They all say: "The beauty of Xinjiang lies in Ili. If you haven't been to Kashgar, you haven't been to Xinjiang." During our trip to northern Xinjiang last year, we were deeply attracted by this former place of the Western Regions, so we had the desire to go to Xinjiang again. The turn of spring and summer is the most beautiful time in the Ili Valley, and it is also the time when the Pamirs warm up to the earth. The most beautiful road in China, the Tianshan Duku Highway, is also opened at this time of year. Once you have the urge to go, you can't wait. On May 27, 2019, we boarded the train (T204) to Yining and headed west all the way to the Yili River Valley in Xinjiang.
"Ili Chapter"
Places of arrival and accommodation:
May 29: Sunset at Yili River Scenic Area (Su Yining)
May 30: Yining Kazanqi Style Street, Huocheng Jieyou Lavender Garden, Horgos International Port (Su Yining)
May 31: Kuokesu Grand Canyon, Crocodile Bay, Human Grassland, Nine Twists and Eighteen Bends (Sukuokesu Scenic Area)
June 01: Wangyu Terrace in West Kalajun Grassland, Flower Terrace in East Kalajun Grassland, Tekes Bagua City (Su Yining)
June 02: Yili Guozigou Bridge, Bozhou Sailimu Lake, Yili Huiyuan Ancient City (Su Yining)
June 03: Ili Nalati Air Grassland (Sunalati Town)
[All the way to the west, straight to the long-awaited Yili]
With the lover who has been with each other and walked hand in hand for most of his life, set foot on the beautiful rivers and mountains of the motherland, experience different customs and customs, "record with eyes, read with heart" his own perspective and experience, adding a touch of beauty to ordinary life. Life can be without earth-shattering, glory and wealth, but it cannot be without chasing dreams. As long as you have a wish, you must realize it, otherwise, you will lose your original intention! Maybe you can do it now or not, and you will regret it for a lifetime in the future!
On the evening of May 27th, the train entered the Huanghuai Plain and headed west along the Longhai Railway. It seems that this year's wheat harvest in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River is in sight!
On the morning of May 28, the train passed through the Loess Plateau in Shaanxi and Gansu, and the mountains shrouded in clouds and mist in front of us were quite different.
At noon, the train passed the famous Lanzhou Yellow River Bridge, passed the bridge in front of us, and officially entered the Hexi Corridor!
Take the Silk Road again, and see the Gobi desert again!
The train passes through a large oasis under the Qilian Mountains. This is Zhangye, which is known as one of the "Four Counties of Hexi" in history. The glaciers on the Qilian Mountains are faintly visible in the distance (as everyone knows, the Qilian Mountains are the mountains with the largest number of glaciers in my country).
Walk the Silk Road again, and see the vast desert again! In the long river of history, how many soldiers who fought in the Western Regions, for the sake of the unification of the motherland and the rise and fall of the country, bid farewell to their wives, children, parents, and spilled blood on the battlefield! Once gone and never returned; how many business travelers are walking on the ancient silk road in front of them, stepping on the long yellow sand of the Gobi! Their distant figures and footsteps seem to be telling people the thickness of the land this time!
The train drove out of Jiayuguan and entered the vast Gobi and desert. Facing the desolation in front of you, you can't help but think of the famous poem "Moon at the Mountain" by Li Bai, a great poet of the Tang Dynasty. Blowing through the Yumen Pass, the origin is to conquer the land, but no one returns." Today, although the hardships and dangers on this ancient road have long since disappeared, and the old camel-horse road has long been replaced by modern transportation, its time and space that spans thousands of years is still fascinating.
The train continued westward, passing through Hami and Turpan in Xinjiang. Although we have been to the Northwest many times, this is the second time we have come to Xinjiang. When seeing the endless Tianshan Mountains and the snow-capped glaciers on the mountains again, it is inevitable that I will still be a little excited, and I sincerely feel that "only when you have been to Xinjiang, you will know the size of Xinjiang, and only when you go to Xinjiang, you will know the beauty of Xinjiang"! Xinjiang, a place full of beauty and magic, the place farthest from the sea, and a place that occupies one-sixth of the motherland's area, is full of endless reverie!
After the train passes through the bridges, culverts and tunnels in the North Tianshan Mountains, the sights suddenly open up, and oases continue to appear. Intuition tells us that the Ili River Valley has arrived! Yili Prefecture in Xinjiang is located in the endless Tianshan Mountains. It borders Bozhou, Xinjiang in the north, Tacheng, Xinjiang in the east, and Aksu, Xinjiang in the south. It borders Kazakhstan on the west, and historically was the hub of the northern route of the ancient Silk Road, with outstanding geographical advantages.
If you don't go to Yili, you don't know the beauty of Xinjiang! Anyone who has been to Yili will have deep feelings from the bottom of his heart. This fertile oasis in the Tianshan Mountains, due to its diverse landforms, not only gave birth to beautiful mountains and rivers and unique natural scenery, but also left a rich cultural history and strong ethnic customs here; cattle and sheep are everywhere here, and melons and fruits in four seasons Piaoxiang has charming snow-capped mountains, grasslands in full bloom, and pure blue lakes; it is rich in high-quality rice and rapeseed, and it is a place where "what you grow and what you grow" is here. There is also the world-famous "Sweaty BMW" in Zhaosu. In this regard, some people once praised Yili as a kind of beauty without words. We traveled more than 4,000 kilometers, and today, we finally came to you!
On the afternoon of May 29th, the train arrived in Yining (the seat of Yili state capital). We took the No. 4 bus from the station, 1 yuan per person, about 30 minutes, and arrived (ctrip booking, 113 yuan per standard room) Yining Rujia Jiefang Road store. After check-in, take a short rest, and then take bus No. 18, about 25 minutes, to reach the first goal of our trip, Yili River Scenic Area (no admission fee) to watch the sunset.
