【sequence】
People often like to label people or things as the most beautiful, but in my mind, there is no concept of the most beautiful, because everyone has different appreciation perspectives and preferences, and the one that suits you and your taste should be the most recognized by you. There is no most beautiful, only more beautiful. When the psychedelic and ethereal melody like the sound of the sound of nature floats by my ears, I still remember the bits and pieces of the Duku Highway two years ago... As the saying goes: "Both the body and the mind are always on the road", And this July, I put my body and mind on the road, let my body and mind experience the shock of the fusion of heaven, earth, mountains and rivers in passion, and drove the Duku Highway by myself again: Charming Duku, the more you go, the cooler you go!
[Reminder] Necessary for walking alone in the library:
1. Special attention should be paid to sun protection and hunger protection. The ultraviolet rays along the way and scenic spots are very strong, and beautiful women can be tanned in 15 minutes; it is difficult to control the time along the mountain road, and the meal time is not fixed, so please be sure to have plenty of drinks in the car Purified water and snacks (such as bread, beef jerky, etc.);
2. There are many mosquitoes in the grassland area, so bring enough mosquito repellent medicine; the temperature in the mountainous area will be much lower in the morning and evening, it is best to prepare a thick coat or a jacket and a liner.
3. If you are a photography enthusiast or a travel photographer, please take precautions against sun protection and warmth for your favorite photography and camera equipment. You must bring enough batteries for photography, and sufficient quality memory cards.
4. The signal of Xinjiang network is unstable and weak due to some reasons. Some places on the Duku Highway have no mobile phone signal. The strongest mobile phone network signal for out-of-town guests is Telecom 3G (no 4G), and most hotels have WiFi network .
In Karamay's "Oil Bubble" sculpture collection, we are ready to start a self-driving RV tour.
Duku Highway Introduction:
A section of G217 National Highway, also known as Duku Highway. It is a highway that runs through the north and south of Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang. It starts from Dushanzi (zero kilometers) in the north, goes south through the Gongnaisi grassland and Bayinbulak grassland, and crosses the three Dabans of Hasilegen, Yuximolegai and Tieliemaiti, and arrives at Kuqa in southern Xinjiang. The total length is 531 kilometers. It connects scenic spots such as Wucai Mountain, Qiaoerma, Gongnaisi, Nalati, Bayinbulak, etc. The areas with higher altitudes on the road are covered with snow all the year round, which is beautiful and spectacular. Every year from June to October is the opening period of the Duku Highway, and the rest of the time is closed, and June and July are the time when the most scenic spots can be seen.
RV travel
rough hair! Play RV this time.
【Dushanzi-Nalati】(2018.7.8.)
Wucai Mountain is located about 30 kilometers southwest of Dushanzi City. It was formed in the Jurassic period. It is rich in energy minerals such as natural gas, coal, and oil sands, as well as paleontological fossils such as dinosaurs and petrified wood, and non-metallic minerals such as agate. Resources are not only "fat and oily", but also a good place for exploration and scientific research. The Gobi hills cut out by Wucai Mountain show various colors due to different minerals. It is more beautiful and atmospheric when overlooking from a high place under the sun. , continuously.
After crossing the Haligen Daban, we came to the Tangbula Grassland, which is known as a hundred-mile picture scroll. It is located in the Kashgar River Valley, with abundant water and grass, and fat cattle and sheep.
Mountains, grasslands, forests, rivers, ice peaks... Ethereal and beautiful, harmonious atmosphere. The Tangbula National Forest Park has also been opened up here. Due to time reasons, we did not go to experience it.
In the Kashgar Valley, there is a place that must be visited, and that is Qiaoerma. There are not only grasslands here, but also because of the Qiaoerma Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery. If it hadn’t been for these PLA engineers who fought bloody battles to overcome difficulties such as high cold and hypoxia, avalanches and mudslides to build roads, and spent 10 years building the “Duku Highway” across the Tianshan Mountains, it would be impossible for us to come here, and it would be impossible to have a self-driving Duku Road The beautiful scenery and customs along the road crossing the Tianshan Mountains......
During the construction of the Duku Highway, 168 officers and soldiers were buried in the depths of the Tianshan Mountains, which means that every 3 kilometers of a road, the lives of road construction heroes were cast, and more than 2,000 officers and soldiers were injured and disabled. They paved the road and erected the monument! Let's lay a wreath to our comrades and pay tribute to the martyrs! Always remember their great achievements!
Leaving Qiaoerma, crossing the Yuxi Molegai Daban in the light rain, and arriving at the Nalati Grassland, there is already an extraordinarily charming sunshine under the snow-capped mountains.
Come to the grassland tribe racecourse, enjoy Kazakh horse racing/girls chasing/carrying sheep and other folk activities, and participate in the activities of driving sheep, happy and comfortable.
