I first knew that Xinjiang is very big through a map, and then through express delivery. Now that I am over the years, I am almost not confused. After two years of hesitation, I finally realized the Xinjiang dream. I came to this magical land and felt the fantastic beauty!


We chose the Yili line as the site of our first Xinjiang tour, mainly because the time is in late June, and the grass should be quite lush. We wanted to see the grassland, so we chose Sailimu Lake on Ctrip. The three major grasslands are For the main sightseeing spots, I booked a private group (chartered car, arranged for an accompanying driver and tour guide), and then set off on the journey after checking the weather.


As usual, I will list the itinerary first, and then share with you the details along the way.

June 19, Shanghai-Urumqi Airplane Stay at Oriental Dynasty Hotel in Urumqi

June 20, Urumqi-Salimu Lake, car, play Sailimu Lake, stay in Sailimu Lake, Bolesai Lake Impression Apartment Hotel

June 21 Sailimu Lake-Zhaosu Car Tour Tianma Ranch Stay in Zhaosu Jiangsu International Hotel

June 22, Zhaosu, visit Xiata, Zhaosu-Tex, car, stay at Bagua City, Tianlu Hotel

June 23, Kalajun Prairie, Tekes Bagua City, Tianlu Hotel

June 24 Bayinbulak Prairie Subbayin Bayin Hotel

June 25, Nalati Prairie, Yining-Urumqi, plane, stay at Oriental Dynasty Hotel in Urumqi

June 26 Urumqi-Shanghai


On the first day we flew from Shanghai to Urumqi, we chose a cheaper flight that stopped in Xi'an, took off at 7 o'clock, and stayed in Xi'an for more than 2 hours (we stayed for an hour, but encountered a fault, and it took an extra hour), We arrived in Urumqi at 3:00 p.m., and the master who made an appointment took us to the hotel.


This day is a free day. In the evening, my friend invited us to dinner and took us to a famous barbecue restaurant. Dinner in Xinjiang starts at 8 or 9 o’clock. My friend ordered it for 7 o’clock according to our dinner time. We felt like eating Like charter. Friends helped us order mutton skewers, roasted kidneys, cold skin, naan, mint tea, yogurt, all of which are special dishes, and they all taste very good. I will upload some photos at the end of the article to feast your eyes.


After breakfast the next day (hotels in Xinjiang usually start breakfast at 8:30), we set off for Sailimu Lake at 9:00. This road is to take a car. The pony master who drives is a guy born in the 90s and our tour guide for the next few days. He has to drive us for hundreds of kilometers every day, which is really not easy. We booked a small car, which is more comfortable than a bus. It was 4 pm when we drove to Sailimu Lake, and our buttocks were still numb. Fortunately, the scenic spots are open for a long time, and we still have time to play.


Sailimu Lake was called "Jinghai" in ancient times, and now it is called "the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean". The lake that deserves such a name is undoubtedly beautiful, reminiscent of cleanliness, tranquility, and fascinating. The lake can't be seen at a glance, and there are 90 kilometers around the lake. There are two ways to play, one is driving by yourself, and the other is taking a shuttle bus around the lake. Self-driving can stop at any time. The shuttle bus is a scenic bus. The regular route is East Gate-North Gate-West Gate-South Gate, and then return on the original road, stopping at several sites halfway to take pictures for tourists. The time is about 5 hours.


We started to circle the lake at 4:00 pm. In order to save time, the shuttle bus went around from East Gate-South Gate-West Gate-North Gate-East Gate and stopped at several major stations such as Kele Yongzhu and Dianjiangtai , each site takes 20-30 minutes to take pictures, and the whole journey takes 4 hours.

Sailimu Lake is 2000 meters above sea level, the lake water is pure, the lake surface reflects the sky, and the color changes with the weather. When there is no cloud in the sky, the lake is as quiet as sapphire. When the wind is raging, you can clearly see a dividing line between light blue and dark blue.


