Cross the Duku Highway to Southern Xinjiang

 

D1: July 1, 2021, Ningbo - Dushanzi

Take the Spring Airlines flight from Ningbo to Karamay Airport at 7:30. The first nucleic acid test before leaving the airport.

2:50 out of the airport. Then take the airport bus to downtown Karamay. Because there are very few transportation vehicles to Dushanzi, I took a 240 yuan taxi directly to Dushanzi Hotel.

Dushanzi is an oil refining city, and there is a 10-million-ton oil refinery here. From the hotel, you can look at the peaks of the Tianshan Mountains, covered with snow. The city is clean and tidy. Dinner at the market behind Dushanzi Hotel in the evening.

It was past 10 o'clock after dinner, and my friends accompanied me to the base camp of Duku Highway and the zero meter of Duku Highway. Duku Highway starts from Dushanzi, Xinjiang, and ends at Kuqa, Xinjiang, so it is called "Duku Highway". With a total length of 561 kilometers, the Duku Highway is the most famous landscape avenue in Xinjiang. It passes through Qiaoerma Baili Gallery, Nalati Scenic Area, Bayinbulak Grassland, Dalongchi Scenic Area, and the mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains. Mountains, canyons, grasslands, rivers and other landscape elements are connected in series, which is favored by thousands of self-driving drivers. Many people are waiting for the opening of the Duku Highway. I heard that some people have been waiting for half a month. Check out the mud volcanoes. Here the sun sets at 10 o'clock and it gets dark at 11 o'clock.

D2: July 2, 2021, Dushanzi - Antler Bay, Anjihai Grand Canyon

It was originally planned to take a trip to the northern section of the Duku Highway before the companion came, but there is no news of the opening of the Duku Highway this year. As early as June 16, it was said to be open, but it rained and mudslides occurred. The locals said that it is estimated that the opening will not be until after July 6.

It was temporarily decided to go to the Antler Bay Scenic Area in Tacheng first. Lujiao Bay is located on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain, 80 kilometers southwest of Shawan County, Xinjiang, with a total area of ​​more than 19,000 hectares. It is the place where red deer live and multiply in Tianshan Mountains. Red deer shed their horn shells once a year, and a large number of shed antler shells are left behind in mountain streams and rivers, hence the name "Antler Bay". It is a multi-level tourist attraction integrating snow-capped mountains and forests and grasslands.

Overlooking the majestic white snow peak, we suddenly had the urge to go to the pass under the snow peak to have a look. Walking along the grass full of flowers, we met a local herdsman driving a motorcycle. We gave him 50 yuan and asked him to take us a ride. Passing through the primeval forest, the trees stand straight in the forest, the more people go up the mountain, the less people are there, and the motorcycle cannot climb out of the forest. We walked up the mountain, and it seemed like we were the only family on the whole mountain. The pass, which seems very close, seems a little far away when it climbs up. Probably this is "Wangshan ran dead horse"! Finally boarded the Lujiaowan pass, the sheep on the alpine meadow moved like clouds, forming a group of beautiful pictures with the light blue sky.

Return to Anjihai Grand Canyon. However, the navigation shows that the scenic spot is closed. After searching a lot of information, I learned that the Anjihai Grand Canyon is currently closed due to risks such as loose geology. The surrounding area is surrounded by iron railings, and only a gap in the barbed wire can be entered. We directly navigate the Anjihai Grand Canyon, intending to try our luck nearby. On the way to the Grand Canyon, you can already see the spectacular canyon scenery on both sides. On both sides of the canyon are river terraces lined up from top to bottom, rushing towards the face like rough waves, fully showing the masculine side of the canyon.

