When traveling to Ili, you can enjoy rich natural landscapes and unique folk culture. Here are some recommended tourist attractions and tips:?
The Ili region boasts numerous attractions worth visiting. Among them, Nalati Grassland, one of the world’s four alpine valley grasslands, is famous for its three-dimensional grassland landscape. In summer, wildflowers blanket the mountains, and in winter, it is covered in snow. Here, you can experience horseback riding, visit Kazakh families, and overlook the stunning scenery of snow-capped fir trees intertwined with the grassland.?
Sayram Lake is the core attraction of the Ili loop route. Its water is clear and changes colors from blue to green with the light. Cycling around the lake and camping under the stars are both great options.?
Furthermore, Karakjun Grassland, a UNESCO-certified "World Natural Heritage Site", is famous for its human-shaped grassland curves. Attractions such as Flower Terrace, Falcon Terrace, and Koksu Grand Canyon are all worth visiting.?
The Xiata Ancient Road is a steep and perilous gorge that Xuanzang traveled through on his pilgrimage to India. It combines glaciers, hot springs, and ancient roads. You can take a shuttle bus through the Spruce Corridor and hike to the foot of the Muzart Glacier to feel the vicissitudes of the thousand-year-old road.?
Besides these natural landscapes, Ili also has the exotic Kazanqi Folk Village, where you can experience unique folk customs and taste local delicacies.?
Meanwhile, the Guozigou Bridge, known as the "Most Beautiful Viaduct in Xinjiang", offers a breathtaking view of the bridge and snowy mountains from its viewing platform, making it a must-visit attraction.?
In terms of travel tips, you can opt for a self-drive tour, such as starting from Urumqi and passing through Shihezi, Sayram Lake, Yining, Xiata, Qiongkushitai, and finally departing from Nalati and returning to Urumqi via the Duku Highway. This is a perfect 7-day, 6-night route.?
Of course, you can also choose to visit some of these attractions based on your own schedule and interests.?
Overall, Ili is a charming tourist destination that will captivate you with its natural landscapes and folk culture. I hope these recommendations and tips will add a touch of excitement to your trip to Ili.?