Then go to the self-driving camp with flowers in full bloom, hold a sunset buffet barbecue dinner and a bonfire carnival party, and enjoy the warm afterglow at 10:30 in the middle of the night in the ten thousand rays of the Nalati grassland. It is an intoxicating day...
Reminder: Although Beijing time is used in Xinjiang, the regional time here is two hours later. In addition, it is summer, and the delay is at least 3 hours, so it is normal to have dinner at 10:30 in the evening. After the bonfire party, it is already past 12:00 in the morning , It’s time to say good night, the next morning I have to get up early according to Beijing time, so that I can chase the dawn of the grassland in the sky.
[Dawn of Nalati Grassland in the Sky] 2018.7.9.
At 6 o'clock in the morning the next day, we changed cars and drove for about 40 minutes after the light rain, and arrived at the height of Nalati Scenic Area, an aerial grassland at an altitude of about 2,200 meters. Although due to the weather, we were not able to see the sunrise, but we still captured the warm dawn of the grassland in the sky one by one.
At the beginning of the rain, the dawn sees through the clouds: the clouds are misty, the mountains are empty; wild flowers are in full bloom, and the air is fresh.
The water of the Chiap River in the grassland in the air flows quietly and randomly, shining golden waves under the light of the dawn, as if the elves are swimming, which adds to the vitality and spirituality of the grassland in the air.
Come to Tianjietai: here is known as the junction of the world and heaven. This is the entrance to the grassland in the sky, the edge of the world, and the boundary of heaven. Standing here, you can overlook the continuous snow peaks of the Tianshan Mountains, and overlook the vast and magnificent 1 million acres of broad air grasslands. Standing here, you can realize your own insignificance and lament the greatness of nature.
We have caught up with the good time of Rizhao Jinshan. This is also the watershed between the alpine forest and the grassland in the sky. Between this vast and empty world, looking back at the past, it seems that you can see the fate of the world disappearing into the distance. Shake up your spirits, face life directly, get rid of all love in the world of mortals, and see clearly the past and present...
Overlooking the Nalati aerial grassland from the air, the mountains are undulating, the peaks are overlapping, the waves are magnificent, and the layers of green are floating between the Tianshan Mountains. Green and dripping.
Since ancient times, the Nalati Grassland has been the "cradle of the Kazakhs" and the most concentrated residential area of the Kazakhs in Xinjiang. There is also the No. 1 Kazakh Village here. Due to the good environmental and ecological protection, it is still a holy land of pure land. Here, man and nature coexist in harmony, which is exactly: light green and thick green dye the mountains and fields, grass and sparse forests, dense forests and mysterious fairy dwellings.
The Nalati Grassland is not only because of the beautiful grassland, but also because of the rich folk customs and the "slow life" you want. If you have time to live and savor it.
【Green Valley of Harmonious Coexistence】
Reluctantly leaving Nalati, we continued to go to the green valley of Gongnaisi.
Gongnaisi Forest Park is also known as Panchen Valley (in 1984, the tenth Panchen Lama came here to chant scriptures and pray for blessings, and he sat in meditation under the four trees with the same root and pedicle for 400 years, and this tree was honored as "the holy tree of Panchen Lama").
Gongnaisi is a hilly natural scenery area with an average altitude of more than 2000 meters and more than 100 gullies. Among them, Panchengou is the most famous.
Gongnais Panchen Ditch is 40 kilometers long and 800 meters wide. Spruce, birch, aspen, etc. grow in the valley, and the grassland belongs to mountain grassland and forest meadow grassland.
In the ditch, there are pine trees and wild flowers all over the mountains and fields, and there are groups of white sheep on the hills. There are also precious medicinal materials such as snow lotus and fritillaria. What a treasure trove!
Wandering in the sea of flowers in Gongnais in summer, the air is fresh and the temperature is suitable for escaping the heat, which will make people feel happy physically and mentally.
Here are towering old trees, wild flowers on the slopes, dotted yurts, harmony and love here...
This is Gongnaisi, known as "Alpine Emerald Pearl, Natural Oxygen Bar"! Take a deep breath under the blue sky and white clouds, and continue to pursue the charm of Duku.
【Bayinbulak, a natural atmosphere】
Leave Gongnais, a forest park like a sea of flowers, and go to Bayinbulak prairie, where the Mongolian people live in settlements. We walked for 3 hours on the 95-kilometer journey, except for the twists and turns of the mountain road, patting and patting is our theme.
When we came to Bayinbulak Town, we enjoyed the highest Mongolian etiquette of getting off the horse and wine ceremony, and also accepted the welcome hada. Then we changed to the environmental protection bus of the scenic spot to visit Bayinbulak scenic spot.