Entering from the construction site, the braided river meanders and turns in the valley, revealing the tender side of the canyon in the lingering whispers. The canyon is also breathtaking with its rich colors. The rivers flowing in the canyon have washed out intricate water marks like blood vessels at the bottom of the canyon, and the mountains on both sides have also been washed out by the rain for many years, which is a miracle of nature. Under the uncanny workmanship of nature, the flat land is cut open to form a patchwork of ravines. After tens of thousands or even hundreds of millions of years of scouring, an incredible geological wonder is formed, with magnificent colors, ravines, Dangerous peaks are densely covered, like a gorgeous ribbon floating on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains. It can be called a breathtaking and magnificent canyon. This is the spectacular beauty of Xinjiang Anjihai Grand Canyon

At 11 o'clock in the evening, I ate hand-caught mutton at a restaurant on Kuitun Road, 120 yuan a piece, a large amount, and the mutton is delicious. This is the best lamb I have eaten in this trip. Back to the hotel already the next morning.

D3: July 3, 2021, Dushanzi - Sailimu Lake

Get up at 10 am and climb the mud volcano. Let's talk about two mouths that are still bubbling. Then go back to Dushanzi Hotel to order a sumptuous lunch to greet you. Companions also drove over from Urumqi. 12 people had a lively lunch.

After lunch, go to Dushanzi Grand Canyon. Starting from Duku Highway, there is a small road to Bayingou after walking for a while, that is, turn west and you will reach Dushanzi Grand Canyon. It is already 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Dushanzi Grand Canyon is relatively well-known and has been commercially developed. There are glass plank roads, "I love Dushanzi" check-in and photo spots, everything you expect. The canyon is magnificent and tall, and walking on the glass plank road is really exciting, participatory, entertaining, and convenient.

Then drive to Sailimu Lake. Watch Sailimu Lake before sunset at 10:15.

Stay at Xinmin Jinghai Hotel by the lake, 600 yuan per room. But the hotel does not prepare dinner, so we can only go to the nearby Saihu Impression Apartment Hotel. The price of this dish is high and the quantity is small. A meal costs more than 700 yuan, and a cold-water fish costs 400 yuan.

D4: July 4, 2021, Sailimu Lake - Nalati

Get up early in the morning, after eating at 8:30, drive into the scenic spot. Looking from a distance, the lake is vast and far away, and the lake is as calm as a mirror. It was a deep blue, more blue than the sky above. The snow-capped mountains in the distance are reflected in the blue lake, which is beautiful. Walking to the lake, the bottom of the lake is clear and the stones at the bottom of the lake are clearly identifiable. The lake water under the sun shone like broken silver, giving it a dreamlike feeling.

Sailimu Lake has a large area and runs around the lake. Sailimu Lake is backed by snow-capped mountains. There is a vast grassland beside the lake. The grasslands beside the lake are full of wild flowers of various colors, which should reflect the blue lake water under the snow-capped mountains. The lake is as blue as a mirror, the grass is golden as a blanket, and the scenery around the lake is very beautiful. Play until 2 o'clock. Leave Sailimu Lake. Go out of the Guozigou Bridge, there is a testing station not far ahead, you need to do a nucleic acid test, go to 88 Lucaogou Old Delicious for lunch.

Then I wanted to drive to Bayinbulak to watch the sunset with nine bends and eighteen bends. I contacted the scenic spot and told me to stop entering at 7:30. We arrived at 8 o'clock, walked on Duku Highway for a while, decided to return to Nalati, and found Nalati Tea Fragrance Homestay not far from S12 under the snow-capped grassland. The house is also new, across the Kunes River, is the Nalati River Valley. The price of a standard room is 200 yuan, which is very affordable. It's just that this homestay has just been opened, and cooking is relatively slow.

D5: July 5, 2021, Nalati Scenic Area

The Nalati Grassland is one of the four major alpine valley grasslands in the world. It integrates blue sky and white clouds, glaciers and snow peaks, forest grasslands, canyons and rivers. It is the grassland with the most concentrated Kazakh population in the world. Selected as a world natural heritage. The grassland here is not as endless as the prairie in Inner Mongolia, but rolling and rolling, with beautiful and round lines.

