Dreaming of Xinjiang, the beauty of the Nalati Grassland is at the right time

【trailer】

"The greatness of the world, the magnificent ghosts, and the extraordinary views often lie in danger and remoteness, but what is rare in human beings." The wisdom of ancient people can be appreciated from these ancient texts. This sentence is also my general definition of Xinjiang. Xinjiang, the most remote part of the motherland's territory, is a vast land with countless "extraordinary views", which has always attracted me deeply.

After more than eight hours of flying and more than five hours of driving, I finally came to this long-awaited place. This is the Nalati Grassland, one of the four most beautiful grasslands in China, located in Yili Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Hangzhou in April is already extremely hot and dry, but at this time the Nalati grass is only revealing new buds, and the grassland is full of emerald green.

When I came to Xinjiang and walked into Nalati, what I saw before my eyes was my most beautiful expectation for Xinjiang, the blue sky and white clouds, the snow-capped mountains, the grassland revealing new buds, and the hills and forests, four different combinations of landforms Appearing in front of you together, this visual enjoyment can only be found here.

Driving through this bend and over that mountain, we came to the grassland in the air in the hinterland of Nalati. The average altitude here is 2200 meters, which is also the origin of its name. In the grassland in the air in April, the snow mountains have not yet melted, and the paradise is not at the end of the world, but at the foot. The blue sky, the white clouds, the green grass, the yellow flowers, and the galloping figure of the horse are the only female mounted policemen here.

The majestic snow-capped mountains in front of you are shrouded in clouds and mist, the cattle and sheep on the alpine grassland are so comfortable, and the sunshine in the blue sky in the afternoon is extremely warm. When you come to the Nalati scenic spot in Xinjiang, all your expectations have been met.

The thick clouds finally parted, and one after another snow-capped mountains appeared in front of us. These mountains were like old men who were drunk, leaning on each other, sleeping for an unknown number of years, and never had a dream to wake them up. When the drone flies high into the sky, the snow-capped mountains become more spectacular and beautiful, the sunshine and wind in Xinjiang, the yellow flowers and snow-capped mountains in the grasslands in the sky...

When you come to Nalati, you can not only see the magnificent frontier scenery, but also feel the ethnic customs of the Kazakhs. The Kazakhs are known as the free people on the vast grasslands. They race horses and carry sheep on the grasslands. They used to compete for territory, but now they do it for inheritance and entertainment. The Kazakhs advocate freedom of love, so there is a unique "Girl Chasing". Boys on the way out can express their love, and girls on the way back will beat the other's hat off the horse with a whip if they are not interested in boys, and show mercy if they are interested.

The weather in the grassland is like the scenery in Xinjiang, which is unpredictable. When our car was still circling on the Panlong Ancient Road, the raindrops outside the window kept beating the windows, and when we came to the viewing platform, it began to clear again. , the blue sky and white clouds returned to our heads, and under the sunlight, the scenery in front of us was full of layers.

When you come to the grassland, if you say that besides enjoying the picturesque scenery, the most important thing you must not miss is riding a horse. In this vast world, you can gallop freely. It doesn't matter even if you don't know how to ride a horse here. There are professional stable boys who can take you to experience this unique experience on the grassland.

The blue sky, the white clouds, the green grass, the yellow flowers, the singing voice flying around in the wind, the figure galloping freely... everything in the imagination is wonderful, as if the grassland in the dream is hard to find in the world Taoyuan.

【Preface】

I have been walking on the road, and friends around me always ask me such a question, "Where is the place you most want to go?" My answer has never changed, and that place is Xinjiang. The world is always so wonderful, I have always wanted to go to Xinjiang, and I had the opportunity to set foot on this land, but in the end I couldn’t travel due to various reasons.

With the passage of time, the longing for Xinjiang has not diminished in the slightest. On the contrary, I think more and more about Xinjiang to take a look, appreciate the scenery, and feel the customs. "Never forget, there must be echoes", this time I can finally say "Hello, Xinjiang".

