An old shepherd rides his horse deep into the grassland. His gaze is steady and his demeanor is calm. The morning light illuminates his figure. Many creatures are full of vitality, accompanied by the chirping of insects and birds. Cows and sheep quietly graze, while mountain flowers spread out before my eyes, stretching far into the distance…
The beauty of Ili lies not in华丽的辞藻, but in the real and soul-stirring experiences. Therefore, I wrote this guide to share with you how to explore Ili, hoping that more people can feel its breathtaking scenery!
A brief introduction to Yili
The Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture is located in the Yili River Valley in the northern part of the Tianshan Mountains in western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Besides directly governing 11 counties and cities, it also includes the Tacheng and Altay prefectures. The total administrative area of the prefecture is 270,000 square kilometers, larger than Fujian Province and Jiangsu Province combined.
Yili is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a large river running through it. The scenery is extremely charming, with picturesque mountains, clear waters, blue skies, and white clouds. The aerial grassland of Nalati, the lavender fields in Huocheng, the moonlight night of Yili River, the summer of Tangbula, the spring scenery of Turgen Apricot Flower Valley, the rape flowers in Zhaosu, and the steep Yizhao Highway…
Recommendations for traveling in Xinjiang
There are many scenic spots in Xinjiang, and many of them are along the way. Therefore, chartering a car for self-guided tours and carpooling are good choices! Chartering a car in Xinjiang is relatively free and flexible, saving time while allowing you to see more scenic spots. Travelers who want to visit Xinjiang, Northern Xinjiang, or Yili can contact: Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456
The breathtaking beauty of Yili, with galloping horses, vast grasslands, intoxicating flower fragrance, a long history, and rich customs…
Sayram Lake (belonging to Bozhou near Yili), Nalati, Kalajun, Bayanbulak (belonging to Bazhou near Yili), Horgos Port, Xiata Ancient Road, Gongnais, Tangbula, Kuerdining, Yizhao Highway, Tekes Eight Trigrams City, Guozigou Bridge…
Note: Geographically speaking, Sayram Lake belongs to Bortala Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture, and Bayanbulak belongs to Bayingolin Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture. However, due to their proximity to Yili, we usually include these two attractions in the Yili tourist route.
Attractions in Yining City: General Yili Mansion, Hanren Street, Kazangqi Folk Village
Sayram Lake
Nalati
From May to August, the grassland is lush and green. In midsummer, there is abundant rainfall and sufficient sunshine, and various wildflowers bloom all over the mountains like stars. At this time, Nalati is like a sea of flowers, and the heat instantly disappears.
Located at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, the Kalajun Grassland scenic area is divided into East Kalajun, West Kalajun, Koksu Grand Canyon, Human-shaped Grassland, rafting, hiking, etc. If time is not sufficient, you can choose a few attractions to visit. Compared with other grasslands, Kalajun is truly a human-shaped grassland worthy of its name. It is undulating and gullied, forming unparalleled beauty of curves against the backdrop of light and shadow.
Bayanbulak
Bayanbulak, which means ‘never-drying-up sweet spring’ in Mongolian, is located at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Transportation is not very convenient, and the road is bumpy and rugged. Therefore, after crossing the snowy mountains and enduring the tiredness of the journey, this vast green carpet that suddenly appears in front of us gives people a sudden sense of openness like encountering a peach blossom source.
Horgos Port
Yizhao Highway (Yili — Zhaosu)
It is Provincial Highway S237, a famous highway crossing the Tianshan Mountains in western Xinjiang, renowned for its steepness and scenic beauty. The scenery is picturesque. When you drive on the Yizhao Highway, you will feel the unique thrill and joy of moving along with the beautiful landscape.
Xiata Ancient Road
Recommended itineraries
1. Yili 5-day itinerary (double sleeper train route)
Day 1: Urumqi – Tianchi – Yining (sleeper train at night, attraction: Tianshan Tianchi scenic area)
Day 2: Yining – Nalati (attractions: Nalati)
Day 3: Nalati – Bayinbrook – Yining (attractions: Bayinbrook)
Day 4: Yining – Khorgos – Sayram Lake – Yining (attractions: Khorgos Port, Sayram Lake scenic area)
Day 5: Yining – Urumqi (sleeper train, attraction: International Bazaar)
2. Yili In-depth 7-day itinerary (small car self-driving route)
Day 1: Urumqi – Sayram Lake – Qingshuihe (attractions: Sayram Lake)
Day 2: Qingshuihe – Lavender – Khorgos Port – Yining (attractions: Lavender, Khorgos Port)
Day 3: Yining – Zhaosu Xiata (attractions: Zhaosu scenery, Xiata Ancient Road)
Day 4: Zhaosu – Karajun – Tekes (attractions: Karajun)
Day 5: Tekes – Nalati (attractions: Bagua City, Nalati)
Day 6: Nalati – Tangbula – Bayinbrook (attractions: Tangbula, Bayinbrook)
Day 7: Bayinbrook – Duku Highway – Urumqi (attractions: Duku Highway, International Bazaar)
3. Northern Xinjiang Circular Route (Tianchi-Turpan-Kanas-Yining) 10-day itinerary
Day 1: Tianchi – Koktokay (attractions: Tianshan Tianchi)
Day 2: Koktokay – Burqin (attractions: Koktokay)
Day 3: Burqin – Hemu (attractions: Hemu)
Day 4: Hemu – Kanas – Burqin (attractions: Kanas, Colorful Beaches)
Day 5: Burqin – Kuitun (attractions: Ghost City)
Day 6: Kuitun – Sayram Lake – Yining (attractions: Sayram Lake, Khorgos Port, Lavender)
Day 7: Yining – Nalati (attractions: Nalati)
Day 8: Nalati – Bayinbrook – Hejing (attractions: Bayinbrook)
Day 9: Hejing – Shanshan (attractions: Flaming Mountain, Kumtag Desert)
Day 10: Shanshan – Turpan – Urumqi (attractions: Uyghur Ancient Village, Sutep Tower, Karez Well System, Grape Valley)
Hope this guide can help you all! Finally, I wish everyone a pleasant journey! Half of an interesting life is about family matters, and the other half is about mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas. See you on the road!
Xinjiang tourism consultation: (same) 0991-8585456