The tourist attractions in Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang are very rich, including but not limited to Sailimu Lake, Naladi Grassland, Karajun Grassland, Xiata Tourist Area, Qiongkushitai Village, Guozigou Bridge, Tekes Eight Trigrams City, etc.?
Yili Prefecture is located in the northwest of Xinjiang and is famous for its magnificent natural scenery and rich ethnic culture. Here are some of the main tourist attractions in Yili Prefecture:?
Sailimu Lake: As a core attraction on the Yili loop route, the lake’s water changes colors from blue to green with the light. In June, golden lotus flowers bloom by the lake, and the ice pushing phenomenon in winter is breathtaking. Cycling around the lake and camping under the stars are particularly recommended?
Naladi Grassland: One of the four major alpine valley grasslands in the world, 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 and visiting Kazakh homes?
Karajun Grassland: Certified by the United Nations as a ‘World Natural Heritage Site’, famous for its human-like grassland curves. Flowers bloom in May and June, and Falcon Viewing Platform offers a distant view of the main peak of the Tianshan Mountains. The Crocodile Bay in Kuokesu Grand Canyon is a geological wonder?
Xiata Tourist Area: A steep gorge passed by Xuanzang on his pilgrimage, integrating glaciers, hot springs, and ancient roads. Tourists can take a shuttle bus to travel through 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 houses scattered like a fairy tale world. The grassland in the back mountain, the starting point of the Ancient Wusun Road, and the Kurdai River forest trail constitute a mysterious place suitable for in-depth hiking and photography?
Guozigou Bridge: ‘The most beautiful viaduct in Xinjiang’, resembling a huge dragon coiled in the valley. The observation deck offers stunning views of the bridge and snow-capped mountains in the same frame, with different scenery in each season?
Tekes Eight Trigrams City: The largest ancient city with a bagua (eight trigrams) layout in the world, a mysterious city without traffic lights. Tourists can ride the Ferris wheel to overlook the streets in the shape of I Ching trigrams and experience the unique city layout?
In addition, Qiaxi Scenic Area, Kuerdining, Yizhao Highway, Bayinbuluke Grassland, Duku Highway, and other attractions in Yili Prefecture are also worth visiting. Qiaxi Scenic Area is backed by snow-capped mountains and surrounded by mountains, and is known as ‘The most beautiful place in Yili is Qiaxi, the Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River) beyond the Great Wall’; Kuerdining is the gene pool of schrenk spruce and the region with the richest biodiversity in the West Tianshan Mountains?
. These attractions each have their own unique characteristics, providing tourists with a rich travel experience.?
The above recommendations are for reference only, and the specific itinerary should be arranged according to personal interests and time. When traveling to Yili Prefecture, it is recommended to understand the local weather and traffic conditions in advance to better plan the itinerary.?