Things to do in Yining County

No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Ili

Yili Tianshan Huahai Scenic Area

The Yili Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area is located in Kashi Town, Yining County, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang. It will apply for listing as an AAAA scenic Attraction in 2022. It is a large-scale rural holiday and leisure tourism complex integrating regional folk interpretation, flower field sightseeing, fruit and vegetable picking, self-driving camping, and health care research. The park includes a spectacular 12-kilometer undulating lavender sea and a variety of ecological crop planting areas, regional characteristic organic forestry and fruit, characteristic biological planting and cute pet animal park. Since its opening in June 2021, it has welcomed more than 10,000 tourists. The Yili Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area adheres to the planning ideas of ecological priority, industrial prosperity, rural civilization, and integrated development. It takes "big agriculture" as the basis, "flower language world" as the core, and "deep processing experience" as the highlight. It actively deploys "agriculture + experience + leisure + vacation" mid-to-high-end diversified products, creates unique agricultural tourism check-in points, and applies to create China Agricultural Park, National 5A Scenic Attraction, and World Spice Flower Sea Window, making it a new driving force and new business card for agricultural tourism and leisure in the Yili River Valley.

No. 17 of Night Attractions in Xinjiang

Ipar Khan Lavender Tourist Park

Ipar Khan Tourist Park is located in Yining County, the beautiful Ili River Valley in Xinjiang, where the climate is pleasant and the water and grass are abundant. It is a 30-minute drive from Yining City, which can be reached by bus or chartered tourist bus in the city. The sightseeing park is a national AAA-level tourist attraction, integrating tourism, sightseeing, leisure, photography, shopping, and catering. The park covers an area of more than 30,000 square meters. The purple flower sea composed of lavender and verbena is the main landscape of the park. Every June, the red-roofed houses, European-style windmills, and LOVE walls are dazzling and dazzling in the sea of purple flowers; the pavilions and pavilions among them are full of fluttering gauze curtains; the garden is busy with butterflies and bees flying. With the theme of "Purple Viewing and Romantic Love", the park combines romance with nature, planting lavender, verbena, roses, marigolds and other herbs to reproduce a large romantic flower sea. The aroma you can smell and the purple purple you can touch make the eyes smile, the ears sing, the tongue dance, and open the sensory enjoyment from all angles. Here, you can let go of your troubles, enjoy this tranquil beauty, and feel the tranquil heartbeat that lavender brings to us. Young men and women are quietly brewing beautiful love in this romantic atmosphere.

Swan Spring Wetland Park

Swan Spring Wetland Park is located on the north bank of the Yili River in Xiaheleke Village, Yingtamu Township. It covers an area of 50 acres and is an underground hot spring. It does not freeze in winter. Since the 1990s, every year from the beginning of October to April of the following year, there are swans living here, and the number has grown from a few at the beginning to more than a hundred today. 90% of the swans are mute swans and the rest are whooper swans. Every year when swans fly over the winter, a large number of photographers and tourists come to watch.

No. 4 of Night Attractions in Xinjiang

Liuxing Street

Liuxing Street is an ancient block in Yining City, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. It was built in the mid-1930s (1934-1936) and was planned and designed by German engineer Wassli according to the six major policies (anti-imperialism, pro-Soviet, ethnic equality, peace, construction, and integrity) promoted by the Xinjiang Provincial Government at that time. The block is circular in plan, with six main roads radiating outward from the center, dividing the block into six fan-shaped areas, with public buildings such as schools and shops in the center and residential areas on the periphery, forming a unique residential model. Local people affectionately call it "Little Bagua City".

Tuohulasu Grassland

Tuohulasu Grassland is located on the north side of Yining County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, approx. 40 km from the county seat. Because it is very close to the city, it is also known as the "grassland near the city." It is close to snow-capped mountains, with beautiful grassland scenery and genuine, primitive Kazakh residents. You can experience the warm folk customs of the Kazakh people here, making it a great travel destination in Ili. Compared to other famous grassland scenery in Ili Prefecture, it is more primitive, and the Kazakh herdsmen living here are very genuine. Moreover, there are very few tourists here, making it a place not to be missed by travelers who prefer a quiet getaway. This is a hilly grassland with rolling hills covered in lush green grass, offering diverse scenery. The grassland backed by snow-capped mountains is open and magnificent, reminiscent of an "alpine grassland," and is a dream photography destination for many photographers. The Kazakh herdsmen here hold grand events during festivals, featuring traditional folk activities such as sheep-snatching performances. If you happen to be there, it is well worth watching. You can currently drive into the grassland scenic area. The Naiman Base Camp is located in the middle of the scenic area, where there are many herdsmen's yurts, and you can stay here. The scenic area includes attractions such as the viewing platform, Kaixi Lake, Wuxifu Grand Canyon, Kazakh Folk Amusement Park, grassland stone figures, and Wusun Ancient Tombs, all of which can be visited by car.

