There are several must-visit attractions when traveling to Ili in April:
Turgen Apricot Flower Valley (now renamed as Nalati Apricot Valley):
Blooming Period: From early to mid-April, with the specific timing dependent on the weather.
Address: Turgen Township, Xinyuan County, Ili.
Ticket Price: 30 yuan (including 10 yuan for transportation within the scenic area).
Highlight: With thousands of acres of wild apricot forests, the flower sea is magnificent, earning it the reputation as one of the ‘100 Places You Must Visit in Your Lifetime’. The early morning mist is the best time for photography.
Zhonghua Fushou Mountain:
Blooming Period: From mid-to-late April, with the specific timing dependent on the weather.
Address: 8 kilometers north of Daxigou Township, Huocheng County, Ili.
Ticket Price: 40 yuan (including 12 yuan for transportation within the scenic area).
Highlight: Besides wild apricot forests, there are also wild apple and hawthorn trees. The flowering season lasts for a month, presenting a magnificent scenery.
Nalati Grassland:
Blooming Period: From mid-to-late April, crocus flowers bloom through the snow on the grassland.
Address: Nalati Town, Xinyuan County, Ili.
Ticket Price: 95 yuan (including transportation within the scenic areas of Aerial Grassland, Valley Grassland, Snow Lotus Valley, and Panlong Ancient Road).
Highlight: In April, horse riding is inexpensive, and the scenic area is less crowded, allowing for unrestrained galloping. The grassland is gradually greening, while the snow-capped mountains remain unmelted. With few people and clean scenery, it is an excellent spot to admire the spring grassland scenery.
Sayram Lake:
Best Viewing Period: In April, the ice on the lake gradually melts, potentially creating a fantastic scene of ‘half ice, half water’.
Address: Xinyuan County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang.
Highlight: In April, it retains the beauty of winter, allowing you to admire wonders such as deep winter blue ice, ice bubbles, and ice flowers. Wildflowers along the lakeside begin to bloom, and with few tourists, you can enjoy the pure scenery alone.
Yining Swan Fountain Wetland Park:
Best Viewing Period: From October each year to April of the next year.
Address: Xiakeleke Village, Yingtamuxiang Township, Yining.
Ticket Price: 20 yuan.
Highlight: Feeding swans is allowed, making it a great place to get close to nature and observe swans.
Furthermore, you can visit Kazanqi Folk Village, Liuxing Street, and Yili River Old Street to feel the folk customs of Yining and its colorful, fairy tale-like architecture.
As well as Guozigou Bridge, overlooking the pure Tianshan snow岭 spruce, the bridge towers into the clouds, presenting a delightful scenery.
In summary, traveling to Ili in April allows you to admire the magnificent flower sea at Turgen Apricot Flower Valley, the fruit tree blooming season at Zhonghua Fushou Mountain, the early spring scenery at Nalati Grassland, the alternating blue ice and flower sea at Sayram Lake, as well as the swans at Yining Swan Fountain Wetland Park. Additionally, you can experience the folk customs of Yining and the spectacular view of Guozigou Bridge.