The climate on the plateau is changeable. When we were playing, we encountered strong winds and showers. When we got out of the car, it was still sunny. When we took pictures, it suddenly rained. We hurried back to the car and waited for the car to drive.


There are accommodations in the Sailimu Lake Scenic Area, and there are RVs and tents along the lake. RVs are expensive, around 2000, and the facilities are relatively complete. Tents are not as good as RVs, and the price will be relatively cheap. The advantage of living in the scenic area is that you can enjoy the lake view at any time, such as watching the sunrise, sunset, and starry sky. Of course, if you encounter heavy rain, there is nothing you can do. We live in Bolesai Lake Impression Apartment Hotel outside the east gate. It is a hotel apartment, three-story small building, one bedroom and one living room. It is clean, warm, very comfortable and close. We live in the hotel at night. I enjoyed the sunset outside the east gate and had a delicious Xinjiang meal.


On the third day, after breakfast, we left Saihu Lake and went to Zhaosu. We originally planned to go along the Yizhao Highway, but the highway was not open yet, so we had to take a detour. Passing the Guozigou Bridge on the way, running on this route with a total length of 4.4 kilometers and a bridge length of 700 meters, I remembered Chairman Mao’s words "a bridge flies from north to south, and the natural moat turns into a thoroughfare". Different projects, the same grandeur, Looking at the beautiful scenery of the mountains, it is China, a mighty country!


We arrived in Zhaosu in the afternoon. We stayed at Jiangsu International Hotel, the best hotel in Zhaosu. After putting down our luggage, we drove to Tianma Cultural Park. As the name suggests, this place is for watching horses. I heard that a horse race was held two days ago. The tour guide introduced that there are many famous horses here, and they are worth a lot of money. Unfortunately, I have no research on horses. The host introduced many famous horses. I only remember the name of the bloody BMW.


We watched an equestrian show. For about an hour, the equestrians rode various famous horses and showed various horse actions. I don’t remember the names of the actions. Just look at the photos.



In addition to horse racing, here is actually a large pasture with a vast area. After arriving in Xinjiang, I was really impressed by the word "big". The place is big, the grassland is big, the sky is big, and even the clouds in the sky feel bigger. If you look up casually, there are big clouds. It seems that such clouds can't find a stretching sky in the city where they live. Once they spread out, they will touch the top of the building or the spire. Only here can they extend without any scruples. It doesn't matter if it takes up the entire sky. Looking at such a sky and such a meadow, my mood becomes more spacious.


We ate finger meat for dinner, drank beer and kavas, and it was already 11 o'clock when we got back to the hotel, and it was only dusk.


The fourth day's itinerary is Xiata. The understanding of Xiata is to search after returning. Xiata is the sound transmission of Mongolian "Shatu Aman", which means "stairs". It is the transportation from ancient Yili to Aksu The post station is a unique ancient cultural tourism area composed of mountain passes, ancient roads, ancient ruins, folk customs and natural landscapes.


To visit Xiata is also to take the shuttle bus, stopping at the Shengui Rock and Quicksand Waterfall on the way, and leave 20 minutes for each place to take pictures. I think, for a place like Siata, where one step and one scene is located, the name of the scenic spot can be ignored. Every mountain, every river, every tree, every stone, every flower and every grass are full of style.


After the minibus drove to the terminal, it returned the same way. If you want to go deeper, you can take a shuttle bus to a place close to the snow mountain. We didn’t find the bus stop for the shuttle bus at first, so we walked along the plank road for a while. The tour guide called back and found the shuttle bus. The staff looked at the sky and said that it was going to rain, so we stopped selling tickets. We thought we would continue walking for a while. After walking for a few minutes, the sky was covered with dark clouds and a strong wind blew up. The temperature dropped sharply, so we ran back quickly, and as soon as we jumped on the minibus for the return trip, big raindrops began to fall down. There were only three cars at the destination, and the late passengers had no car to get on, so they had to stand under the windy shelter for a while to avoid the wind and rain.