Nalati is divided into three routes, aerial grassland, river valley grassland, and Panlong Valley. The main attractions are the first two lines. A large part of Panlong Valley overlaps with the river valley grassland line. It takes five or six hours to get down from the two lines. The ticket is a two-day pass, and the shuttle bus in the three directions is bought on the same day. In addition to a 100 yuan ticket for each scenic spot, you have to buy a separate ticket for the section. Both the air grassland and the river valley grassland are 40 yuan, and the actual one-way journey is only 26 minutes. Panlong Valley Road is more expensive, 60 yuan. We spend 300 yuan per person to enter by car.

The color of the grassland in early July is emerald green, like a velvet carpet, with flowers of various colors dotted with stars, and the colors are so beautiful under the sunlight. First arrive at the grassland in the sky, where there are boundless cattle and sheep everywhere, and there are a few eagles wandering around, breathing the sweetness of the grassland. Ashan nasturtium, sage, all kinds of mountain flowers are competing for beauty, cattle, sheep and horses are grazing leisurely, and the forest is lush under the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The grassland in the sky during this period is also known as the sky garden.

In the river valley, Panlong Valley actually went up the mountain and turned around, with dense forests when going up the mountain.

Feeling not satisfied, we went to the Hanging Garden after we came out of Panlong Valley, and then spent 60 yuan to take a special bus for the scenic spot to go up the mountain to Snow Lotus Valley. It's super cold above, the snow peak is right in front of you, the snow water is gurgling, and the stream is flowing down, it's extremely beautiful.

In the evening, continue to stay at the Cha Piao Xiang B&B. For dinner, I will change to Bihai Qingtian Home.

D6: On July 6, 2021, the northern section of Nalati-Duku Highway-Bayinbulak

The Duku Highway is a miraculous road over mountains and ridges, crossing nearly 10 major rivers in the Tianshan Mountains and four Dabans that are covered with snow all the year round. This is a magical sky road with snow in June. I walked through the 3,700-meter Tilimati Daban (Daban: meaning a mountain surrounded by ice and snow), and passed through the 3,390-meter Hasilegen Daban Tunnel. . More than 280 kilometers of road sections are above 2,000 meters above sea level, and 4 of them are above 3,000 meters above sea level. It has the world's only snow-proof promenade and the country's highest Hazelgen road tunnel. This is a steep mountain road with thousands of ravines, one-third of the road is surrounded by cliffs, and one-fifth of the road is under the alpine permafrost! Due to the special location, winter traffic control is implemented from the beginning of November to May of the following year, and only in summer can you go to appreciate its beauty!

Today we will drive from Nalati to the north section of Duku Highway G217. Crossing the Tianshan Mountains, you can see green grass in front of you, brambles with yellow flowers in full bloom, and scattered pine trees. The valleys are filled with the fragrance of wildflowers, and the towering peaks are covered with chilly white snow. Passing by several big snow slopes, we got off the car to play skiing, both adults and children had a great time. After returning to Tianpu, there was a 3-hour traffic jam at the Qiaoerma checkpoint due to nucleic acid testing. Arrive at Bayinbulak before 7:30. The rest of the trip was very rushed.

After the car drove away from Qiaoerma, the verdant grasslands and rivers gradually disappeared, and what came into view was the real Yili style. High mountains, snow-capped meadows, mountains and canyons, snow-covered spruce...the closer you get to the top of the mountain, the more magnificent the scenery will be. Those Kazakh yurts dotted on the grasslands are emitting smoke, and the Kazakh people have lived in these beautiful scenery for generations, endlessly. Finally arrived in Bayinbulak.

When you arrive at Bayinbulak, you can finally experience the flat river. The road is no longer twists and turns, but leads straight to the distance; the roadside is no longer a dense forest, but a vast grassland and the rivers running through it. Bayinbulak Grassland is located in the intermountain basin in the northwest of Jingxian County and in the middle of Tianshan Mountains in Bayingoleng Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

Arrived at the scenic spot at 7:10. Bayinbulak Grassland has a large area, but the only male on the grassland is

The road is the highway in the scenic area. There are dozens of kilometers from the town to the scenic spots deep in the grassland via this road, so you must buy a ticket to enter the scenic spot when you visit the grassland, take pictures of Swan Lake and Jiuqu and Eighteen Bends. Moreover, private cars are not allowed on this highway, so the ticket for the section of the scenic spot is also a must, and the ticket and ticket are 145 yuan. Take a car for more than 1 hour to take a look at Swan Lake and take a few beautiful photos. Then after nine o'clock in the evening, enjoy the nine bends and eighteen bends in the sunset!

