Ili is a tourist attraction in Xinjiang, with abundant natural and cultural landscapes. Here are some main attractions and recommended activities for local tourism in Ili:
Grassland landscapes:
Nalati Grassland: As one of the world’s four alpine valley grasslands, Nalati is renowned for its three-dimensional grassland landscape, with wildflowers covering the mountains in summer and a snowy blanket in winter.
Karajun Grassland: Certified by the UN as a "World Natural Heritage Site", it is famous for its human-shaped grassland curves, resembling a colorful carpet when flowers bloom in May and June.
Lakes and rivers:
Sayram Lake: Although belonging to Bozhou, it is regarded as a core attraction on the Ili loop route. The lake water changes colors from blue to green with the light, and cycling around the lake and stargazing camping are popular activities.
Ili River: Xinjiang’s largest inland river, with a wide river surface and beautiful scenery, stretching 1,500 kilometers in length. The sunset over the Ili River Bridge is praised as the "Most Beautiful Sunset in the Western Regions".
Gorges and ancient roads:
Xiata Ancient Road: A perilous gorge traveled by Xuanzang on his pilgrimage to fetch Buddhist scriptures, integrating glaciers, hot springs, and ancient roads, suitable for hiking and exploration.
Guozigou Valley: With narrow, secluded valleys and peculiar rocks, it is praised as an absolutely stunning natural landscape, and the Guozigou Bridge is known as the "Most Beautiful Viaduct in Xinjiang".
Primitive villages and folklore:
Qiongkushitai Village: A primitive village hidden deep in the Tianshan Mountains, with wooden huts scattered like a fairy tale world, ideal for in-depth hiking and photography.
Yining Six-Star Street: Visit the Accordion Museum, watch performances, and experience local folklore.
Other special attractions:
Kuerdining: A gene bank of snow岭 fir trees, the most biodiverse area in the western Tianshan Mountains, with autumn scenery akin to an oil painting.
Tekes Bagua City: The world’s largest ancient city laid out in the bagua (Eight Trigrams) formation, a mysterious city without traffic lights, where you can ride a Ferris wheel to overlook the streets designed according to the I Ching.
Huocheng Lavender Fields: China’s Provence, with ten thousand acres of purple blossoms in mid-to-late June, filling the air with a romantic fragrance.
In addition, Ili has abundant skiing resources, such as the Ilegedai International Ski Resort in Gongliu County, which attracts skiing enthusiasts from all over the country.
During the peak tourist season, visitors can also participate in various local festive activities to experience the traditional culture and cuisine of the Kazakhs.
In general, Ili boasts rich tourism resources, and is worth visiting for both its natural scenery and cultural landscapes.