The Nalati Grassland, the beautiful Nalati

"Nalati" is a name that comes from a legend: Genghis Khan (1162—1227, 1206—1227) led the Mongolian army on a western expedition, traversing the difficult southern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, passing through Toksun and Bayinbuluke Grassland on the way to the Ili River Valley for assembly. During midsummer, the mountains were still shrouded in wind and snow, and the cold was biting, leaving the soldiers exhausted. After they crossed a Daban (ridge), they suddenly saw the sun shining brightly above, with flowers blooming and water babbling on the plains, as if they had entered another world. They felt immediately refreshed and couldn't help but exclaim in unison: 'Nalate (in Mongolian, the place where the sun is first seen), Nalate...'. Later, the sound of 'Nalate' evolved into 'Nalati', and thus a vivid place name was born and has been used to this day. Nalati Grassland is located in the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains, at the eastern end of the Ili River Valley, within the territory of Xinyuan County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang (E:85°17′—85°28′, N:43°01′—43°15′). The area of 1,848 square kilometers encompasses grasslands, valleys, and forests, with a unique natural ecology and cultural landscape. It is known by names such as 'Green Island of the Tianshan', 'Green Homeland', 'Colorful Grassland', 'Sky Grassland', and is one of the six most beautiful grasslands in the country (Hulunbuir eastern grassland, Ili grassland, Xilingol grassland, Western Sichuan alpine grassland, Naqu alpine grassland, Qilian Mountain grassland). Nalati Grassland is as famous as the Swiss mountains and is one of the world's four major river valley grasslands (Hulunbuir, Nalati, Pampas, Xilingol). It stands out in the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains with its unique 'sky grassland' landscape, with snow-capped mountains, spruce forests, river valleys, and flower seas as its four typical features; river valley grassland, Panlong Valley, and sky grassland are three classic sightseeing routes; grasslands, snow mountains, and pine forests combine together, with green hills, wide meadows, tall and dense spruces, and distant peaks covered in snow. Each mountain has multiple scenes, each scene is unique, and the seasons are distinct: April to June is the flower viewing season, from the ice top flowers (wild lilies) blooming on the slopes in early April to the A Shan golden lotuses and sagebrush in late June, various mountain flowers bloom in succession, competing in beauty, with the grassland adorned with flowers everywhere. July to August is the cooling season, with the grassland a lush green and a pleasant climate, making it a good place to escape the heat. September to October is when the sky is high and the clouds are light, and the Panlong Valley is colorful, allowing photographers to show off their skills and capture great shots with the press of a shutter. December to March is wrapped in silver, with enchanting red willows, and the winter scenery is spectacular. The main sightseeing routes of Nalati Grassland are three (Sky Grassland, Panlong Valley, and River Valley Grassland), with many scenic spots to choose from. Among them, Tianjie Platform is the 'watershed' between the river valley grassland and the sky grassland (implying the entrance to 'heaven on earth, the boundary between heaven and human world'), and it is also the highest viewing point on the sky grassland, as well as the best place to view the entire grassland panorama. Its scenery is like a giant oil painting: snow kisses the blue sky, mist surrounds the pine forest, mountains overlap, green grass sways in the breeze, birds fly and butterflies dance, cattle and sheep roam leisurely, with rivers and springs as jade ornaments, and snow ridge spruces as rainbow dresses. The artistic conception is soul-stirring and unforgettable. Panlong Valley is 26 kilometers long and consists of four major scenic spots that integrate forests, grasslands, mountains, and canyons: Kunmi Valley, Xijun Valley, Jieyou Valley, and Snow Wolf Valley. Among them, the 'Jiaolong Out of the Sea' viewing platform is the highest point of the route, known for the surrounding dark forest. The spruce forests in the valleys flanked by overlapping mountains are arguably the most shocking landscape along the way. Tall and sturdy spruces, like sea-calming needles and sky-reaching swords, stand erect amidst the wind and clouds, drawing the essence of mountains and rivers, the sun and the moon, transforming into thousands of dragons that create clouds and rain, cuddling, guarding, nourishing, and beautifying the Panlong Valley's beautiful streams and spiritual peaks. This is the cultural belt of the Kazakh nomadic people, from the historical Wusun people to today's Kazakhs who thrive here, and their grassland tribal culture is displayed along this scenic route.