地区重要的河流，它全长超过了2000公里，流域广阔，孕育了当地文明，也是当地最重要的工业、生活水源。

The kids love going to the museum. It has everything related to Yili’s history and culture. Like it

The Ili River rolling westward Most of China's rivers flow eastward into the sea, but the Ili River, China's largest inland river, rolls westward, rushes toward Kazakhstan, and finally flows into Lake Balkhash. The Ili River Scenic Area is a good place to watch the sunset. The surging river chases the setting sun to the west. This should be a unique sunset view in China! On the other side of the river, the towering Ferris wheel flashes neon lights, the Ili River Bridge in the east is reflected in the afterglow, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance are looming! In addition to the snow-capped mountains and grasslands, the Ili River sunset is also a scenery not to be missed in the Western Regions!

The Yili Lin Zexu Memorial Hall is located at No. 1, Fuzhou Road, Yining Economic Cooperation Zone, covering an area of ​​more than 10,000 square meters. The exhibition hall displays the life of Lin Zexu and his deeds in exile in Yili, with more than a thousand items on display, highlighting Lin Zexu's great patriotism and his great achievements as a pioneer in world drug control. A statue of Lin Zexu stands quietly in the memorial hall.

It was very close to my hotel, which was great, but the venue itself was quite small – I finished looking at it quickly. The decor was nice, but not many venues were open yet, perhaps because it wasn't peak season. There were also volunteer guides, which was nice. It was a great place to take photos.

The Perilla Beauty Lavender Creative Industrial Park is located at No. 999, Shenzhen Road, National Border Economic Cooperation Zone, Yining City, the capital of Ili Prefecture. It covers a total area of ​​24.9 acres and is "L"-shaped. It is the only large-scale industrial tourism scenic spot in Yining City with lavender culture as its main theme.

果子沟大桥是中国新疆维吾尔自治区境内的高速通道，是连云港通往霍尔果斯口岸的重要构成部分。这座大桥，是工程的奇迹，连接天堑，展示了人类的智慧，是现代建筑和自然风光的完美结合。果子沟，是北上赛里木湖，南下伊利河谷的著名峡谷孔道，1218年，成吉思汗西征，命次子察合台率军，凿石理道，刊木为桥，始成车道。该沟古为中国通往中亚和欧洲的丝绸之路北新道的咽喉，有“铁关”之称。现为312国道所经。果子沟以野果多而得名，沟内峰峦耸峙，峡谷回转，松桦繁茂，果树丛生，野花竞放，飞瀑涌泉，风景秀丽，被清人祁韵士称为“奇绝仙境”。果子沟素有“伊犁第一景”之称，古人赋诗赞其“山水之奇，媲于桂林，崖石之怪，”胜于雁岩”。从乌鲁木齐到伊宁，果子沟大桥是必经之路，果子沟大桥雄居于天山西部的关隘之中，为进入伊犁河谷的咽喉。车从果子沟大桥驶过，峡谷两端的奇丽风光尽收眼里，雄伟的大桥令人惊叹！这座桥不仅仅是交通枢纽，更是艺术的杰作！