Yili tourism boasts rich natural landscapes and cultural customs and is an important part of Xinjiang tourism. Below are the main features and recommended attractions of Yili tourism:?
I. Natural Landscapes?
Grasslands:?
Nalati Grassland: One of the world’s four alpine valley grasslands, it is renowned for its three-dimensional grassland landscape. In summer, wildflowers cover the mountains, and in winter, it is dressed in white snow.?
Karajun Grassland: Certified by the United Nations as a "World Natural Heritage Site", it is famous for its human-shaped grassland curves. Flowers bloom in May and June, creating a picturesque scene.?
Lakes:?
Sayram Lake: Xinjiang’s largest alpine lake, with sapphire-blue waters and surrounding scenery resembling a fairy tale, it is an excellent spot for self-driving tours around the lake and camping to watch sunrises.?
Gorges and Ancient Roads:?
Xiata Ancient Road: A perilous gorge traveled by Xuanzang on his pilgrimage to fetch Buddhist scriptures, integrating glaciers, hot springs, and ancient roads, suitable for hiking and exploration.?
Kuerdining: A gene pool of Schrenk spruce and the region with the richest biodiversity in the western Tianshan Mountains, its autumn scenery is like a painting.?
Other Natural Landscapes:?
Guozigou Bridge: Reputed as the "Most Beautiful Viaduct in Xinjiang", the viewing platform offers stunning shots of the bridge framed by snow-capped mountains.?
Duku Highway: Stretching across mountains and through valleys, it opens from June to late September each year, allowing visitors to truly experience the changing seasons.?
II. Cultural Customs?
Villages and Ancient Cities:?
Qiongkushitai Village: A primitive village hidden deep in the Tianshan Mountains, with wooden houses scattered like a fairy tale world, suitable for in-depth hiking and photography.?
Tekes Eight Trigrams City: The world’s largest ancient city laid out in the shape of the eight trigrams, this mysterious city without traffic lights allows visitors to overlook the streets designed according to the I Ching from a Ferris wheel.?
Sea of Flowers:?
Huocheng Lavender Fields: From June to July, when the lavender blooms, this place instantly transforms into China’s Provence, with large fields of purple flowers creating a romantic and charming scene.?
III. Recommended Activities?
Skiing: The Ilegedai International Ski Resort in Gongliu County has complete facilities and is suitable for skiing enthusiasts to enjoy the fun of ice and snow.?
Hiking and photography: Yili region boasts numerous locations suitable for hiking and photography, such as Karajun Grassland and Qiongkushitai Village.?
Watching sunrises, sunsets, and starry skies: Locations such as Sayram Lake and Qiongkushitai are excellent spots for observing sunrises, sunsets, and starry skies.?
In summary, Yili tourism attracts numerous tourists with its unique natural landscapes and rich cultural customs. Whether tourists prefer natural scenery or cultural history, they can find suitable travel programs here.?