Nowadays, more and more people long for rural life, where there are mountains, rivers, grasslands, flowers, cattle and sheep, log cabins, pure air, fairy-tale-like starry skies, and peaceful times… To find the pastoral idyll of your dreams in Xinjiang, these villages are not to be missed.
Qiongkushitai Village
The celestial sounds of the Yili River Valley
Leaving Tekes County by car, after more than three hours of winding mountain roads, one can arrive at Qiongkushitai Village in Kaladala Town. However, the 90-kilometer journey was not boring. Along the way, one could see the undulating mountains and meadows outside the car window.
We went in July, and the summer scenery of Yili was breathtakingly beautiful everywhere. But upon entering Jiongkushitai, people would suddenly discover that there were not only green mountains, trees, clear streams, and lush grass but also the constant sounds of nature, hidden yet grand, that immediately invigorated people. By perceiving these sounds, we found a different Jiongkushitai and a different Yili summer.
The sound of the Kuerdai River’s flowing water is the pure sound of nature.
The rolling Kuerdai River has nourished the pastures and farms of Jiongkushitai for thousands of years. In the village, most of the houses are built along the river. In summer, the water flow becomes stronger and faster, with the sound of water mixed with the fragrance of grass and wildflowers flowing all the way into the Tekes River and merging into the mighty waves of the Yili River.
If you stand on the bridge, you will hear the sound of rushing water as it falls from a height, splashing on the river surface and creating water sprays. But if you stand on the shore, the Kuerdai River takes on a different appearance. The cool river water flows, rounding the pebbles in the water and greening the grasslands on both bankss. No matter when you drink the milk tea boiled with river water, a sense of happiness will fill the entire wooden house.
The sound of the wind in the valley is the sound of nature interacting with humans.
At noon, the outdoor temperature was over 30 degrees Celsius, and it was almost unbearable to stand in the sunshine. People coming and going would seek out the shade. But once you walked into the shade, a gentle breeze would immediately blow, making the snow-capped fir trees rustle and bringing a cool breeze.
Perhaps, because it was summer and located in a valley, the once cloudless sky of Jiongkushitai was suddenly covered by dark clouds. It started raining, and the wind picked up. Standing under the eaves of a wooden house with a sense of history, listening to the tinkling sound of wind chimes, and watching the rain pour down, my thoughts were suddenly emptied, and I was immersed in the beauty of this frontier village known as the "Little Switzerland of the East".
The sound of horses’ hooves is the sound left by humans in Jongkushitai.
The ancient Wusun pathway, which connects the Junggar Basin in the north and the Tarim Oasis in the south, has its northern entrance in Jongkushitai. Today, the ancient Wusun pathway, which has lost its function of connecting the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, has become a necessary route for herdsmen to transfer their livestock and is also an adventure trail for outdoor enthusiasts. At present, large-scale livestock transfers have ended, but herdsmen still occasionally drive small herds of sheep and cows through it.
Among the coming and going herdsmen, there are always some Kazakh teenagers who want to show off their skills, galloping ahead at full speed. At this time, the sound of horses’ hooves is urgent and intense, and dust rises in waves, making a striking sight. However, for most tourists who want to experience nomadic life, it’s more enjoyable to stroll leisurely. The sound of horses’ hooves on the gravel road echoes along this ancient path that has existed for thousands of years.
Actually, there are many other sounds in Jongkushitai. For example, the dogs raised in the farmhouses will bark enthusiastically when they see guests. The sound of hammering in the handicraft shops along the road, the shepherd’s cries, and the sound of whip-cracking… These sounds intertwine, carrying the simplicity of the villagers and the earthiness of the village, becoming the melodious sounds that touch the hearts of tourists.
Hemu Village
A pure and peaceful fairy tale world
Some tourists claim:
Hemu Village is located in Burqin County, Altay Region. The village is not big, with only a hundred or so households. The only main road in the village divides it into two parts. Surrounded by snowy peaks and birch trees, stepping into Hemu Village is like entering a pure and peaceful fairy tale world.