There is a cavalry team "Ulan Muqi" in the scenic area. They are a "red cultural work team" with a performance nature. They are mainly Mongolian, and their performances are wonderful.
Bayinbulak Swan Lake is a national nature reserve. Swans come to multiply in April every year and leave in October. However, no swans can be seen in the blue Swan Lake (it is said that they can be seen in May), and generally It appears in wetland areas, but the eco-cars in scenic spots passing by wetland areas do not stop, so it is difficult to see them. Unless you have a special pass to go to scientific research or professional TV publicity shooting and drive in with permission, you must stop in that area deliberately, and you may see it if the time is right. Good luck! (We don't have these conditions, of course we can't see it.)
Swan Lake is very sunny, so pay attention to sun protection. But the environment here is good, the wind is cool, the aquatic plants are lush, and the bait is rich, which also attracts gray cranes, egrets, wild ducks and other waterfowl to inhabit. So although you can't see the swans, you won't come in vain, and it's fun to pat other flying birds.
Leave the Swan Lake Scenic Area and continue to fly on the prairie. The total area of the Bayinbulak prairie is 24,000 square kilometers, which is the second largest prairie in China. Therefore, even if you visit the cavalry, Swan Lake, and nine bends and eighteen bends, the round trip will not be less than three hours. The altitude here is 2400-2600 meters. To see the nine bends and eighteen bends, which is known as the best scenic spot in China, you need to change to the battery car and go to the Basilik viewing platform.
The viewing platform is surrounded by different scenery. Looking south from this angle, rivers, wetlands, grasslands, hills and snow-capped mountains in the distance are integrated into one, and the layers are very distinct. Here is the green pure land! Of course, the most attractive thing for tourists is the Kaidu River in the west with nine bends and eighteen bends, which is the most lively place.
The nine bends and eighteen bends still flow miraculously, a quiet version of the beautiful legend. It is said that the spectacle of nine suns can be photographed only during the Mid-Autumn Festival every year in Jiuqu and Eighteen Bends. I have never seen it at the scene.
[Reminder] As I said in Nalati earlier, there is a time difference problem in Xinjiang, so you have to wait until 9:30-10:00 p.m. to see the sunset at the Jiuqu 18th Bend. At that time, you can take pictures of the golden sunset. The surface of the water, so have patience and sun-resistant skills, find a good seat, stand in a good position-wait! Then leave quickly after filming, and take the last shuttle bus out of the scenic spot (10:00 p.m.).
Using the waiting time, you can let your companions look at the location, and then take turns to visit the Jianger Cultural Heritage Center in the yurt.
Jianger Cultural Heritage Center Industrial Park also has a live-action drama "Janger", which is the heroic epic of the Oirat tribe of the Mongolian nationality. The ultimate beauty of nature and the beauty of humanity - Bayinbulak, tells stories to the world.
You can also choose to ride a horse to experience the thrill of walking and galloping on the grassland. There are high-quality "butter grass" everywhere here, which is rich in big mountain horses, big-tailed sheep and yaks.
Bayinbulak means "rich spring water" in Mongolian. Thousands of springs are distributed throughout the grasslands, and the trickles of melted ice and snow merge into the Kaidu River, the mother river of Bazhou, which breeds life on the grasslands. .
The sky is getting darker and the sun is setting. This time is a good time to shoot the golden nine bends and eighteen bends. Of course, it depends on luck. You may not be able to see it once you go there. I didn’t see it this time either. Time or weather may affect the viewing effect.
It’s not easy to take pictures, this is the famous scenic spot in China-Kaidu River with nine bends and eighteen bends! Speechless beauty! Of course, the beauty of Bayinbulak can only be experienced on the spot. No matter how beautiful the pictures or videos are, the words cannot fully explain it. Appreciate silently, experience quietly. Come to the scene and give you a different shock!
Turghut Folk Culture Village is our residence at night. It is mainly in the form of living in yurts. There are ordinary yurts and standard rooms like hotels. Ordinary small yurts are relatively affordable. They can accommodate 6 people. They are the kind of bunk, with electricity and a heater, but there are many mosquitoes. Please bring your own mosquito repellent equipment. There is a public toilet outside the yurt. The yurts in the standard room or triple room have a bathing place and a separate twin bed, and the conditions are much better.
Deluxe standard room yurt
You can have three meals in the Torghut Folk Culture Village, and there is also a live-action drama "Return to the East·Impression" at 10:30 in the evening, which you can choose to watch.
(PS) Tickets for Bayinbulak Scenic Area: 65 yuan; Interval eco-cars: 90 yuan. The ticket sales time is 7:00-19:00, and the departure time of the last shuttle bus from inside the scenic spot is 22:00.
[Mysterious and beautiful Kuqa Grand Canyon] (2018.7.10.)