【About the itinerary】

DAY 1 Fly to Yining from Urumqi, drive to Nalati, visit Tausani, Wusun ancient tomb, and experience local Alshan B&B special activities

DAY 2 Visit Tianjie Terrace, feel the grassland in the air at close range, enjoy Kazakh horse performances, drive sheep, Panlong Ancient Road, stay at Nalatixin Self-driving Camp

DAY 3 Eagle whirlwind experience grassland horse riding, hike to Voltajiaota, taste special food roasted whole sheep, stay at Populus euphratica Hotel

DAY 4 Return

【Eat in Nalati】

Every city has its unique taste, and Xinjiang is a special case, because the food in Xinjiang is so rich that it is difficult for you to tell what the unique taste of Xinjiang is.

Roasted whole lamb, this is a Xinjiang delicacy that has spread from TV to the whole country. China on the tip of the tongue has reported this special delicacy, attracting groups of tourists to come to taste it. Roasted whole lamb is actually rare on the tables of local people, because it is the most sumptuous delicacy, and it is only available when entertaining distinguished guests. And eating roasted whole sheep is very ceremonial. The roasted whole sheep will be served on the table intact, and the sheep will be stuffed with grass and red cloth will be wrapped around the body. After the representative of the guests uncovers the red cloth Only then can the sheep be dismantled for guests to taste.

Mutton skewers, this is the first perception of Xinjiang cuisine for many people. When it comes to Xinjiang mutton skewers, people will definitely have such an image in their minds. A Xinjiang man who is grilling skewers is shouting an authentic hawker. The mutton skewers in Xinjiang, the mutton skewered with red willow wood is the best. The unique fragrance of red willow is exuded in the fresh and fragrant mutton, and the color and fragrance are unique.

Xinjiang people have a soft spot for baked food, which is the most common food on the table of every household, such as this baked bun. In other places, buns are steamed, but in Xinjiang buns are baked in a pit. Thin-skinned buns with lots of meat, after being put into the naan pit, the skin becomes crispy and chewy, while the stuffing is very tender and juicy.

It is called "Polao" in Uyghur, and it is a kind of meal loved by the Uyghur, Uzbek and other ethnic people in Xinjiang. It is often eaten with clean hands, so it is called "pilaf" in Chinese. The main raw materials of pilaf are rice, mutton, carrots, onions and clear oil. The rice made by mixing them is shiny, fragrant and delicious. In addition, raisins, dried apricots, dried peaches and other dried fruits are also used to make pilaf, which is called sweet pilaf or vegetarian pilaf.

Nang, one of the favorite delicacies of Xinjiang people, has been loved by more and more people because of its uniqueness. This is a kind of baked noodle, similar to biscuits, or crisp or soft, delicious and delicious. It is mostly made of wheat flour, but also corn flour, supplemented by sesame, onion, egg, clear oil, ghee, milk, salt, sugar and other condiments baked.

【Playing in Nalati】

Walk into the local people's home and experience grilling Xinjiang mutton skewers by yourself. At the Alxa Homestay next to the Nalati Scenic Spot in Xinjiang, tourists can experience many local specialties, such as hand-made milk lumps, or everyone Love the kebabs. The hosts will prepare fresh mutton to marinate and skewer. When you come here, you can grill mutton kebabs by yourself in the yard under the snow-capped mountains.

The Kazakhs advocate freedom of love, so there is a unique "Girl Chasing". Boys on the way out can express their love, and girls on the way back will beat the other's hat off the horse with a whip if they are not interested in boys, and show mercy if they are interested. Picking up the sheep is a game between two teams. There is only one rule. They cannot get off the horse during the whole process. The team that puts the sheep in the designated position first will win. In the game, you can see the Kazakhs’ skillful horse riding skills. .