Although we got in the car, the car drove back halfway and stopped again. At this time, we saw that several trees on the side of the road were blown down by the wind, and the fallen trees were lying in the middle of the road. It was moved away, and there was a big one that couldn't be moved, blocking the driveway, our car couldn't pass, and the cars below couldn't get in, so we had to wait for rescue. At this time, the people in the car began to talk about it. Some people were sending messages to their companions down the mountain. After more than half an hour, the staff came with a chainsaw. They saw the tree with a chainsaw, moved it aside, cleared the driveway, and the car continued to drive slowly.


I didn't use a lot of pen and ink to paint the scenery during this journey, because the experience of the return journey left a deep impression on me. Shata is beautiful and picturesque. When we were laughing and taking pictures, who would have thought that the weather would change suddenly, and we might be trapped on the mountain. On the way back, I saw fallen trees on the side of the road through the car window. Some of them had grown for more than ten years or even decades, and fell down in such a gust of wind and rain. Fortunately, no vehicles were hit, otherwise there would definitely be a storm.


Human beings are really small and powerless in front of nature. Walking among the mountains and rivers and admiring the beautiful scenery is really the acceptance of nature for us. We should be grateful and in awe, cherish the environment, and let this gift continue.



Coming out of Shata, we headed to Turks County. Along the way, we heard that the hail had just returned, and there was snow on the road for a while. The main road to Turks was under construction, and we looked for another way, but we didn't expect to find a bright future in this search. We walked along a road in the mountains, and suddenly saw a large grassland, undulating with the mountains, lush and green, very eye-catching, with cattle and horses grazing on the grassland, leisurely and leisurely. I didn't see the name of this grassland on the map, and it's not a mainstream attraction yet, but its scenery is by no means inferior to other grasslands, and I think it will be developed soon. For us, this part of the journey is really a surprise!


When we arrived in Tekes County, we stayed at the Tianlu Hotel outside Bagua City. The hotel was in very good condition. Bagua City is a county built according to the direction of Bagua. In 2008, it was approved by the State Council as the fourth batch of historical and cultural cities. The city is not big, and the roads extend in all directions. My husband and I rode a shared bicycle from the periphery to the center of the city for about a quarter of an hour. There are many street stalls in the city. Everyone wanted to go in, but they had no choice but to click and stop. It turned out that the restaurants I chose at random tasted very good! Outside Bagua City is the Tekes River. It is very comfortable to take a walk by the river after dinner and enjoy the breeze. We stayed here for two nights and walked out every day.



From the fifth day to the end of the itinerary, it is the prairie.


We went to the three major grasslands in Xinjiang this time: Kalajun, Bayinbulak, and Nalati. Before we set off, we chose a itinerary and didn't think about it. When we arrived in Xinjiang, the tour guide said that you can do it, and saw all the three major grasslands at once. Indeed, it is more appropriate to choose 1-2 grasslands at a time, and 3 is a bit too much, but we can rest assured that we have come here, so we can simply watch it for fun!


The three major grasslands are well-deserved of their reputation. In June, the grass is green and the eyes are full of green. When you are in the sea of ​​grass, you can look at the trees in the distance, the small flowers in front of you, the cattle, horses and sheep grazing, and then look up at the endless blue sky and white clouds. , people are also floating up. There are not many tourists in June. When I walked to a place where there was no one around, I couldn't help but want to shout: the world is in my heart!


Then again, if I don't remember the scenic spots of each grassland, I just think about a sea of ​​grass, I can't tell which one is which, I feel that they are all big, vast, and beautiful! In order to write travel notes, I will describe them separately.


Kalajun Prairie is very close to Tekes County, less than an hour's drive. The grassland is very large, with an altitude of 1305-3957 meters, and it takes 8 hours to play all of it. The shuttle bus enters the sea of ​​flowers first, which is a large grassland, dotted with small flowers. The terminal is the Falcon Terrace, which is said to be a traditional Kazakh falcon training place, where you can see golden eagles. The mountains here are undulating, with mountains and green hills, and an open canyon can be seen in the distance. There are herdsmen herding horses on the grassland. It takes about 1 hour to walk to the Kurdai Forest Canyon from here, or you can choose to ride a horse. We didn't go when we saw that it was going to rain. These are the main scenic spots in East Kalajun. West Kalajun has the Kuokesu Grand Canyon. We didn’t go this time. Friends who have time can go and see it.