When we came here, we found that the two sides of the Yili River are being greatly developed today, and they are no longer as primitive and vast as we imagined before. It is difficult to completely avoid buildings and take a "beautiful shot" that we are satisfied with, but the Yili Riverside The beautiful scenery still left a deep impression on us. Here, we also have a taste of the "infinite length" of daytime in Xinjiang. In order to see the moment when the sun sets from the Yili River, we waited here for more than 4 hours. Here, people don't have dinner until around 10 o'clock in the evening, and the streets are still dimly lit and full of people at 12 o'clock at night.
[Yining Kazanqi] strong western ethnic customs
On the morning of May 30, we took bus No. 12 from the front of the hotel, 10 stops, and got off at Yining People's Hospital Station. The journey took about 30 minutes and we arrived at the famous Kazanqi folk custom area in Yining City.
Kazanqi Folk Customs Area is located in the southeast of Yining City, covering an area of about 13 square kilometers. It is mainly populated by Uyghurs, Hui, Kazak, Uzbek and other ethnic minorities, with a population of nearly 100,000. It is the only large-scale cultural block in north-central Xinjiang that gathers multi-ethnic historical resources and rich folk customs.
There is history and stories here, and some architectural monuments and former residences of some local celebrities are still preserved, including the famous Shaanxi Hui Nationality Mosque (pictured above) and former residences of some local celebrities (pictured below). Due to time constraints, we were not able to visit them one by one.
Being in Kazan, you can see the traditional dwellings of ethnic minorities in the west everywhere. These characteristic dwellings are perfectly reflected here, and the traditional style and complete layout of each ethnic group are maintained. It is known as "Xinjiang Folk House Museum".
Kazanqi's "horse" means "Hardik" in Uighur. Taking the "Hardik" to experience Kazanqi's folk customs has become the preferred way for many tourists to come here to experience. Walking in the beautiful and tidy streets and alleys of Kazanqi, you can hear the crisp hooves and bells of "horses" everywhere, which have become a beautiful scenery of Kazanqi.
The children here are very cute, they are born to do business, they are all good at attracting tourists, and they are happy to communicate with tourists.
[Huocheng Jieyou Lavender Garden] A beautiful legend two thousand years ago
Ended the tour in Kazanqi Style Street. We take the line bus from Yili State Passenger Transport Center, get on the bus outside the station, 12 yuan per person, and leave when it is full (if you take the bus at the station, it is 10 yuan per person, but the early bus will leave at 10 am), the journey is about 40 Minutes to the famous Huocheng Princess Jieyou Lavender Garden (tickets 30 yuan per person, half price for 60-year-olds).
Jieyou Princess Lavender Garden is located in Qingshuihe Town, Huocheng County, Ili, Xinjiang, an important town on the North Road of the ancient Silk Road. Affected by the warm and humid monsoon of the Atlantic Ocean, it has formed unique climate conditions. Since the geographical latitude and longitude are the same as the world-famous lavender producing area of Provence in France, and the climate conditions and soil environment are also very similar, it is most suitable for the growth of lavender. It is now the world's largest lavender. One of the famous main producing areas of lavender and the largest producing area of lavender in my country, it is known as the "Hometown of Lavender in China". Now it is a national AAAA-level scenic spot. It is under the jurisdiction of the Sixty-Five Regiment of the Fourth Agricultural Division of the Xinjiang Construction Corps.
Under the blue sky, in the breeze, in the sunshine, in the fields... Every June and August (two harvests per year), beautiful lavender flowers will bloom quietly in the Huocheng area of the Yili River Valley. The name of this purple flower comes from a true story in Chinese history. Her name was actually associated with a beautiful woman more than 2,000 years ago.
(101 B.C.) In order to unite the countries of the Western Regions to fight against the Xiongnu, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established the Silk Road. One area) King Cen Zou. After Princess Jieyou married to Wusun State, she not only brought advanced farming and silkworm technology from the Central Plains, but also actively advocated "promoting water conservancy and emphasizing mulberry weaving". She served the kings of Wusun Kingdom for two generations successively, and was highly respected by the Wusun royal family and people, and was later known as the mother of Wusun Kingdom.
During Princess Jieyou's stay in Wusun Kingdom for more than 50 years, the northwest frontier of the Han Dynasty was not only safe and sound, but also had increasingly close exchanges with countries in the Western Regions, and the Silk Road was also prosperous. The Xiongnu forces did not dare to get involved in the Western Regions, and the influence of the Han Dynasty further spread to the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. It also laid the foundation for the Han Empire to set up the Beiting Protectorate in Ili, and later to incorporate the Western Regions into the territory of the Central Plains.
According to historical records, Princess Jieyou returned to her hometown in her later years, was welcomed by the people of her hometown, and was personally received by Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty at that time. Today, in order to commemorate this beautiful woman who dedicated her life to the great cause of national reunification, people named the largest lavender garden in Huocheng "Princess Jieyou".
The best time to watch Huocheng lavender is mid-June and mid-August every year. We came more than ten days earlier, and the sky was gloomy and sometimes light raining. Although the lavender we saw was not bright enough, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the lavender garden and listened to the touching story of Princess You. This line!
After visiting the lavender garden, (according to the instructions of netizens) we took the shuttle bus to Horgos Bus Station (stop at the beckoning, 15 yuan per person) at the gate of the garden and arrived in Horgos City. After that, walk 2 kilometers, and you will arrive at the Khorgos National Port. Nowadays, when tourists come to Yili, Xinjiang, they will come to this landmark port to have a look, so as to prove that they have reached the westernmost border of the motherland.