When driving sheep, it is natural to have an intimate interaction with the sheep when you come to the grassland. The grass on the grassland is already green, and the grazing people drive their flocks to graze on the grassland. In order to better protect the grassland, the local people migrate in time according to moderate grazing, and the herdsmen are the busiest. Here, you can follow the herdsmen to experience a unique and interesting experience of driving sheep to migrate.

Riding a horse across the grassland, on this sunny grassland with yellow flowers in full bloom, riding a horse on the grassland and through the forest is really an extreme experience. The horse farms in Nalati are all formal horse farms. The horses provided here are all professionally trained horses, and each horse will have a stable boy, which is very considerate for people who don’t know how to ride horses.

【Live in Nalati】

With the persistence in my heart, I waited calmly. I look forward to a kind of happy existence, I miss it thousands of times, I look back thousands of times, just looking for a warm home for my heart...

Xinyi Nalati Self-driving Camp is Xinyi Tourism's first self-driving campsite project in Xinjiang, and it is also the first standardized self-driving campsite in Xinjiang. There are 46 courtyard-style rooms configured according to five-star hotel standards, 10 360-degree high-end view tent rooms, 30 RV camps, 85 tent camps, and 10 tree-tops under planning and construction. Room.

Xinyi Nalati self-driving camp has a beautiful environment, complete facilities, and strong network signal. Almost every room is equipped with adjustable temperature heaters. Such facilities are very good for Nalati. The spacious campsite yard is very suitable for holding bonfire parties, and you can directly take pictures of the magnificent starry sky in the yard of the self-driving campsite.

Nalati Populus euphratica Hotel, just like the name of the hotel, the guest rooms here are located in the Populus euphratica forest, the leaves of the Populus euphratica forest in early spring are green, the rooms here are all independent individuals, the shape is very distinctive, it is a bright yellow The cabin is particularly interesting in the Populus euphratica forest.

[DAY 1 Xinjiang in the dream, the picturesque grassland]

When boarding the flight to Urumqi, this long-awaited relationship was finally satisfied at this moment. I thought I would be extremely excited, but I was actually very calm on the plane. The seven-hour long-distance flight, when I saw the snow-capped mountains outside the window, it was all worth it.

The first stop we came to Tawusani, which means "beautiful valley" in Kazakh. Here you can have a panoramic view of the four main elements of the Ili River Valley. Snow-capped peaks, dense forests, green hills and flat meadows are perfectly integrated together. Dian jungle, side by side.

Not far from Tausani is the second scenic spot, named Wusun Historic Site. Perhaps most people are not as familiar with Wusun as I am, but Wusun has a deep history. An ancient tribe mainly based on nomads, even established some important regimes in the Yili area in the later period.

The grassland people are honest and simple, and the ancestors of the heroes are just buried in the three-foot loess. When they came to the Wusun historic site, they looked at the ancient tomb in front of them. This ancient tomb is integrated with nature, and they can feel The vicissitudes of historical change.

Homestays have become the only choice for more and more tourists to travel, and there are also homestays in Nalati, which is far away from the border. This is a village located on the grasslands and under the snow-capped mountains—Arsan. With the support of the government, the villagers have built unique Ili-style B&Bs.

Walking into the B&B, it is not difficult to find that the conditions here are really good. The decoration in the house is very local, with colorful roofs and beautiful carpets spread all over the house. There are various Xinjiang delicacies, such as the favorite naan of Xinjiang people, milk tea brewed on site, and raspberry sauce made by local residents.

Living here, you can not only taste special delicacies, but also experience the production of local specialties, such as making milk lumps. This is really a very rare experience. Making milk lumps is not difficult, but it is not easy for a novice, because it is a test of hands-on ability to knead a very sticky material into a cylindrical shape, and you have to squeeze it tightly, otherwise the sun will burn it It will break apart.