The Bayinbulak prairie is 2,500 meters above sea level. It is a good place to escape the summer heat. It takes 4-5 hours to drive from Tekes City. The Du River passes by, forming a wonderful scene of "nine bends and eighteen bends". Standing on the observation deck, the meandering river is quietly inlaid on the grassland, waiting for the passing travelers to stop and listen to her slowly telling an ancient story. s story. Occasionally, eagles can be seen lingering in the sky, swearing their territory, turning around a few times before our eyes and then slowly flying away.



Bayin’s shuttle bus has two stops. The terminal station is Jiuqu 18 Bends. It will stop at Swan Lake in the middle. Swan Lake is not actually a lake. Formed swampy wetlands. It is said that tens of thousands of swans and more than 120 species of waterfowl fly here every year. The scene is very spectacular. We may not have seen many swans, but we have seen many red-billed gulls. Hanging around us is really cute.


The Bayin Grassland is rich in water, rich in pastures, and well-developed animal husbandry. We saw large flocks of sheep along the way, or the unique black-headed sheep here. The sheep are painted with colors. I guess it may be to distinguish them. The herdsmen wear thick robes and ride horses. It was raining outside, and the weather was cold. I was sitting in the car, thinking about how hard and monotonous the life of a herdsman was, and at the same time, I was thinking about how much a sheep would cost, how many sheep there were in such a large flock, how much it would cost, and how much labor would be required. , So I did the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division all the way.



The Nalati Prairie should be the first grassland to be developed, and it is also the most familiar grassland. It takes more than an hour to drive from Bayin to Nalati. These two grasslands usually play together. Our weather in Nalati is the best, the sky is clear and the sun is shining, so we will stay here the longest.


Nalati's shuttle bus stops for three stops, the air grassland, the sea of ​​flowers, and the nomads. The grassland in the sky is the grassland on the mountain. I think the grassland on the mountain that I saw a few days ago can also be called the grassland in the sky. The terminal nomad's house is a tourist center, which shows the traces of nomads' migration on the grassland. It is called "the open-air museum of Kazakh intangible cultural heritage". After arriving at the nomad's house, you can choose to take a minibus and continue to drive for 20 minutes , arrived at the snow lotus valley at the foot of the snow mountain, and we couldn't get close to the snow mountain in Xiata, so we can't miss it this time.


Snow Lotus Valley has a beautiful name and beautiful scenery. You can see the snow-capped mountains at close range. The snow melted from the snow accumulated over the years on the mountain forms a small stream, which runs down the mountain road. Small stones, some have been polished smooth. Looking up at the snow-capped mountains, it is holy and lofty, and looking back, the mountains spread out, and the Nalati grassland can be seen vaguely, like a beauty revealing her face from behind layers of veils, a glimpse of it is fascinating.


Returning from Snow Lotus Valley, we will stop at Tiancheng Terrace. With the implication of good things coming from nature, we also took photos at this viewing platform. This platform is a good place to watch pine trees. Originally, the pine forests we saw on the grasslands are far away. Here, you can touch them with your hands, or look far away, and experience the magnificence of "extremely clear and comfortable".



Back to the nomad's house, take the shuttle bus back to the starting point, our trip this time is basically over. I still have more ideas, and I have to return. There is a section of Duku Highway between Bayin and Nalati. Many tourists come to Xinjiang just to take this road. It snowed before we came, and most of the Duku Highway was closed. We were lucky enough to walk a short distance. Duku has been a year It will only be open for 3-4 months. If it snows, the road may be closed to clear the snow. It is best to come when the weather is hot. I recommend July-August. Friends who have plans can get ready.