It was early morning when we left the scenic spot. In the evening, stay at the Longyue Inn in Bayinbulak Town, with a standard room of 280 yuan.

D7: July 7, 2021, Bayinbulak-Kuqa

Departure from Bayinbulak. On both sides of the road is the prairie, with flocks of cattle and sheep, and in the distance is the snow peak of the Southern Tianshan Mountains.

Leaving the vast Bayinbulak, we climbed up the mountain and headed towards the highest Daban on the Duku Highway - Tielimaiti Daban. After climbing all the way, I finally came to the highest point, which is the last Daban on the Duku Highway. The winding road itself is the most perfect embellishment of this lofty mountain. There are two alpine lakes. The big and small dragon pools are like two crystal clear gems, reflecting each other. They are called Dalongchi, passing by Dalongchi, a small dragonchi with deep clear water, the scenery is very beautiful and charming. There are spruces and cypresses at the foot of the mountain, green grass, and herdsmen's yurts are dotted among them. After driving a little further, you can see the Longchi Waterfall leaping down from the rock. The water flow of the waterfall runs through the culvert under the road to the lower valley. Going forward, the creek beach opens up. The water is not deep, but you can see many dead trees stranded on the rocks. You can imagine the turbulence that washes down the trees by the stream when the water from the snow-capped mountains melts. After passing through the Carl's Brain Tunnel, there are red sandstone mountains and gray-white sandstone mountains. Walking forward after dinner, there are large red sandy mountains and red cliffs, as if they have been chiseled by an axe, and there is a red stone forest opposite the river beach on the left, which is very beautiful.

From the big and small Longchi all the way downhill, the clues of southern Xinjiang began to appear. The forest and meadow no longer exist, replaced by the fiery red Yardang landform. In the afternoon, go to the Kuqa Grand Canyon, known as one of the ten most beautiful canyons in China. It is composed of huge reddish-brown mountain groups, and is called "Kizilya" by the locals, which means "red cliff" in Uighur. Although the Grand Canyon is located in an inland arid area, it is covered with fine sand and gurgling springs, appearing and disappearing from time to time, making it a must. Layers of horizontal and vertical rough folds can be seen on the cliff wall that has been eroded over the years, which is magnificent! Its rugged and narrow mountain trails add a bit more weirdness and mystery, which will make people have infinite reverie. Surrounded by towering reddish-brown peaks like a pilgrimage, the "Potala Palace Mountain Landscape" is precipitous and steep, as majestic as a flame erupting.

Check in at Kuqa, the terminus of the Duku Highway. Then there is the saline ditch landform, which has been eroded by the wind and is riddled with holes and exquisitely carved, like a huge relief art museum.

Vienna International Hotel in Kuqa

Kuqa was once an important town on the Silk Road. Today, Kuqa New City is no different from most cities in China, but the old city seems to be stuck in history, maintaining a leisurely and quaint temperament. Overnight at the Vienna International Hotel in Kuqa. Go to Zai Pal Food City for dinner.

On July 8, 2021, Kuche-Aral-Takalamagan Desert Highway-Hotian-Yecheng

Starting from Kuqa, go to Alar first. After lunch, walk along the desert road G580, cross the Tarim River Bridge and enter the Taklamakan Desert. The desert road is endless and vast. There are often tornadoes that roll up sand and dust and spin straight up into the sky. From a distance, it feels like a lonely desert. There are undulating sand dunes in this desert, but they are not very high. In order to prevent the sand dunes from flowing to the road surface of the desert and obstructing traffic, reed grids and reed grids are used to fix the sand on both sides of the road. Most of the sand in the desert is yellow or brown, but this desert is white sand, and the color of the pictures taken is relatively monotonous. Check in at the heart of the Taklimakan Desert.