In addition to looking at the gate of the country, we also want to enter the port to see the No. 18 boundary marker of the Qing Dynasty. In 1881, due to the signing of the "Ili Treaty" between China and Russia, the Qing Dynasty was forced to cede to Tsarist Russia about 70,000 square kilometers of territory west of the Khorgos River. Boundary Pillar 18 recorded that humiliating history, known as "Monument of Shame". "Being behind will be beaten" is the eternal law of the jungle. History cannot be forgotten! The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation can only rely on our own hard work and self-improvement!
It is said that the new Horgos port is under construction. In front of us is the original country port, which is now closed to tourists. Facing the closed country, we are somewhat melancholy. At this time, two "land guides" with badges came up to chat and said that 100 yuan per person would not only take us into the country for a tour, but also take us to the opposite country of Kazakhstan to have a look! We have seen this kind of "game" a lot, so naturally we will not fall into the "set". Besides, being able to travel thousands of miles to come to the gate of the country is enough to symbolize its meaning, and it doesn't have to be visited. In this regard, we just "stored this photo" in front of the door, and then left.
After leaving the port, we wandered aimlessly in the downtown area of Khorgos, and had a good fast food for 15 yuan per person. In the evening, take the train (K9790) from Horgos Railway Station, 5 yuan per person for a hard seat, and return to Yining that night.
[Kuokesu Grand Canyon] The Human Grassland of Heart and Mind
On May 31, we walked to the Ili Prefecture Passenger Transport Center and took the long-distance bus to Tekes County, 29 yuan per person, with a journey of more than 130 kilometers (I heard before that the Yili Prefecture Passenger Transport Center has a direct bus to Kalajun Scenic Area car, upon inquiry, the answer is no). When we arrived at the Tekes long-distance station, we immediately transferred to a 7-seater commercial vehicle going to the Kalajun Tourist Center at the station, and the fee was 80 yuan per car (no passengers carpooled at that time). I found out later that as long as you leave the passenger terminal and take a taxi to the Kalajun Passenger Transport Center, the maximum is only 50 yuan. I can only blame myself for not doing my homework well!
There are two routes for tourists to enter the Kalajun Scenic Area (see the picture below), one is to take a yacht from the visitor center to visit the Kuokesu Grand Canyon, and then take the cableway to the Kalajun Grassland; First go to the Kalajun Grassland at the Braque Ticket Station, and then take the cableway to the Kuokesu Grand Canyon.
Tickets for Kalajun and Kuokesu Grand Canyon can be purchased separately, and can be divided into single-day tickets, double-day tickets and multi-day combined tickets. We bought a two-day joint ticket, half price of 172 yuan for the age of 60, and can take any transportation in the scenic area repeatedly within two days (scenic traffic car + Kalajun Lake cruise ship, speedboat + Braque ticket station to the outside connection of the tourist center Car), this price is very cheap compared to any world-class scenic spot. The Kalajun Scenic Area is very large. Even if you take a quick look at the flowers, it will take a few days. For tourists who only come here once in their life, double-day and multi-day combined tickets are good choices.
We walked from the Kalajun Visitor Center to the cruise ship pier of Kalajun Lake, took a yacht into the Kuokesu Grand Canyon, and stayed in a yurt hotel in the scenic area. After a short rest, we went to Crocodile Bay and Human Grassland in Kuokesu Grand Canyon.
This yurt hotel standard room is located in the depths of the Tianshan Canyon (online price is 480 yuan, we went to the store for 380 yuan, and the area is more than 50 square meters). ), the tranquility at night, and the convenience of transportation (there is a shuttle bus), which greatly exceeds all our original estimates for it. With it, the journey of Kala Jun becomes very warm! With it, we plan to watch the grassland of the human body in the evening, the starry sky of the Tianshan Mountains in the middle of the night, and the dawn of Kala Jun in the early morning, all of which have become within easy reach!
Kalajun is the only scenic spot among the many grasslands in the Ili Valley that has been listed as a world natural heritage. Kalajun is composed of three scenic spots: East Kalajun, West Kalajun and Kuokesu Grand Canyon. Among them, Kuokesu Canyon has steep cliffs, diverse landforms and majestic momentum. The Kalajun grassland is magnificent, with cattle and horses everywhere. From May to September every year, dozens of mountain flowers of different colors bloom in turn on the endless field of Kalajun. As long as you are in any place in Kala Jun, looking around, there is no need to describe its majestic beauty!
Although we have been fully prepared for the beauty of Kala Jun before, we were still shocked by her vast beauty when we walked into this mountain and grassland!
At this moment, you are speechless with the mountains, rivers and grasslands in front of you, as if there are thousands of words. This is the hometown of clouds and wind, and the story of mountains and water! Her beauty is so rich in connotation and majestic, its beauty is so diverse and domineering! This is Karajun!
It is very convenient for tourists to go to Crocodile Bay, but if you want to see the "crocodile", you have to go down to the bottom of this plank road. It takes a lot of effort to go up and down, and it takes some courage and time.
Crocodile Bay is a section of the mountain that extends into the bend of the Kuokesu River. It is named for its resemblance to a crocodile.
People riding horses from Kuokesu Grand Canyon to nine bends and eighteen bends.
Then, we took the bus to the Nine Bends and Eighteen Bends of the Kuokesu Grand Canyon. Get off the bus and walk southward for less than 300 meters, and come to a small hill, which is probably what netizens call the "observation platform" (we were wondering when we were making the itinerary, there are many travel notes about the human grassland on the Internet, but there is no one Tell the specific location of the human grassland, and you can’t find any markings on the human grassland on the guide map of the Kalajun scenic spot). Before, we made various guesses and deliberations on the location of the human grassland. Even, once doubted its real existence. Only when you come here do you know that as long as you stand on this hill, you will see nine bends and eighteen bends when you look south (above), and you will see a "human body grassland" (below) when you look west. To be precise, "it is a stand, Two points of view."