Finally, here are some tips:


1 Time difference and climate

Xinjiang uses Beijing time, and the schedule is almost two hours later than that in the mainland. Hotel breakfast usually starts at 8:30, and 7:30 is considered early, so some hotels will have a problem. Before 8:30 in the morning, the restaurant entrance is full of people, and people rush in as soon as they open the door. Bo’s breakfast was sold out in one go, and those who went in late waited for the next wave of food to be replenished next to the empty plate, and hotels that did not supply fast enough had to wait for a while. The sunset time in the evening is after 10 o'clock, and many scenic spots can be opened until 8 o'clock, which is convenient for tourists who arrive at 3-4 o'clock in the afternoon to visit, and have dinner at 8 o'clock and watch the sunset.


In June, Xinjiang began to usher in the peak season. There are more people in summer, and the price also rises accordingly. When we came here, the urban area of ​​Xinjiang was relatively sunny. The climate of the plateau scenic spot is changeable, and sunscreen and rain gear must be brought. We have experienced sunny, windy, rainy, hail, and if it rains on the grassland, there is no place to hide. Rain gear is useless if you encounter heavy rain. Wear short sleeves when the sun is out, it will cool down when it rains, and you can wear thin down. It doesn’t rain all the time here. It comes in bursts. Most of the time we played was sunny or cloudy. Several times it rained in the car or at night. It didn’t affect much at all. Just be mentally prepared.


2 Transportation and accommodation

The greatness of Xinjiang can be fully reflected in the car ride. We have to drive for several hours every day, at least 3-4 hours, and at most 9 hours. We arrive at the attractions every day as early as noon, and as late as 3-4 pm.


Let’s talk about epidemic prevention again. Before departure, it’s best to understand the control measures. Generally, you can’t go to medium and high-risk areas. When you go to low-risk areas in Xinjiang, you need to test the nucleic acid on the ground. We tested a total of 3 times this time. When entering Yili, and when entering Tekes County, the policies of different places are different, and the number of tests is uncertain. There are road inspections from time to time along the drive. Generally, it depends on the traffic big data (green arrow), and some need to register an ID card.


The hotel conditions that Ctrip helped us arrange for us are all in good condition. The names have been written above. Friends who need it can refer to it for reservation. This time we stopped in Urumqi, Zhaosu County, and Tekes County. There are supermarkets in the urban areas, and there is no problem in buying daily necessities.


3 diet

Xinjiang cuisine has its own style. We ate barbecue, mutton soup, meatball soup, large plate chicken, shelf meat, noodles, pilaf, naan, various small stir-fries, and most of the side dishes of stir-fried dishes will put onions (locally called Pi Yazi) , green and red peppers, and various spices, the taste is heavy. We ate wherever we went along the way. We didn't choose a particular restaurant, and the taste was good. The most special food, there are two kinds, one is noodle lung, it looks like a potato, and it tastes like a potato, but it is actually a lamb lung, and the same is a slice of lamb chops, the portion is too big, we ordered a small portion, Serve a pot, it is definitely a big portion for us.


I think the biggest difference between eating Xinjiang cuisine locally and abroad is that the local ingredients are fresh, whether the meat is fried, roasted or stewed, it is very tender and has no smell. There is also a special drink "Kavas" that you can try. It is a fermented drink with a fresh taste and can be bought everywhere. In terms of food prices, the county town is cheap, while the scenic spots are expensive. We have two meals a day for a few days. We eat breakfast late, and then go to the scenic spot. It is noon or afternoon when we arrive at the scenic spot. Bring some dry food and go back to the county town to eat dinner.


This time I have a little regret that I didn’t eat a lot of fruits. The seasonal fruits in June are flat peaches and apricots. After another month or two, watermelons, grapes, cantaloupe and other fruits will be on the market in large quantities. Good foodies can wait until Go again in August-September for a real treat.


Finally, a wave of gourmet pictures will be released to end this travel note. I hope to go to Kanas Hemu in the next trip, and take a look at the fairy tale forest in autumn and the Populus euphratica forest. The beautiful Xinjiang, goodbye!