Things to do in Ili

I've visited Sayram Lake in all four seasons. Sayram Lake may not be the most beautiful scenery in Xinjiang, but for some reason, it looks good no matter how you take a picture of it. If you can only visit one place in Yili, go to Sayram Lake. It has snow-capped mountains, grasslands, lakes, streams, and forests. The most beautiful scenery of the Tianshan Mountains is condensed here. It's an all-rounder!

Narat Grassland is quite beautiful, especially the aerial grassland, which is stunning. You can drive there; just buy a self-driving ticket. There are also shuttle buses. The area is quite large. Panlong Valley Road, however, was just average, not as beautiful as I expected. The river valley grassland was teeming with cattle and sheep, but since it was nearing autumn, the grass wasn't as green anymore. I happened to be there during a grassland music festival. There were no celebrities, and the audience wasn't large, but the park was very well organized. There were large, clean temporary restrooms, and plenty of police, so everything was orderly. The only downside was that the parking lot was a bit far from the concert venue, as the venue was quite large. Because it's relatively remote, there weren't that many tourists there.

The vast grasslands and the clearly visible snow-capped mountains in the distance are truly breathtaking, like stepping into a fairyland. The entire walk takes quite a while, so I recommend horseback riding; you can enjoy the ride while admiring the scenery.

Kuldning Scenic Area, located in Gongliu County, Ili Prefecture, Xinjiang, is known as the "Oriental Switzerland," where snow-capped mountains, spruce forests, and grasslands intertwine to create a picturesque landscape. Recommended attractions include the Qimengde Viewpoint, where a wooden boardwalk offers panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains and spruce forests; the Ayousai Viewpoint provides views of the snow-capped peak of Kabanbay Peak; and the Ten-Mile Gallery features winding streams with dappled sunlight, creating a natural gallery effect. Summers are cool and pleasant, ideal for self-driving or camping. Tent campsites and wooden cabins are readily available within the scenic area, while wild fruit forests and ancient spruce trees add to the rustic charm, making it a secluded and less-traveled gem on the Ili route.

The grasslands of Xiata in August are very beautiful with snow-capped mountains and cattle and sheep. To visit the scenic area, you need to take a bus to the hot spring hotel and then transfer to an electric car to the transfer bridge and the general platform. After that, if you want to go to the flower platform, you need to hike about five kilometers to get a closer look at the snow-capped mountains. It is worth it.

We came to Zhaosu Wetland specifically to see the "Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River" performance. It was a cloudy day when we arrived, so we hadn't had high expectations. After driving in, we headed to the viewing platform, found a good spot, and waited for over 20 minutes before finally witnessing the spectacular sight of the Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River. Although the performance was short, seeing it in person was still quite breathtaking and very impressive. Afterwards, we drove around the Rainbow Bridge for a long loop. The roads were nearly empty, the scenery was beautiful, and it was a very pleasant drive.

Xinjiang Trip Day 9 ✨ Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery—Duku Highway—Urumqi What incredible luck today! I woke up this morning to find out the Duku Highway was reopened! ✨ What would have been an 11-hour drive was reduced to just 8 hours! What amazing luck! 🌄 Surprise at the start: The Hundred-Mile Gallery is breathtakingly beautiful! Every snapshot is wallpaper-worthy scenery 🏞️ The Duku Highway truly deserves its title as Xinjiang's most beautiful highway 🏆 Today we witnessed: ✓ 20°C summer at the foot of the mountain vs. a sub-zero snowy world at the summit ❄️ ✓ A changing panorama of scenery throughout the four seasons: grassland → spruce forest → snow-capped mountains → Danxia canyons ✓ A southerner screamed with excitement upon touching a real snow-capped mountain for the first time (I won't say who it was 😝) 🚗 Driving Tips: 1️⃣ Duku Highway Opening Hours: June 1st - October 15th 2️⃣ Restricted Hours: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM 3️⃣ Essential Items: Thick coat! Sunscreen! Sunglasses! (Don't ask how I know, I just got three shades tanned 😭) 💯 Today's highlights: A snowball fight at the foot of the snow-capped mountains ☃️ Zero traffic jams + zero livestock = a silky smooth experience Still savoring the experience on the way back to Urumqi, this was definitely the most worthwhile day of my Xinjiang trip! I highly recommend that everyone visiting Xinjiang add the Duku Highway to their must-see list~ #XinjiangTravel #DukuHighway #HundredMileGallery #TangbulaGrassland #UrumqiTourism

Strolling along Yining's Liuxing Street, sunlight bathes the streets in an exotic atmosphere. Century-old alleys wind like poems, their blue walls and stained glass windows telling the story of time. Uyghur artisans strike bronze instruments, their clinking echoing through time. The aroma of baked buns fills the street corners, and the rhythm of hand drums awakens the dormant bricks and tiles. Every tile here is engraved with a story, and behind every carved wooden door lies a warm smile. The hexagonal streets and alleys, like blooming flowers, quietly embrace diverse cultures.

Jade Lake is truly beautiful on a clear day, and a road trip there is well worth it. Besides getting a close-up view of the lake, you can also drive into the Aheyazi Valley. If you have time, you can visit the Aheyazi River downstream on the way to the scenic area.

I visited the Narat Grassland in early September 2025. It was early autumn, October, and the air was crisp and clear. The grassland was lush and green, with herds of cattle and sheep grazing peacefully everywhere. It was truly beautiful.