In the Kuokesu Grand Canyon of the Kalajun Grassland, there is a large piece of gently undulating "flattened" hills with very beautiful curves, which is called "Human Grassland". The ups and downs, ravines and ravines formed by nature, and their graceful curves are set off by the changes of light and shadow, which become a rare ideal shooting scene.
In front of us is the human grassland that we have been thinking about, and it is also the place that many photography enthusiasts are fascinated by. Its value was first discovered by photographers. It has produced blockbuster photography films that have won many domestic and international awards. Today, it has almost become a must-visit place for photography groups to come to Ili. At this time, the hills are full of long guns and short cannons, and people's cameras are aimed at the human grassland, looking forward to the moment when the sun sets.
Two sturdy Kazakh herdsmen came on stage on horseback, and the curtain kicked off with the horses and sheep on the buttocks of the human grassland beauties. These days, whenever a photography troupe arrives, the show takes place here. Here, photography enthusiasts frantically pressed the shutter for it. It is said that some people did not hesitate to take 10,000 pictures of it!
The horses are chasing, and the sheep are running. Here, the dust picked up by the steeds and the green grassland constitute a beautiful picture, which also arouses your infinite reverie and desire for the grassland; here, your original understanding of the grassland is subverted, and she even It can be so three-dimensional, so enchanting and charming, with a variety of styles!
The following are a few photos of the human grassland taken by my wife with a SLR.
The grassland in front of me has soft and undulating curves, a graceful figure with well-proportioned bumps and well-proportioned proportions. The uncanny workmanship of nature has to be amazing!
Faced with this situation, it can't help but make people feel deeply. Karajun! She is like the mother of the earth, nurturing the people here with her own body, and shouldering the hope of future generations. She is silent and presents a green grass as sweet as milk to the world! We are grateful to meet you in this life!
The beauty of Kalajun is universally recognized. An article written by China National Geographic pointed out that Kalajun has brought a major contribution to the world, which subverts the aesthetic fatigue of monotonous colors and single landscapes brought by ordinary grasslands. It shows the aesthetics of mountainous grasslands in Xinjiang, my country, and defines a new concept of "three-dimensional grassland" that is easy to watch in different time, space and colors.
Karajun! Today, we finally walked into your arms! Look at your endless green, touch your soft and smooth lines, fully appreciate your magnificence, and feel your vastness! This is an unforgettable touch! This is a spiritual dialogue between man and nature!
Looking at the beautiful scenery of Kala Jun, taking pictures of the human body grassland, racing horses and driving sheep, all the thoughts in my heart finally came true! In fact, no matter how self-satisfied the photos are taken, they are not reproduced innovatively, let alone blockbusters. Traveling is like this, one shot, one moment, what you harvest is not just a photo, but the joy of the moment when you look forward to being realized! The process is often more experienced than the result!
At 9 o'clock in the evening, the two herdsmen left the stage in high spirits amidst the warm greetings from the photographers.
Here, we "snatched" two beautiful women's buttocks in a row, and we also took pictures to our heart's content. It's just that the scenery is infinitely good, only the photos were not taken well. Karajun! We are here for you, and we have been here for you! Calling thousands of miles, going through hardships, with this moment in front of me, everything is enough!
At this time, Kuokesu had nine twists and eighteen bends, like a child who was left out in the cold. It's not that it's not beautiful enough, but the human grassland is too eye-catching
At night, we were busy photographing the starry sky of the Tianshan Canyon in front of the yurt hotel, and photographing the morning light of Kalajun in the early morning. At this time, the temperature outside the yurt was below zero, and people were shivering from the cold. As long as they got into the yurt, they would immediately feel infinitely warmer. An unforgettable night in the Tianshan Canyon, an unforgettable trip to Kala Jun!
[Xikalajun Grassland] The beauty of harmony between man and nature and the coexistence of all things
On the morning of May 31, we ended our trip to the Kuokesu Grand Canyon. From the yurt hotel, we arrived at the lower station of the Kalajun cableway from the transportation car, and took the cable car to the West Kalajun Grassland. Below is the Kuokesu Grand Canyon, across the Kuerdai River in Kuokesu, and above it is the Xikalajun Grassland.
Xikalajun Scenic Area has a relatively flat terrain, a wide field of vision, continuous hills, grasslands like green oceans, and snow-capped mountains in the depths of the grasslands. Here you can feel the unity of man and nature and the symbiosis of all things in Kalajun, and experience the grassland army and horse culture at zero distance. The Xikalajun Grassland is very large, mainly including famous scenic spots such as Hopeful Yutai, Marmot Habitat, Liangyitai, Dielang Valley, Shiquan, Yinma Bay, and a tree. Due to time constraints, we only chose Wangyutai among them.
The Xikalajun Grassland unfolds slowly like a picture scroll, with layers of distant mountains and close views, cool and cool snow-capped peaks, scattered cattle and sheep in the fields, and strong and galloping horses. Walking on such an extremely beautiful grassland is a rare fate and blessing in life!
Under the blue sky and white clouds, dotted with white yurts, green carpet-like grasslands, deep canyons, grazing people and their cattle, horses and sheep. Coupled with the undulating snow mountains and ice peaks, Xikala Jun seems to be an ideal picture of the unity of nature and man.
As long as you come to Kalajun, you will forget the hustle and bustle of the city, the fame and wealth that plague your life, and the worries and troubles of love and hatred. Here, tranquility can wash away the dust in your mind, freshness can remove your spiritual burden, warm sunshine can dispel the haze in your heart, and the dreamlike grassland fairyland will awaken your longing for beauty.
Beautiful Karajun! You will gather people of different nationalities, religions, dialects and ages here. Beautiful Karajun! You let everyone join hands and move towards a new height of happiness and ideals and a better life together!
