Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456
The Yizhao Highway is finally open to traffic!! It is only open for 4 months a year and spans only 200 kilometers, yet it dares to compete with the Duku Highway!
The Yizhao Highway is open to traffic! Open to traffic!
Early in the morning, Sister You saw the news that the Yizhao Highway had opened to traffic.
Hurry up and inform all the eagerly anticipating fans!
Time to pack up and leave!
The Yizhao Highway officially opened to traffic at 12:00 on June 20, 2024.
Non-commercial vehicles with 7 seats or less (including 7 seats) are allowed to pass normally! Commercial vehicles with more than 5 seats and large trucks are prohibited from passing.
The Yizhao Highway section prohibits the passage of key vehicles such as passenger vehicles with more than 7 seats (including 7 seats), commercial vehicles with more than 5 seats (including 5 seats), large trucks, semi-trailers, and full trailers.
From 22:00 Beijing time on the current day to 07:00 the next day, no vehicles are allowed to pass during these key hours.
The Yizhao Highway is one of the beautiful highways in Xinjiang.
Zhaosu is the only county in Xinjiang without Gobi Desert or sandy deserts. This border county at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains is full of vitality and energy.
Beautiful snow-capped mountains, vast prairies, blue skies, white clouds, and mountains filled with cattle and sheep, as well as galloping Zhaosu horses. The Yizhao Highway to Zhaosu is a scenic route with breathtaking views the entire way.
Compared to the Duku Highway, the Yizhao Highway is not as famous. However, as a seasonal highway, the scenery along the way is not easily seen. It requires great luck to witness its hidden beauty.
The Yizhao Highway is a segment of the ancient Silk Road’s "Gongyue Path", spanning 120 kilometers. Along the way, it crosses the Angeliete Daban on the Wusun Mountains, which is over 3,000 meters above sea level. With snow and wind, the road is steep and perilous.
The provincial highway numbered 237, commonly known as the Yizhao Highway, is the second most famous highway in Yili Prefecture and even in the entire Xinjiang region, after the Duku Highway. This is not only because of its beautiful scenery along the way but also because it is almost like an encyclopedia of geological hazards on highways.
The Wusun Mountains are part of the Tianshan Mountains. The mountains are not tall, but the road is extremely steep, with cliffs on one side and deep valleys on the other. The Yizhao Highway winds like a python around the mountains.
After crossing the Daban, there is a lush alpine meadow. At both ends of the highway, Yining boasts beautiful lavender fields, while Zhaosu features stunning rapeseed fields.
The Yizhao Highway is a scenic shortcut from Yining to Zhaosu. It is a segment of the ancient Silk Road, known as the "Gongyue Path". The road is steep and perilous, but the scenery along the way is breathtaking, as if traveling above the white clouds. However, it is only open to traffic for a few months a year.
Taking a trip on Yizhao Highway, you will be filled with one exclamation after another, one surprise following another.
Due to its high altitude and relatively humid climate, the weather on Yizhao Highway is often unpredictable. The scene of "rain and snow in the mountains, sunny outside the mountains" is very common, which can also be described as "four seasons in one day, different weather every ten li".
Four seasons in one day, different weather every ten li
Recommended Chartered Tour Routes
South Route: Korla City → Bosten Lake → Hejing County → Baluntai Yellow Temple → Bayanbulak → Kuqa Grand Canyon
North Route: Yili City → Yining City → Nalati → Bayanbulak → Gongnais Forest Park
1. Chartered Tour Loop in Northern Xinjiang
The Northern Xinjiang self-driving tour loop is the most representative and well-known scenic area self-driving tour loop in Xinjiang in terms of geological resources. The scenic areas on this route include the World Natural Heritage site Tian Chi (Tian Chi Lake), Koktokay World Geopark (5A), Kanas 5A Scenic Area, Colorful Beach, Ulungur Lake, Habahe Birch Forest Scenic Area, Grassland Stone Man Kazak Ethnic Cultural Park, and other 4A scenic areas. It also includes Shihezi Junkeng City, Shawan Food City, Urho Devil’s City, Jimunai Port, Habahe, Ulungur Lake, Fuyun Colorful City, and Ancient Sea Hot Spring.