No. 12 of Best Things to Do in Ili

Yili Old Town Cultural Tourism Zone

Yili Old Town Cultural Tourism Zone is a vibrant attraction brimming with historical charm, located in XinjiangIli River Valley, XinjiangCovering an area of over 20 km², this attraction is primarily inhabited by the Uyghur ethnic group, along with Hui, Kazakh, Uzbek, and other minority communities. The site features attractions like the Shaanxi Hui Grand Mosque, traditional Uyghur-style courtyards, and the Eylam Bagh scenic area, drawing numerous visitors with its rich ethnic culture and distinctive architectural styles. Yili Old Town Cultural Tourism Zone preserves a wealth of traditional Uyghur dwellings, where vibrant architecture and exquisite carvings showcase the artistic style and life wisdom of the Uyghur people. Strolling through the ancient streets and alleys, visitors can immerse themselves in the rich historical atmosphere and unique regional culture. The attraction also offers diverse ethnic dance performances and concerts, allowing visitors to experience the warmth and hospitality of the Uyghur people firsthand. Local cuisine is another highlight, where visitors can savor authentic Uyghur specialties and enjoy genuine Xinjiang flavors. Yili Old Town Cultural Tourism Zone, as a tourist destination showcasing traditional Uyghur culture and lifestyle, offers visitors the perfect opportunity to deeply understand and experience Xinjiang's diverse culture.

Swan Spring Wetland Park

tian shan hua hai wan mu xun yi cao zhuang yuan

No. 16 of Night Attractions in Xinjiang

Yili River Scenic Area

Yili River Scenic Areais located on the south side of Yining City and is an open waterfront scenic area that stretches along both banks of the Ili River. The Ili River flows from east to west and is the mother river that the people of Ili have relied on for generations. With the protection and restoration of the river's ecology as its foundation, the scenic area relies on the wetlands, forest belts, and riverside trails on both banks to connect the natural riverbank, urban leisure, and local folk culture. It is not only a place for tourists to view the river and the sunset but also a daily destination for locals to walk, jog, and cycle. The signature scene here is the "Ili River Bridge sunset": The Ili River Bridge spans the river and is one of the landmarks in this area. In the evening, as the sun sets, the bridge's silhouette, the river water, and the sky blend into one, making it a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts. From time to time, you can also encounter local newlyweds who come specifically to the bridge to take wedding photos or hold weddings, adding a touch of human warmth to the riverbank. The scenic trail along the north bank is lined with trees and offers a wide view, making it suitable for hiking or cycling. There are viewing platforms along the way where you can stop at any time to enjoy the river view. After nightfall, the bridge lights up, and the light strips reflecting on the water surface create a different kind of charm. The scenic area was built in 2014, successfully established as a National 4A-level Tourist Attraction in 2015, and launched the creation of an autonomous region-level tourist resort in 2020. It is a crucial core project in the overall planning and construction of Yining's urban tourism. In the past two years, to provide a better experience for tourists and citizens and to enrich the scenic area's business offerings, the scenic area has developed projects such as Yishui Qinshen, Yishui Youyang, the water tea house, the shouting fountain and windmill corridor, Hello Bike, the scenic area tourist reception center, high-altitude wire walking, the North Bank Elf Home family-friendly park, the outdoor volcanic camping site, the cute pet park, and the Ili River lighting project, showcasing the unique charm of this place. The beautiful banks of the Ili River feature towering snow-capped peaks and lush trees. Near the section of the river in Yining, there is the famous Ili River Bridge, which is a great spot for photographing the sunset. The "Ili River Bridge sunset" has become a popular subject for photography enthusiasts.

Ili Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area RV Campsite