[East Kalajun Grassland] Flowers coming to your face
Then, we took a bus (about 40 minutes) from West Kalajun Wangyutai to the long-awaited East Kalajun Grassland Scenic Spot. This is the core of Kalajun's declaration of world natural heritage, and it is also the most representative area of Kalajun's "alpine five-flower natural prairie". There are rare alpine meadows, spotted forests, colorful flower seas, The sea of clouds and snow peaks are magnificent scenery everywhere. East Kalajun has famous scenic spots such as Wuhua Meadow, Huahua Terrace, Kurdai Forest Grand Canyon, Three-pole Flattening Viewing Platform and Falcon Terrace, among which the Wuse Huadian and Huahua Terrace are the most exciting.
Walking into the East Kalajun Flower Terrace, you can see the endless grassland, the flowers rushing towards your face, the blue sky and white clouds, and the snow-capped mountains, the Kalajun grassland is so beautiful. People are rippling in the sea of flowers, fully enjoying the beautiful moment and letting time flow quietly.
At this time, you will forget everything, just want to sit here quietly like this forever, laugh at the flowers blooming, bathe in the fragrance of flowers, and listen to the grassland. Dedicate your heart to this snow-capped mountain that has not melted for thousands of years, and to this magical land below you. A photo is to record that we have been here hand in hand, there are the body temperature and marks of you and me on the grass!
Before coming to Kalajun Grassland, we have been to Daxing’an Mountains, Hulun Buir and Ulan Butong Grasslands. The impression of “the sky is blue, the wild is vast, there are fragrant flowers everywhere, and cattle and sheep are everywhere” is still deep. When you set foot on the Kalajun Flower Terrace for the first time, you will face the rushing flowers and the towering snow-capped mountains. Still let us be shocked by the scenery in front of us. At this time, crawling on the fragrant grass, bathing in the fragrance of flowers, your eyes are in heaven, and your body and mind are in dialogue with the grassland! This is the Kala Jun we saw!
On the Kalajun Grassland, people who see the scenery also become the scenery to be seen.
Turn over the mountain ridge in front of you (about 3 kilometers round trip), and you will find the famous five-color Huadian. It is said that after the middle of May every year, the mountain flowers in Huadian bloom the brightest, the most colorful, and the flowers are the most eye-catching.
Flowing in the ocean of flowers, bathed in the fragrance of flowers, following the people watching the flowers, we walked all the way over the mountain ridge and came to the famous five-color flower field.
In summer, the Kalajun Flower Terrace is a five-color flower field, accompanied by blue sky and white clouds, and snow-capped mountains and forests. The flowers on the grass are different from month to month and day to day, making people feel like they are in the spring breeze and like a person in a picture. This pureness from the grasslands of Xinjiang, the motherland, this selfless gift from nature, makes people intoxicated and hard to let go!
Standing here, we ask ourselves: what is heaven? What is Wonderland on Earth? Is there anything more beautiful than this? Probably no one can tell clearly. But here the grass is luxuriant, the flowers are blooming like brocades, the slopes are smooth and boundless, and the wonderful green grass extends to the foot of the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Looking at it is refreshing, and smelling it can smell the freshness of green grass and the fragrance of mountain flowers. Here, you must be able to truly feel the meaning of heaven and fairyland on earth!
Kala Jun! As long as you come here, you will see the harmony between man and nature. Your life is the light and shadow you see, the fragrance of flowers you smell, the people who accompany you, and those who watch the scenery together. This may be the interpretation of travel, which is indispensable to life!
The beauty of the Kalajun Grassland is so rich in connotation and majestic. Some people say: the beauty of Kala Jun lies in its three-dimensional beauty and its multi-faceted arrogance!
We have always thought that the beauty is not only a natural beauty, but also a result of the soul; the Garden of Eden in the dream was once in our hearts, and after thousands of imaginations and cognitions, we have the shock of seeing her. . Kala Jun in early summer is as beautiful as heaven and makes people linger. As long as you are in it, there is no need to say how beautiful she is! Goodbye, Karajun! With great expectations, we are here for you! With fond memories, we came for you!
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the scheduled return time came. We reluctantly left Flower Terrace, and gave up our original plan to go to East Kalajun Falcon Terrace to see the Grand Canyon of the Kurdai Forest. We took a bus from Falcon Terrace to Bubu Lak Ticket Station, transfer to the shuttle bus outside the scenic spot to return to the Kalajun Visitor Center, and take a taxi (25 yuan per person) contacted by the staff of the Visitor Center to return to Tekes Passenger Station.
On the way back to Turks, our taxi driver was an enthusiastic person. He was very proud of his life in the beautiful "Bagua City" and felt sorry for us not being able to visit this beautiful town. And took the initiative to take us around the center of the small town for a while for free. Afterwards, we took the last long-distance bus from Turks back to Yining at 10 o'clock that night. At this point, the two-day short and pleasant trip to Kala Jun ended.
[Salimu Lake] The blue love of reluctance.
On the morning of June 2, we took a through train from Yili Prefecture Passenger Transport Center to the south gate of Sailimu (14-seater Iveco, 130 kilometers, 40 yuan per passenger). Taking this through train in Xinjiang has great flexibility. As long as it does not affect other passengers or the majority of passengers are willing, the driver can stop at places with scenery along the way for passengers to get off and enjoy. Our driver is very resigned. At the unanimous request of the 13 tourists in the same car, the driver agreed to add 10 yuan per person. The outbound journey stops at the famous Guozigou Bridge, and the return journey takes a detour (about 20 kilometers) to visit the ancient city of Huiyuan before returning to Yi rather. As a result, the 13 tourists in our car immediately formed a team, and the through train became our dedicated bus.
This is our stop on the way, overlooking the scene of Guozigou in Huocheng.
This is our stop on the way, overlooking the scene of Guozigou in Huocheng.
This is the Guozigou Bridge that we saw on the way, known as the "Top Ten Most Beautiful Bridges in China".