I had no choice but to drive directly to Yecheng overnight. First, buy instant noodles at the Gaoyu service area in Pishan County to satisfy your hunger. Both service areas along the road are out of fuel. Arrive at Yecheng at two o'clock in the morning. Mailbox indicates low fuel. red line! Talk to the staff at the Yecheng checkpoint and enter the checkpoint from the emergency lane. It was around 4 o'clock after the nucleic acid test! It was five o'clock in the morning to find a Strait Business Hotel nearby. Lost on Journey!

D9: July 9, 2021, Yecheng-Tashkurgan

Earlier, I went to the PetroChina gas station 1 km away. I was worried about lying on the road, so two cars went together with three people. The fuel tank shows that there are only 2.5 liters of oil left, which is enough to hang!

Yecheng is the hometown of walnuts in China. There are walnut trees on both sides of the road with green fruits.

In the morning, find a restaurant near our hotel. The food they cook is very special, so we have breakfast and lunch together.

Starting from Yecheng, go directly to Taxkorgan County along National Highway 315. The full name of Taxian County is Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, which is a county under the jurisdiction of Kashgar in Xinjiang. It means "stone city" in Uighur. Located in the west of the Pamir Plateau, bordering Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, it is the main international channel for the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to connect the east to the west and sell from the west to the east. If you don't go to Kashgar, you don't go to Xinjiang. However, the most beautiful scenery in Kashgar is in Ta County.

Stop and go around Baisha Lake at 7:30, Baisha Lake is also known as Kaklak Lake. On the way from Kashgar to Ta County, you can see this magical plateau landscape with an area of ​​44 square kilometers. The wind is very strong by Baisha Lake, and the lake is full of stones. The water is blue, the sky is blue, and the air is transparent.

The mountain in front of the lake is called Baisha Mountain. On both sides of Baisha Lake stands Gonger Jiubie Peak. This kind of beauty makes the snow-capped mountains and lakes that have been sleeping for thousands of years look more clean and quiet. It is said that the Liusha River described in "Journey to the West" is here.

Wait for a sunset at Lake Karakul at 9 o'clock. Lake Karakul is located at the foot of the father of icebergs, Muztagh Peak. "Karakuli" means "Black Sea", and it is an alpine glacier-eroded moraine lake. . Passing by the bright pearl on the Pamirs - Karakul Lake. Karakul Lake is 3,600 meters above sea level, 30 meters deep, and has a total area of ​​more than 100,000 square kilometers. It is an alpine glacier-eroded moraine lake.

 On the lakeside of Karakul Lake, you can see the three peaks of the Pamir Snow Mountain on the Pamir Plateau, Muztagh Peak (7546 meters), Gongger Peak (7719 meters) and Gongger Jiubie Peak (7519 meters) in the distance. m), the sights are so spectacular that they seem to be close at hand and within reach. Its magnificent scenery can be said to be a model of scenery on the Pamirs. On a sunny day, the sky is like a wash, and the water surfaces of lakes, wetlands, and rivers are like mirrors, reflecting the series of snow-capped mountains such as Muztag Mountain, Gongger Mountain and Jiubie Mountain. have. The pure world of the Pamirs is like a group of uncanny "time carvings". We circled dozens of bends in the snow-capped mountains of the plateau, hovering from low altitudes to high altitudes, and then descending from high altitudes to low altitudes, as if passing through Time and space have come to a fairyland on earth. The majestic snow peaks, magnificent glaciers, fiery red conglomerates, roaring rivers, and charming wetlands of the Pamir Plateau are all engraved with the imprint of annual rings, the vicissitudes of time, the luster of time, and the meaning of nature.

