Both Kanas (Hanas) and Ili are tourist attractions in Xinjiang, each possessing unique natural landscapes and cultural customs. Here is a detailed introduction to tourism in Kanas (Hanas) and Ili:?
Kanas Tourism:?
Kanas, located in northern Xinjiang, is famous for its magnificent natural landscapes and mysterious lake monster legends. The tourism resources here are abundant, including Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, and the Three Bays. Visitors can stroll by Kanas Lake to feel its tranquility and beauty; they can also visit Hemu Village to experience primitive rural customs and totem culture; and they can admire the spectacular canyon scenery and river landscapes at the Three Bays. In addition, Kanas is a paradise for photographers, where stunning scenes can be captured, whether it is sunrise and sunset or the Milky Way in the starry sky.?
Ili Tourism:?
Ili is located in the northwest of Xinjiang and is known as the ‘Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall’. It integrates snow-capped mountains, grasslands, lakes, and gorges, possessing rich natural landscapes and cultural customs. Here are the top ten must-visit attractions in Ili:?
Nalati Grassland: As one of the four major alpine valley grasslands in the world, Nalati is famous for its three-dimensional grassland landscape. Wildflowers cover the mountains in summer, and the grassland is covered in snow in winter. Visitors can experience activities such as horseback riding and visiting Kazakh homes.?
Sayram Lake: The lake water is clear and transparent, changing colors from blue to green with the light, making it one of the landmark attractions in Xinjiang. The grassland by the lakeside is blooming with colorful flowers, contrasting with the lake water to form a picturesque scenery. Visitors can cycle around the lake, camp under the stars, and enjoy the magnificent scenes of sunrise and sunset.?
Kalajun Grassland: Certified by the United Nations as a ‘World Natural Heritage Site’, it is famous for its human-shaped grassland curves. The grassland here undulates with distinct layers, where mountains, forests, grasslands, and rivers intertwine, forming a colorful landscape. Visitors can choose to hike across the grassland or take a hot air balloon to overlook this magical land.?
Xiata Ancient Road: A steep and perilous gorge passed by Xuanzang on his pilgrimage to fetch Buddhist scriptures, integrating glaciers, hot springs, and ancient roads. Visitors can take a shuttle bus to traverse the Spruce Corridor and hike to the foot of the Muzart Glacier to feel the vicissitudes of the thousand-year-old ancient road.?
Qiongkushitai Village: A primitive village hidden deep in the Tianshan Mountains, with wooden cabins scattered like a fairy tale world. It is suitable for in-depth hiking and photography, where visitors can explore the grasslands behind the mountain, the starting point of the Wusun Ancient Road, and the Kurdai River Forest Trail.?
In addition, Ili boasts various attractions worth visiting, such as the Guozigou Bridge, Huocheng Lavender Fields, Kurdening Snowy Mountains Spruce Forest, Tekes Eight Trigrams City, and Ili River Scenic Area.?
In summary, both Kanas and Ili possess abundant tourism resources and unique natural landscapes. Visitors can choose suitable tourist destinations and itineraries according to their interests and schedules.?