Our driver kept responding to everyone's request, stopped halfway and got off to look at this and that, and the through train also drove and stopped all the way, and arrived at the parking lot of Sailimu South Gate at noon. The driver agreed with everyone that the return time should not exceed 5:00 pm, otherwise, it will affect the tour of Huiyuan Ancient City (after the opening time). Sailimu Lake tickets are 70 yuan in full, half price for students and 60-year-olds, and free for 70-year-olds. The full ticket of the traffic car in the scenic area is 75 yuan (round trip from the south gate to the east gate), and the half ticket is 45 yuan (round trip from the south gate to the north gate). We chose the full ticket of the traffic car.
Sailimu Lake, known as "Jinghai" in ancient times, is located in the northern Tianshan Mountains in Bozhou, Xinjiang. The lake is 2071 meters above sea level and covers an area of 453 square kilometers. Due to the special geographical conditions and the perennial influence of the Atlantic monsoon climate, it is called "the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean". From May to June every year, the flower season of Sailimu Lake will come as scheduled, and colorful wild flowers bloom in gorgeous seas of flowers by the lake. Especially the orange nasturtium blooms the most huge, warm, bright and dazzling.
Although we have made various predictions about the beauty of this place before the future, the Sailimu Lake that broke into our eyes and the Sailimu Lake in our hearts still triggered a strong visual impact and spiritual shock. This blue plateau lake, which is praised by poets as "the fairyland from the west, the spiritual land outside the world", "the four mountains swallow the vastness, and the sky is cleared by a blue sky", is as blue as sapphire from the moment we walked into her. From then on, the memory was implanted. The blue sky, the snow-capped mountains, the lush pine forest, the clear blue lake, the green grass, the flowers swaying in the wind, all of these are deeply engraved in your heart!
The distant mountains are like Daisy, the sky and water are the same color, the beauty is like a picture scroll, and the fragrance of flowers is overflowing. Suddenly, such a colorful and sparkling lake came into view, and we immediately rushed to the lake. Facing the endless Sailimu Lake, your soul can be released here, and your laughter is free from words! You can smell the fragrance of grass and flowers when you close your eyes, and you will be integrated into this beautiful picture when you walk and look at yourself!
If we are considered a traveler, then this is your travel post. Sailimu Lake is a place for you to rest your mind. Here, everything makes people calm and peaceful, and they are full of thoughts and deeply moved. I have admired you for a long time, and we are standing here today, witnessing your beauty with our own eyes! You are a blue pearl on the land of Xinjiang, the motherland, deeply embedded in our hearts!
We came here hand in hand, who is gentle and gentle in whose life, who is looking forward to come true for whom, and walk into the holy blue of Sailimu Lake together! No matter how time goes by, just like snow mountains and green pines stay together, mountains and water, grass and flowers, blue sky and earth, never leave without words forever!
Some people say that an open world will also open people's hearts. When you come to Sailimu Lake, you calm down after the initial excitement, sit by the lake and do nothing, looking at the clean lake water, the sky is very blue and the clouds are low, surrounded by fresh flowers, and the breeze is blowing in your ears Pass. You can feel from the bottom of your heart that all these are gifts from nature, and this is the life we most want to experience!
We walked slowly along the lakeside, and the Keguerqin Mountain and Gangjige Mountain in the distance were still covered in silver, quietly embracing the holy water of the lake, appearing quiet and deep. The Sailimu Lake in front of you is full of brocade scales, and the lake water is like a huge emerald mirror. Under the sunlight, the lake water presents various colors of silvery white, green and blue, showing the unique charm of Sailimu Lake. People say that Xinjiang is a great beauty, and Sailimu Lake is undoubtedly one of the great beauties!
As everyone knows, there is still a beautiful and moving story in Sailimu Lake. It is said that there is no lake in Sailimu Lake, but a grassland with blooming flowers. A girl named Qiedan and a Mongolian youth named Xue Deke fell in love here. Because the devil is obsessed with Qiedan's beauty, he wants to take Qiedan as his own. The staunch and loyal girl Qiedan refuses to do so, and waits for an opportunity to escape from the clutches of the devil. Under the relentless pursuit of the devil, Cedan was forced to jump into a deep pool on the grassland. When Xue Deke came to rescue him, he found that Cedan was dead. Xue Deke was so sad that he also jumped into the pool and died of love. In an instant, waves and blue waves gushed out of the pool, and the sincere love and sorrowful tears of the lovers accumulated into today's Sailimu Lake, which is thousands of hectares and blue waves.
Sailimu Lake Shore Stone - the stone of love. It is colorful and clean, and does not allow the slightest bit of dirt.
The water of Sailimu Lake, the holy water, is as blue as gemstones from a distance, and so clear and transparent when viewed up close. She is also the source of love, witnessing the touching love stories that happened here for thousands of years!
Sailimu Lake is also known as Swan Lake. Legend has it that on the grasslands of Ili, there was a rich Kazakh girl who fell in love with a poor boy. The girl is kind and beautiful, and the young man is handsome and unrestrained. But their love was not accepted by the girl's parents. So they fled their hometown on horseback to find their own happy life. When they fled to Guozigou, they were blocked by the tall Keguqin Mountain. Seeing that the pursuers are about to arrive. The young man swung his whip and drove his horse to jump over the rushing Guozigou River. Because the horse was tired from running all the way, he could not jump across the river. The young man fell off his horse and was injured, and the girl wept in pain. At this time, two white swans descended from the sky, carried the young man and the girl on their backs, flew over Guozigou, and flew into Sailimu Lake.
Afterwards, the young man and the girl not only thanked the white swan for its help, but also were deeply attracted by the white swan's love for each other. So they decided to turn into a pair of white swans who will never change until death, and they have lived on the blue Sailimu Lake ever since. Therefore, as long as people come to Sailimu Lake, they can often see pairs of beautiful white swans playing freely here. It is said that the white swan is expressing blessings to the people who love each other!