If you want to make delicious food, you must not miss the mutton skewers that everyone loves. Here you can experience grilling a bunch of authentic Xinjiang mutton skewers with your own hands. The owners of the homestay will prepare fresh mutton marinated and skewered. When you come here, you can grill mutton kebabs by yourself in the yard under the snow-capped mountains. When you smell this fragrance, do you feel that your grilled mutton kebabs feel extra special? fragrant.

When the sunset in Xinjiang at nine o'clock came, I came to the long table in the house to eat. The owner of the homestay prepared a sumptuous special dish, such as boiled lamb, large plate chicken...every dish is very delicious, every dish You can taste the taste of Xinjiang. In between the meals, the multi-talented host of the homestay also brought us performances by ethnic minorities who are good at singing and dancing.

【DAY 2 Sky Grassland, Paradise Paradise】

Tianjie Terrace, the edge of the world, the realm of heaven, here is the entrance to the Nalati Sky Grassland. Standing at the highest point, you can overlook the vast and magnificent scenery of the sky grassland. The snow-capped mountains in the distance, the green mountains nearby, and the winding road, standing there, can't help being open-minded, feeling my own insignificance, and awe of the greatness of nature.

Driving through this bend and over that mountain, we came to the grassland in the air in the hinterland of Nalati. The average altitude here is 2200 meters, which is also the origin of its name. In the grassland in the air in April, the snow mountains have not yet melted, and the paradise is not at the end of the world, but at the foot. That blue sky, that white cloud, that green grass, that yellow flower.

In the past, people have always had such doubts on the Internet, whether people in Inner Mongolia all ride horses, and such doubts are also applicable to Xinjiang. Later, many local people refuted the rumors that this was not the case, and that there were indeed people riding horses to work in Nalati. The figure galloping wildly was the only female mounted police here, and they were responsible for the daily patrol of the scenic spot.

Picking up the sheep is a game between two teams. There is only one rule. They cannot get off the horse during the whole process. The team that puts the sheep in the designated position first will win. In the game, you can see the Kazakhs’ skillful horse riding skills. .

【DAY 3 The most romantic thing on the grassland is riding a horse and galloping】

On the last day of the itinerary, the distance between us and the snow-capped mountains seems to be getting closer, which is what I have been looking forward to. I have experienced horse riding in other places before, but they were all on some plains, and this time Nalati’s horse riding route is completely different. It is from the grassland to the forest. This is a journey close to nature.

Sitting on the horseback, my field of vision has become much wider. Looking at the scenery in front of me, I forgot to take pictures before I knew it, and I was fully integrated into the nature. We passed by the Eagle Whirling Peak in the Nalati Scenic Area on this trip. The reason why it is called this is because there are often eagles circling in the sky here. The locals took this name. I don’t know if this eagle is like me The scenery was mesmerized.

When we came to the end of the horseback riding route, we saw the tower on the mountain in front of us. This tower standing on the top of the snow mountain is our next goal. The rest of the road needs us to cross on foot. The mountains in front of you pass through the dense forest and arrive at the dream world where ice, snow and flowers coexist.

During this trip, huge trees can be seen everywhere along the way, and the plants here seem to be so thick. And just in this forest, there is a rather romantic scenic spot hidden. The scenic spot is called Tree God, which is a sculpture made of tree roots and wood carving skills.

Together with the surrounding tall pine trees, it constitutes a primitive, simple and sacred forest temple to witness and bless the most beautiful love in the world.

This trip is not easy. Climbing the snow mountain, crossing the grassland, from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, the journey is like a miniature long march. Even though the process was hard, when we walked through the vast sea of flowers, came to the top of the mountain and saw the destination of our trip, all the hard work turned into joy. The sea of flowers in front of me, the snow-capped mountains behind, and the nine-leaf windmill, the scenes in the animation really appeared in front of my eyes.

The trip to Nalati is also a trip to realize a dream. One dream is fulfilled, but another dream is planted. When I came here, I instantly understood why I didn’t know the beauty of China without Xinjiang. When I set foot on the flight home, what I thought about was when should I start the next trip to Xinjiang?