In Hemu Village, the fragrance of flowers and grass fills the air. As far as the eye can see, the mountains are covered with birch forests, green grass like a carpet, and wildflowers shining like stars. This season, Kanas is rainy, and a cloud passing by brings fine raindrops. A few minutes later, the rain clears up, the sun shines brightly, the sky is clear and blue, and the flowers and grass shimmer. The moist air makes the skin delicate. A tourist from Hunan, Lv Xiaohuan, said, ‘In Hemu Village, you don’t need to use moisturizing cream. The air here has a moisturizing effect on its own.’
In the picturesque scenery of Hemu Village, the distinctive view must be the pointed log cabins of the Tuvas. The log cabins are built with raw wood, simple yet cozy, and each one houses a Tuvan family. Behind the log cabins, there is always a wooden fence enclosing a sheep and cow pen. Nomadic life is distant and mysterious to city dwellers, and visitors from afar are always curious about the life inside the log cabins.
If you want to stay in a log cabin for a night, no problem. Hemu Village has many log cabin homestays. They look primitive from the outside, but are clean and comfortable inside, with the fresh scent of raw wood. The cabins are equipped with electric water heaters, WIFI, and everything else you need. The popular log cabins are built along the river, which loops around the village with crystal-clear water. Sitting in a recliner outside the log cabin, surrounded by lush greenery and refreshing fragrances, all the hustle and bustle of the city fade away, leaving only the sound of flowing water, like soft music flowing through your heart. In such a place, time slows down, and all is peaceful and content.
The starry sky of Hemucun is also a scenic beauty that cannot be missed. At night, everything is quiet. Sitting on the grass in front of the log cabin, you can listen to the soft whispers of the breeze and the joyful singing of summer insects. When you look up at the night sky, you will be amazed to ‘discover’ the entire Milky Way above your head, with bright stars shining like gems. They are so close to you, as if you can touch them. ‘The starry sky of Hemu is so beautiful that you can’t believe it’s real, and you think you’ve walked into a fairy tale world!’
Hemucun is an ethereal place. In the morning and evening, wisps of smoke rise from the log cabins, forming a fantastic fog that shrouds the small village like a veil. The surrounding birch forests are dyed gold by the morning sun or sunset. The entire Hemucun is like a fairyland, so beautiful that it takes one’s breath away.
Being in Hemu is like being in a painting, with scenery everywhere. There is an observation deck on the hillside on the north bank of the river, from which you can overlook the panoramic view of the village.
The sky was clear and blue, and the breeze was gentle in Shuixigou Town, Urumqi County. Amid the Ten Thousand Acre Flower Sea in Pingxiliang Village at the foot of Nanshan, Li Mengqiang in a suit and his fiancée Li Yan in a wedding dress looked at each other deeply, with happy smiles on their faces.
’Nanshan is close by and has beautiful scenery. More and more couples choose to come here to take outdoor photos. I have been here eight times this month alone.’ Ma Kai, a photographer from ‘Athens Bride Wedding Photography’ in Urumqi, told the reporter.
’The Ten Thousand Acre Flower Sea is a scenic area that we are focusing on this year. The flowers are beautiful in this season, and it has become a ‘popular photo-taking spot’ for tourists.’
The ‘sudden popularity’ of Pingxiliang Village benefits from its unique geographical advantages. The famous Silk Road International Resort, the upcoming large-scale live performance venue of ‘The Kunlun Convention’, and the southern town of the special north-south towns keyly developed by Urumqi County are all located within the jurisdiction of the village.
In the past two years, based on the infrastructure renovation of Urumqi County, Pingxiliang Village has combined with the rural revitalization strategy and the rural living environment improvement project, and has improved the quality of life of villagers by improving the village appearance, which has also upgraded the overall tourism environment.
’Urumqi County has a mild climate with warm winters and cool summers, and is rich in tourism resources, making it very suitable for tourism development. Pingxiliang Village has obvious geographical advantages, excellent infrastructure, and an overall good environment. In addition, the village committee also has the idea of developing homestays, so we immediately hit it off.’ Luo Jianwei, general manager of Shenzhen Jiexi Tourism Investment Co., Ltd., told the reporter.