The flower of Sailimu Lake—the flower of love, the flower of holiness, with her, Sailimu Lake becomes so beautiful! So haunting!
Genghis Khan of Sailimu Lake ordered the platform. Standing here, you can have a panoramic view of the vastness of Sailimu Lake across time and space.
Sailimu Lake is also a holy lake where thousands of lovers witness their love. The life-and-death love story between Miss Qiedan and Xue Deke and the white swan have moved generations of young men and women who come to love pilgrimage. As long as the golden flowers are in full bloom, under the blue sky and white clouds, there will always be couples cuddling each other here. He (she) made an oath in Sailimu Lake, and continued to write the share that belongs to himself and belongs to Sailimu Lake. The love story of Limu Lake.
Some people say: There is a kind of remoteness called Xinjiang, and there is a kind of blue called Sailimu Lake. Others said: Sailimu Lake is one of the 50 must-see places in life. We have traveled to many places and seen many mountains and lakes, but none of them can match your blueness, your purity, your blueness makes people feel peaceful and distant, your blueness makes people feel happy, It is so blue that this trip is worthwhile and this life is worthwhile! We fell in love with you at first sight, and our hearts stayed here! When parting, I looked back at Sailimu Lake, still reluctant to part. If there is an opportunity and impulse, we will definitely come to Sailimu Lake again!
There will always be people who procrastinate and don't follow the time when traveling. The driver promised to drive back on time at 5:00 p.m., but our car finally started at 6:30 p.m., and there were people on the road who kept asking to stop and do this and that. It was already 9:00 p.m. when we arrived at Huiyuan Ancient City, and the scenic spot was already closed Thank you. Our original plan to visit the Ancient City Exhibition Hall and Ili General's Mansion was stranded.
We can only stop for a moment outside Huiyuan Ancient City and Yili General's Mansion, and keep this photo. It can be regarded as a fulfillment of a little wish of coming here to pay homage to Mr. Lin Zexu and General Zuo Zongtang. Although, we have not been able to see the map of Xinjiang in the Qing Dynasty before the "Ili Treaty" was signed. However, Mr. Lin Zexu's famous saying "If a country lives and dies for profit, don't avoid it because of misfortune and good fortune" and the series of achievements he made in Xinjiang will still be remembered by history; The Qing Dynasty was in decline, and faced with the troubles behind Britain and Tsarist Russia. With firm will and strong will, he set out from Shaanxi with 3,000 troops, raised his own food all the way, mobilized his troops, and with lightning speed, completely defeated Aguba, the hero who had troubled Xinjiang for many years, and regained Xinjiang's historical achievements in one fell swoop. It will still be praised through the ages!
It is precisely because of the foresight of the ancestors, the will and determination to fight for the territorial integrity of the country and the survival of the nation, and the spirit of daring to go through fire and water and die before oneself. That's why Xinjiang has always been the Xinjiang of our Chinese nation for more than two thousand years, and no force can separate her from my Chinese territory! It is precisely because of the ancestors' continuous efforts and unremitting efforts that we come here today to see the scenery with such peace of mind! Today, the Chinese nation has been reborn from the ashes of the phoenix, and has embarked on a journey of great rejuvenation and rise. We hope that the motherland will become more prosperous and stronger! Our military is indomitable!
[Nalati Sky Grassland] Lingxiu in misty rain
On the morning of June 3, we took the morning long-distance bus from Yili Prefecture Passenger Transport Center to Nalati Town, the fare was 68 yuan, and the journey was more than 280 kilometers. After traveling through wind and rain all the way, we arrived at the Nalati Town Bus Terminal at 12:00 p.m. that day. After staying in a homestay (100 yuan for a twin room) across the wall from the Nalati Scenic Area Visitor Center, we then went to the air grassland of Nalati.
The Nalati grassland scenic area is very large, mainly composed of two parts: the aerial grassland and the river valley grassland. Even if you take a quick look at the flowers, it will take two days. Due to time constraints, we chose the aerial grassland of Nalati according to the scheduled itinerary, and went straight to the long-awaited Snow Lotus Valley.
(The picture above is the beautiful photo of Snow Lotus Valley posted by netizens.) This is the Snow Lotus Valley we are thinking about (named because the main peak of the canyon is shaped like a snow lotus). It is said that the Snow Lotus Valley from May to June is very spectacular and peculiar, and tourists can come here to have close contact with the snow-capped mountains. Looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, looking down at the clouds and mist in the mountains, stepping on the grass and flowers with one foot, and stepping on the glacier stream with one foot, the scenery is very shocking. But on the day we arrived, Snow Lotus Valley was closed due to heavy rain for days, so we passed by. It is indeed a pity for people who only come here once in their life. therefore. We can only see her beauty in the photos. Traveling is often like this, there are gains and losses, not only do your homework well, but also good luck.
Nalati tickets are 75 yuan/person in off-season, 95 yuan/person in peak season, 40 yuan/person for river valley grassland, 40 yuan/person for air grassland, 60 yuan/person for Snow Lotus Valley, 80 yuan/person for Panlong Valley Road sightseeing car, transportation The car can only be used for one round trip, and a 50% discount will be given for the second ride. Tickets and transportation vehicles are half price for students and 60-year-old seniors.
Nalati belongs to Xinyuan County, Ili Prefecture, Xinjiang. It is rated as one of the six most beautiful grasslands in the country by China National Geography and one of the four great alpine valley grasslands in the world. Because of the average altitude of 2,200 meters, it is also known as the "air grassland". Nalati has been a famous natural pasture since ancient times. The beautiful grassland scenery and local Kazakh folk customs are the most representative highlights of Nalati. Nalati is now a famous tourist resort in Xinjiang, a national AAAAA-level scenic spot, and a beautiful business card of the Ili River Valley. However, due to the sudden emergence of the Kalajun Grassland in recent years and the successful application for world heritage, Nalati's position in the front of the Xinjiang Grassland has declined for many years.