2. Chartered Tour Loop in West Tianshan
The West Tianshan self-driving tour loop is a high-grade, resource-rich, most diverse, and internationally attractive self-driving tour loop in Xinjiang.
The scenic areas on this route include Karakun (5A) and Kuerdining, two World Natural Heritage sites, as well as 4A scenic areas such as Nalati 5A Scenic Area, Sayram Lake, Yili Kazanqi Old Town, Zhaosu Xiata, Khorgos Port, Princess Jieyou Lavender Manor, and Wusu Foshan Forest Park. It also includes Tekes Eight Trigrams City, Duku scenic route, Guozigou, Chabuchal Xibo Ethnic Cultural Town, Baishi Peak Scenic Area, Grassland Stone Man, Gedeng Monument, and Jiorma Scenic Area.
3. Chartered Tour Loop in East Tianshan
The East Tianshan self-driving tour loop is a route featuring ecological leisure and humanistic sightseeing. This route totals approximately 2,500 kilometers and includes over 20 classic scenic areas: Tian Chi (Tianshan Heavenly Lake), Cheshi Ancient Road, Beiting Ancient City, Jiangbulake, Balikun Lake, Balikun Grassland, Balikun Monster Mountain, Balikun Ancient City, East Tianshan in Hami, Yiwu Hu Yanglin (Populus euphratica Forest), Miaoergou Hami King’s Summer Palace, Hami King’s Scenic Area, Hami Yardang·Dahaiti, Kumtag Desert Park, Tuyugou, Flaming Mountains, Grape Valley, Karez Wells, Gaochang Ancient City, Bozikelike Thousand Buddha Caves, Jiaohe Ancient City, Dabancheng Scenic Area, and Salt Lake.
4. Chartered Tour Route in Southern Xinjiang
The self-driving tour route in southern Xinjiang is a loop route that combines natural appreciation and humanistic experience, connecting Bayanbulak and Tomur, two World Natural Heritage sites, as well as three World Cultural Heritage sites including Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Kizil Gaha Beacon Tower, and Subashi Buddhist Temple. It also includes the 5A scenic area of Bosten Lake and the scenic routes of G217 Duku Highway and Taklamakan Desert. It will take you to appreciate the wonders of the World Heritage sites in southern Xinjiang and allow you to delve into the "Sea of Death", exploring the thousand-year-old traditions of the Daolang and Lop people.
5. Kashgar Chartered Bus Routes
The Kashgar self-driving route features Kashgar ethnic cultural experience tours. It is a self-driving route centered in Kashgar with leisure and cultural sightseeing functions.
The core attractions of this route include Kashgar Old City, Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake, Mount Muztagh Ata, Hongqilafu Port, Zepu Golden Huyang Forest, Bachu Red Sea Scenic Area, Maigaiti Daolang Village, Daolang Painting Village, Kirgiz Ethnic Cultural Industrial Park, Pamir Geological Gallery, Smuhana Village, Irkeshtam Port, etc.
6. Karamay Border Chartered Bus Routes
The Karamay Border Self-Driving Route is mainly characterized by border scenery, including Yadan landform – Urho Magic City, alpine lake – Sayram Lake, hillside flower sea – Hainang Ranch, Baluruke Mountains, wind-eroded landform – Monster Valley, border crossings – Baketu Port and Alataw Pass, as well as forest parks, characteristic towns, nomadic culture, and other unique tourism resources.
7. Ili Valley Chartered Bus Routes
The Ili Valley self-driving route will take tourists to enjoy the grassland scenery, including Nilka, Qiaerma, Nalati, Kuerdining, Zhaosu Grassland, and Wusun Post, among others. Compared to grasslands elsewhere, the Ili Valley offers a broader vision and more vivid color contrast.
