Located in the northwest of Xinjiang, Yili is known as the ‘Jiangnan (south of the Great Wall) beyond the Pass,’ integrating snow-capped mountains, grasslands, lakes, and valleys, with abundant tourism resources. Here are the main tourist attractions in Yili:
Nalati Grassland: As one of the world’s four major alpine valley grasslands, Nalati is famous for its three-dimensional grassland landscape. In summer, wildflowers cover the mountains, and in winter, the grassland is covered in snow. Visitors can experience horseback riding, visits to Kazakh families, and an overhead view of the stunning scenery of snow岭 fir and grassland intertwined from the Air Grassland Observation Deck.
Sayram Lake: Although belonging to Bozhou, it is a core attraction on the Yili tourist route. The lake’s color changes from blue to green with the light, with golden lotus flowers blooming along the lakeside in June and ice pushing wonders in winter. Cycling around the lake and camping under the stars are special activities here.
Kalajun Grassland: Certified by the UN as a ‘World Natural Heritage’ site, it is famous for its human-shaped grassland curves. In May and June, Huaxiantai transforms into a colorful carpet, and Yingfengtai offers a distant view of the main peak of the Tianshan Mountains. The Crocodile Bay in Koksu Grand Canyon is also a geological wonder.
Xiata Ancient Road: A steep and perilous valley traveled by Xuanzang on his pilgrimage to India, integrating glaciers, hot springs, and ancient roads. Visitors can take a shuttle bus through the spruce corridor and hike to the foot of the Muzart Glacier, feeling the vicissitudes of the millennium-old ancient road.
Qiongkushitai Village: A primitive village hidden deep in the Tianshan Mountains, with wooden cabins scattered like a fairy tale world. The back mountain grassland, the starting point of the Wusun Ancient Road, and the Kurdai River forest trail form a trio of secret scenic spots, suitable for in-depth hiking and photography.
In addition, there is the Duku Highway, a road that traverses towering mountains and deep valleys.
Guozigou Bridge, the ‘Most Beautiful Viaduct in Xinjiang’
Huocheng Lavender Fields, the ‘Provence of China’
Kuerdining, the gene bank of snow岭 fir
Tekes Bagua City, the world’s largest ancient city laid out in the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) formation
As well as many other attractions worth visiting, such as the Yili River Scenic Area.
In general, Yili boasts rich and diverse tourism resources, with both natural scenery and cultural landscapes that are truly captivating.