After breakfast on the morning of the third day, we are ready to head to Kuqa, our destination.
Continue along G217, first came to Bayingoleng Township, saw the spectacular scene of hundreds of horses galloping on the sloping grassland, I really wanted to hum a song: The man who sets the horse is mighty and majestic...
After crossing the snow-capped Tianshan Tieliemaiti Daban, we went straight to the Kuqa area, drifted through the Xiaolongchi scenic spot without stopping, and arrived at the mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon 70 kilometers away from Kuqa County.
Going deep into the mysterious Grand Canyon of Kuqa Tianshan, the Yadan landform and red cliffs here are known as Turpan in southern Xinjiang.
Against the background of the blue sky, the strange peaks and rocks in the Grand Canyon are in various poses and with different expressions. This is the crouching hump, just like a kneeling camel perched, lifelike.
The entrance of the valley is wide, and it is very cool to enter the valley. Inside, the peaks and circuits turn, sometimes wide and sometimes narrow. In some places, only one person can pass through. Fortunately, the valley is relatively flat.
Standing at the bottom of the valley and looking up, it seems that the steep rock walls and peaks will fall down at any time, which is frightening.
The mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon is majestic, steep, deep, quiet and mysterious, expressing the fiery joy of the South Tianshan Mountains, and imprinting the magical charm of vicissitudes of life and great changes in mountains and rivers.
At around 8:00 p.m., we arrived at the ancient Kucha in Kucha and enjoyed an authentic Uighur-style performance. Take a shower tonight and get a good night's sleep.
(Introduction to Kuqa) Kuqa is 750 kilometers away from Urumqi and belongs to the Aksu area. It is the birthplace of Qiuci culture, and also a gathering place of Chinese and Western cultures on the ancient Silk Road. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the "Western Regions Protectorate" was established here. Ancient Qiuci singing and dancing is an outstanding representative of music and dance in the Western Regions. Now Kuqa's folk songs and dances, handicrafts, Tarim River, and Taklamakan primitive Populus euphratica forest are all attracting tourists.
【postscript】
From July 8th to 10th, we ran the Duku Highway (531 kilometers in total) that usually takes 5 to 7 days to complete in three days. We got up early and went to bed late, crossed the Tianshan Mountains three times, and stopped at Qiaoerma and Nala. Ti, Gongnaisi, Bayinbulak, and Tianshan Grand Canyon are five major scenic spots to visit. I applaud us for being able to run and arrive safely! Attached is the panoramic traffic map of Duku Depot for reference——
Duku Highway Map
Walking along the Duku Highway in Xinjiang, there are many beautiful scenery along the way, but it is hard work, so if you can’t endure hardships and just pursue enjoyment and food, you’d better not go there. It’s enough to look at the photos and videos we took while traveling in Duku, and it won’t be hard. Walking on the road, I don’t have more time and energy to taste the food. I personally feel that the 10 yuan kebabs on the roadside are more delicious. You can try it in Xinjiang Nang. The soft-boiled hand-picked rice is also good. too deep.
This RV self-driving trip to the self-driving warehouse in Nalati self-driving camp has a barbecue bonfire dinner and a meal in Kucha Kuche while enjoying Uyghur songs and dances. It is quite unique and left a deep impression.
[Reminder] Most big cities across the country have direct flights to Urumqi, Xinjiang. Urumqi still has a lot of food, so you can taste it when you have time. If you start driving on the Duku Highway from Urumqi, and want to experience all the scenic spots, it is best to arrange 7-9 days, so that you will not be too busy and hard, you can sleep until you wake up naturally, and you can carefully take pictures in the scenic spots and along the way to enjoy the beautiful scenery It is rare to visit the Duku Highway, which is known as one of the most beautiful highways in China. I hope that netizens will make relevant preparations in advance and leave less regrets.
This July RV self-driving Duku Road is a fast pace of walking. Although there is no time to detail many details, the charm of Duku Highway is still deeply felt. If you don’t come to Xinjiang, you really don’t know how big and beautiful the country is. It’s like overlooking Xinjiang’s colorful canvases and open palettes from the air. The Duku Highway is only a small part of it, but it is beautiful and charming. Take the time to visit Duku: Charming Duku, the more you walk, the cooler it is!
【Author's Profile】: Walking on the road as you like: taking pictures of the beautiful scenery, tasting delicious food, and enjoying life! Love flu (WX:qlg920) Weibo@正正情流(Email: 934717939@qq.com) Global photography traveler/hotel experiencer /Gourmet Detective/Full platform video graphic self-media/Mainstream OTA platform certified traveler. I believe that I will keep going and share my experience with everyone who loves life, and there is your support and attention along the way. Just like in the song - I will always be by your side!