After arriving in Pingxiliang Village in March this year, Luo Jianwei quickly reached a consensus with the village’s ‘two committees’ and planned to build 100 concentrated and contiguous homestays in the village over 3 to 5 years. Currently, 15 homestays are open to the public.
At a homestay named ‘Qisu’, the reporter saw that the 500-square-meter homestay has a total of five guest rooms, equipped with dining, entertainment facilities such as a restaurant, meeting room, chess and card room, and KTV. The decoration style is a mix of modern simplicity and folk customs. Yuan Shouyu, the person in charge of this homestay, said, ‘Now the source of tourists is very good. Rooms must be booked at least 10 days in advance during holidays.’
Cui Songlan, a villager working at "Qisu", told reporters that her house is next to "Qisu" and is also rented to Jiexi Company, earning a rent of 30,000 yuan per year. Cui Songlan works as a vegetable preparer at the homestay and earns an income of 4,000 yuan per month.
"The cooperation with enterprises not only helps upgrade our village’s homestays but also solves the problem of labor transfer. Villagers can work near their homes, happily and at ease." Li Guiqin told reporters, "Now, everyone in the village is engaged in work related to tourism and enjoys the benefits brought by the development of the tourism industry. The average annual income of the village’s 236 households is currently over 100,000 yuan."
At the end of July, Pingxiliang Village was included in the first list of national key rural tourism villages announced by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This news excited the entire village. Li Guiqin revealed that next year, Pingxiliang Village will build a leisure business district with cafes, bars, parking lots, and a dedicated bonfire site. "We strive to make Pingxiliang Village the first homestay village in Xinjiang."
Some Key Rural Tourism Villages
Shanghu Village, Yaer Town, Gaochang District, Turpan City
Shanghu Village plants large areas of apricot trees and attracts a large number of tourists to view the apricot blossoms during the "First Spring of Xinjiang, Apricot Blossom Season" event held in Turpan City. Shanghu Village has also built a folk customs street with regional flavor,再现了 traditional workshops, shops, and other commercial scenes on the ancient Silk Road. At the same time, it has also established a non-material cultural heritage experience area to allow tourists to immerse themselves and experience the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road.
Hake Village, Urho Town, Urho District, Karamay City
Hake Village is located on the golden tourism route of Kanas, surrounded by Populus euphratica forests on all sides and inhabited harmoniously by multiple ethnic groups. It is famous for the tragic and moving legend of the Eastern Return of the Torghuts. In recent years, Hake Village has leveraged its beautiful ecological environment and Torghut Eastern Return culture as its business cards, and taken the construction of beautiful villages and the creation of 3A-level scenic spots as its starting points to vigorously develop leisure agriculture. Now, the village’s forest coverage rate has reached over 50%. Walking along the village paths, you will be surrounded by flowers, trees, and plants. The leisurely and cozy farmhouses with the fragrance of vegetables and fruits are delightful. Hake Village has become a beautiful village integrating ecological tourism, leisure tourism, and cultural exhibition.
Shirenzi Village, Shirenzi Township, Barkol Kazak Autonomous County
Shirenzi Village in Shirenzi Township is located at the northern foot of the Eastern Tianshan Mountains and in the depths of Balikun Grassland. It boasts the scenic Gaojiahu Wetland area with lush water and grass, fresh air, and is a great destination for summer getaways. Making unique pasta is a major characteristic of Shirenzi Village. When you visit the village, you can taste specialties such as mutton stewed with pancakes, baked staple foods, and deep-fried doughnuts. During festivals, the village also holds folk performances such as social fire and fire-building.
Qiaqi Village, Yingairke Town, Awati County
Qiaqi Village boasts natural Populus euphratica forests and rich ecological resources. The village has also built a wedding celebration square to hold weddings with ethnic characteristics, which not only provides convenience for the newlyweds but also becomes a major attraction for tourists. Qiaqi Village Leisure Culture Square has constructed three themed restaurants that can accommodate more than 100 people dining at the same time.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456