8. Tarim Chartered Loop Routes
The Tarim Auto Rally Route is characterized by desert eco-tourism, visits to ancient Silk Road sites, and wildlife scientific research tours. It is a 6-day self-driving loop that encompasses the highest-quality resources in the Taklamakan Desert area and the Tarim River basin, as well as important ancient Silk Road sites and relics. The total driving distance of this route is approximately 2,600 kilometers, including more than 10 core attractions: Yuli Lopnur Village, Luntai Huyang Forest Park, Qiemo Jade Town, Ruoqiang Loulan Cultural Town, Altun Mountains, Milan Ancient City Site, Kanglake Lake, Aragan Camp, Lop Lake, and天鹅River in Korla City.
9. Hami Chartered Bus Routes
The Hami self-driving route boasts distinctive natural scenery. It includes the breathtaking Hami Yadan Camp, the千年-old Yiwu Huyang Forest, and the unique scenery of Kumtag Desert. Compared to other self-driving routes dominated by mountains and rivers, this route has a stronger sense of historical depth.
10. Hetian Chartered Bus Routes
All the above chartered bus routes can be customized. Please contact our senior travel experience consultant and chartered bus route recommender who has been working in the tourism industry for over ten years, with two-thirds of his time spent exploring Xinjiang. He is familiar with local roads, attractions, driving times, suitable vehicle types, local weather, culture, and cuisine. 24-hour free hotline is available for consultation at any time.
What beautiful scenery is there along the way?
Tohulasu Grassland
Although this is the closest grassland scenic area to Yining City, only 40 kilometers from Yining County and 60 kilometers from Yining City, the Tohulasu Grassland, like a rural and uncontaminated pastoral maiden, has more natural charm and primitive flavor.
Location: 40 kilometers northeast of Yining City, the capital of Ili Prefecture
Zhaosu Grassland
When you enter the Zhaosu Grassland, it’s like stepping into a vast dreamland. The泛滥 of colors seems to tease your gaze, with yellow, pink, blue, and purple flowers extending endlessly.
Its distant and vast artistic conception cannot be described by a painting or a few exquisite words. It will open up your mind and unleash your imagination unknowingly.
Even if your gaze turns into a wild horse, it would be difficult to chase after these colors. If it weren’t for the company of the low-hanging clouds and the long-lasting rainbow, your gaze and imagination might get lost in this endless sea of colors. The beauty of the Zhaosu Grassland is not only due to the fertile and lush pasture but also because it is a colorful and ever-changing grassland. In May, the grassland is green-toned; in June, purple and white flowers bloom luxuriantly in the grass.
In July, Zhaosu County, which is rich in rapeseed, welcomes the season of large-scale blooming rapeseed flowers. The grasslands and rapeseed fields alternate, green and golden, truly a magnificent brocade woven only by the hand of God!
Wusun Mountain Baishi Peak
With a peak elevation of 3,475 meters, Baishi Peak is the highest peak on the ridge of the Wusun Mountains. The peaks are majestic, with ever-changing weather conditions. Three peaks stand together, arranged nearly east-west. The peak area is strategically located, surrounded by steep cliffs. The northern slope is relatively open at the peak. The peak area is prominent!
Location: 48 kilometers straight-line distance south of Qapqal County Town.
Qiongbola Forest Park
The place boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, scenic landscapes, and unique natural scenery. It covers an area of over 3,000 hectares, with facilities such as European-style wooden houses, yurts, tents, and ski lifts. It can compete with Huashan in steepness and rival Huangshan in beauty, making it a fascinating destination.
Location: Within the territory of Qiongbola Township, Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, at the foot of the Wusun Mountains
Zhaosu Horse Farm
Zhaosu is known as the "Hometown of Heavenly Horses". The predecessor of the Ili Zhaosu Horse Farm was a large military horse farm in China—the Zhaosu Military Horse Farm. In the 1970s, it was a famous 10,000-horse military farm, providing 50,200 fine horses to society and the military, writing a glorious page in the history of modern horse breeding in China.
Location: Horse Farm, Zhaosu County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture
Xiata Valley
This is a famous and perilous ancient pass on the ancient Silk Road. It is said that Tang Monk once crossed this ancient path when he went to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, so it is also known as the Tang Monk’s Ancient Path.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456