The father of the snow mountain - Muztagh Peak. Tombstag is almost the most beautiful snow mountain I have ever seen. Although it is more than 100 meters lower than Gongger Mountain, the unsharp crystal clearness makes people feel calm . The fluttering snow falls on the round Muztagh Peak, which doesn't feel desolate at all, but makes people feel like a fantasy land full of Qiongtai, the father of snow mountains, really lives up to its reputation. "Rizhao Jinshan" is called the father of icebergs, Muztag Peak. Wandering in the sky high and the earth far away, the vast and vast plateau, in the vast valley surrounded by continuous towering snow-capped mountains, it is easy to have an illusion of time stagnation.

Saturday, July 10, 2021, Taxkorgan-Kashgar

In the morning, I went to the Hongqi Lapp Post Office in Tacheng, but unfortunately it was closed. Envelopes must only be addressed in the mailbox.

There are still 120 kilometers of mountain roads in Hongqi Lapu, which takes 3 hours. 6 hours back and forth, just give up.

Depart at 10:00, first go to the Golden Grassland. The Aral Golden Grass Beach is located on the east side of Taxkorgan County, on both sides of the Taxkurgan River. It covers an area of ​​20 square kilometers and is a wetland on the Pamirs. This is a national-level protected wetland. In order to protect the wetland, no commercial buildings are allowed, so apart from cattle and sheep and a few white yurts in the distance, there is an endless grassland. We walked by the creek, and there were often springs gushing out. Look at the smoke from the yurts in the distance. Thinking of this Taxian County, from snow mountains to wetlands, it really has everything.

Embark on the return journey. After crossing the Muztag Pass, we came to Karakuri Lake. Although the clouds are beautiful, it is windy today, but the reflection of yesterday cannot be photographed. Going to Baisha Lake is also a wave. Several young yaks drink water in the lake.

Back in Kashgar, I went to a local specialty restaurant for dinner. There was no air conditioner and it was a little stuffy, so I had to move to the Sichuan restaurant next door.

July 11, 2021, Kashgar Grand Mosque, Kashgar Ancient City, Fragrant Concubine Garden

The political and cultural center of southern Kashgar is a place suitable for savoring. Attractions include Id Kah Mosque, Gaotai folk houses, Grand Bazaar, Xiangfei Tomb, etc.

Go to the Kashgar Grand Mosque, and then visit the ancient city. Most of the buildings in the old city are full of Islamic and Uighur style. The streets are criss-crossed and uniform in style. Walking in them, it seems that you have entered a foreign land in Central Asia. When you visit the ancient Uyghur building Kashgar, what you see is the mysterious atmosphere of the ancient alleys in the old city. . Walking in here, you often forget where and when you are. The ancient and lively streets, the vicissitudes of life and the beautiful plateau, everything is so far away and strange, but also full of irresistible magic.

Go to see the ancient city of Gaotai. Go to Kashgar Grand Bazaar (also known as "East Gate Grand Bazaar"), the first in Central Asia with a history of thousands of years. I had lunch in the ancient city at noon, and the layout and mutton skewers cost only 17 yuan a piece. After lunch, we will go to the Xiangfei Garden together. The Xiangfei Garden also has the Xiangfei Tomb and the Jiaman Mosque. The Xiangfei Garden mainly has folk performances, and the ticket is 120 yuan.

Send us to Kashgar Airport at 6:00. The plane at 8:50 took off at 8:25 ahead of schedule.

July 12, 2021

Transfer from Xi'an back to Ningbo.

Xinjiang is so beautiful. Snow mountains, grasslands, lakes, rivers, flocks of sheep, virgin forests, etc. make people happy and forget to return! In Xinjiang, the Duku Highway hovers over the top of the high mountains, passing through forests, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, canyons, and deserts... When the wheels grind on the endless road, it is like wandering deep into the land of southern Xinjiang. The scenery along the Pamir Plateau is majestic and desolate, but beautiful and soft. Walking in the Pamir Plateau, enjoying the beauty of the Kunlun Snow Mountain up close along the way, makes people dizzying and refreshing. The magical desert that makes people linger in dreams, full of poetic and dreamlike picturesque.