It is said that Nalati's name comes from a historical story. According to legend, when Genghis Khan marched westward, a Mongolian army marched from the eastern part of the Tianshan Mountains to Ili. It was spring, but the mountains were filled with snow and wind. Hunger and cold made the army exhausted and nearly collapsed. When they crossed the mountains, they saw a grassland full of flowers, dense springs and gurgling water, as if entering a new world. At this time, the clouds opened and the sun rose, and the setting sun reflected the mountains and fields red. People couldn't help shouting "Nalati" (that is, the meaning of the sun). Therefore, the place name Nalati was left behind.
We took the scenic spot bus from the Nalati Visitor Center and passed the famous Apple Mountain (pictured above), Tianying Spruce, Tianjietai and other scenic spots all the way. The journey took about 1 hour and arrived at the Sky Grassland (the terminal of the traffic bus) The main scenic area - nomadic people. Due to the gloomy weather that day, there was light rain in the sky from time to time. At this time, Nalati's mountains and rivers are hazy, and there is a special scene.
It is said that the most beautiful place in Xinjiang is in Yili, the most beautiful place in Yili is in Xinyuan, and the most beautiful place in Xinyuan is Nalati. But the Nalati we see is very different from the imagined her. To say that Kala Jun is majestic, with magnificent mountains and rivers. Then, Nalati is full of greenery and beautiful mountains and rivers.
In the grassland in the sky of Nalati, the distant mountains are like Daisy, stretching as far as the eye can see, dotted with white yurts, as if you can touch the floating clouds with your hands.
Nalati Grassland Scenic Area has complete tourist facilities, warm and standardized service, and convenient transportation. Visitors here feel relaxed and happy. We have been swimming here for nearly 10 hours without any inconvenience or tiredness at all. The only thing I feel is that the sky is wide and the sky is high enough for birds to fly!
Human myths, beautiful Xinjiang, and heavenly grasslands! Why do some people say that a person must come to Xinjiang to see it in his life. Probably this vast grassland will give people a kind of spiritual comfort, it will empty your mind, discard your troubles, let your heart fly, and urge you to feel the beauty in front of you with the most pure state of mind! Cheer for your life!
A child of a tourist, a child of a herdsman and a cute lamb, what are they talking about?
You live in the prairie and I live in the city. A warm greeting and a stare at each other are all rare fates and exchanges of hearts. Everyone will share the beauty of this prairie regardless of each other!
The beautiful grassland, the dream of tourists, the home of herdsmen.
Nalati is the flower of the prairie. With her, the prairie becomes more vivid and beautiful!
It should be said that the turn of spring and summer is the most beautiful season in Nalati. Nalati under the blue sky and white clouds, her grass is verdant, the flowers are colorful, the mountains are covered with snow, and the trees are dark green and straight. If what you encounter in Nalati is cloudy and rainy, then it will be difficult for you to see her enthusiasm and sincerity. At this time, she is like a beautiful Kazakh girl covered with a mysterious veil, you can only feel her demure and hazy beauty with your heart! This is the Nalati we see, the Nalati in our image!
The mountain in front of me is connected to Snow Lotus Valley, and the people in front of me are all tourists walking down from the direction of Snow Lotus Valley. They informed that the road to Snow Lotus Valley is being repaired, and currently, no tourists are allowed to enter. They wanted to walk to Snow Lotus Valley, but as soon as they reached the mountain pass, they were stopped by the scenic spot staff.
Here is the special line bus leading to Snow Lotus Valley, and you can get to Snow Lotus Valley in 30 minutes. The driver told us that as soon as the road is cleared, the line will be able to run immediately. We have great expectations for this. But until the evening, the news I received was that Snow Lotus Valley was raining heavily, not only would it not be available today, but it would not be open tomorrow (heavy rain is forecast tonight).
In Xinjiang, the motherland, there is such a place. Here, you can see verdant grasslands, colorful mountain flowers, cattle and sheep all over the mountains, snow-capped mountains, meandering clean rivers, lush forests, eagles flying high, dotted with yurts, Warm and cheerful people... Here, you can imagine all the grasslands, and this is the Nalati grassland in Xinjiang! We come to you with anticipation. Although we did not realize our wish to climb Snow Lotus Valley, we have been here for you after all, and we have no regrets in this life!
It was already past 10 o'clock in the evening, and Nalati's sheep had finished work, and we returned to the parking lot at the foot of the mountain.
Afterwards, we hiked 2 kilometers back and forth from the parking lot to the famous Gongnais River to watch the sunset. There is no sunset in Nalati tonight. On the rocky and thorny river beach, we were the only ones holding hands. Tonight, in the canyon deep in the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, the original vastness of the Gongnaisi River and the experience of the two of us walking hand in hand across the river beach are also beautiful memories of life!
At this time, it was late at night, and the beautiful town of Nalati was still dimly lit. After we had dinner here, it was nearly 12 o'clock at night when we returned to the inn. Goodbye, beautiful Nalati! We have come here for you through the bustle and bustle. Although we have not seen your amazing beauty, we have also appreciated your graceful appearance and beautiful mountains and rivers. Although when we leave, we always feel a little bit reluctant to part with you, but we still have expectations in the distance!
30 kilometers ahead of this road is the famous Tianshan Duku Highway - the most beautiful highway in China. It is the dream pursued by countless travelers! It is opened for about 100 days a year, and it is only opened at the beginning of June each year. We walked all the way, all the way to inquire about whether it is opened, but never got a definite answer. According to the local driver, "If you can walk and pass, it will be opened, but if you can't walk, it will not be opened." In this regard, we decided to leave tomorrow and try our luck on the Duku Highway!
"Ili Chapter" is finished, and "Bazhou Chapter" is to be continued. Jinling Lesou 2019/12/10
