sneak peek
It has always been a dream of mine to take the Duku Highway in Xinjiang, but what I didn’t expect was that this dream would come true after 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the process was full of twists and turns, it finally turned around and ended perfectly.
It is said that one day in April 2020, I chatted with my friends, and my friend introduced a photography studio with a trip to the library in June. The photography teacher led the team, small cars, 3 people per car, and the total number of people did not exceed 9 people. These keywords He grabbed me firmly and signed up without hesitation. However, in June, due to the needs of epidemic prevention and control, Xinjiang imposed various travel restrictions on people from outside Xinjiang. When it seemed that they had to give up this trip, they turned around and finally boarded the plane to Urumqi. .
D1, 2020.6.19 Shanghai-Urumqi Stay at Tarim Petroleum Hotel
At Hongqiao Airport, after checking the Shanghai health code and communication big data itinerary card, they took the Juneyao Airlines flight HO1255 after checking the green code. It took off from Hongqiao Airport at 9:50 on time and arrived at Urumqi Airport at 15:15.
Check in to Tarim Petroleum Hotel
D2, Urumqi International Grand Bazaar Stay at Tarim Petroleum Hotel
Because the Xinjiang government stipulates that all personnel from outside Xinjiang must have an antibody test report when entering Xinjiang's major scenic spots, so early this morning, I went to the People's Liberation Army Air Force Hospital next door for an antibody test. Due to the large number of testers, the report will not be available until evening get it.
At noon, I ate at "Xiaogazi" next to the hotel. "Xiaogazi" is a well-known chain hotel in Xinjiang, and the environment has strong characteristics of the Western Regions
Grilled buns, naan, lamb kebabs, noodles, these well-known specialties all want to try. The dishes here are delicious and the portions are large, especially the Kazakh milk tea, which is mellow and rich. It is a big pot and the price is not expensive.
In the next few days, this place will become our canteen, as long as we are in Urumqi, we will eat here.
The sun here is very sunny, rest in the hotel in the afternoon, and go to the International Grand Bazaar at around 17:00.
Get out of the hotel, take Metro Line 1 and get on at Sports Center Station
The subway platform is very new, and it is not the rush hour now, and the cars are very empty
Get off at Erdaoqiao Station, and the International Grand Bazaar is not far away.
Urumqi International Grand Bazaar is the largest grand bazaar in the world. It integrates Islamic culture, architecture, ethnic commerce, entertainment and catering. It is a gathering place and exhibition center for Xinjiang tourism products.
Naan Museum
Various types of naan
cute bauble
tribal instrument
The weather is hot, and the sales of ice cream made on site are booming
At this time, music sounded in the square, and the Xinjiang people who were good at singing and dancing started dancing one after another, and the scene was joyous and peaceful.
We played until 8 o'clock in the evening, and the sun was still high, but considering tomorrow's schedule, we reluctantly left.
D3, 2020.6.21 Urumqi-Salimu Lake Surrounding Lake Shooting-Guozigou Bridge Sunset Stay in a hotel near Sailimu Lake
After breakfast at the hotel, our 7-person team took 2 cars and headed towards Sailimu Lake.
Sailimu Lake is located in the North Tianshan Mountains in Bole City, Boertala Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. The lake is 2,071 meters above sea level. It is the highest, largest and beautiful alpine lake in Xinjiang.
Sailimu Lake is also the last place favored by the warm and humid Atlantic air, so there is a saying of "the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean".
Various travel photos
Cute girl looking for white stones by the lake
Swan Lake
The Guozigou Bridge is located on the Guozigou Canyon, and its bridge deck is about 180 meters away from the bottom of the valley. It is one of the main components of the Lianyungang-Horgos Expressway and an important livelihood project in Xinjiang.
The majestic Guozigou Bridge in the sunset
D4, 2020.6.22 Sunrise at Sailimu Lake - Huocheng Lavender Flower Field - Kalajun Prairie (Kuokesu Canyon and Small Nine and Eighteen Bends, Crocodile Bay, Human Grassland, Grassland Starry Sky) Live in Kalajun Grassland Kazakhstan Shepherd's cabin
In the early morning, we came to Sailimu Lake again. The weather was very cold, and there was a layer of white frost on the boardwalk, which was very slippery. We climbed up a hillside and waited quietly for the sunrise.
Gradually, the rising sun lights up the snow-capped mountains by the lake, making the lake surface red
Finally, the whole lake is immersed in the warm sunshine, quiet and beautiful
Back to the hotel after breakfast, depart for Huocheng lavender field
Jieyou Princess Lavender Herb Garden is located in Qingshuihe Town, Huocheng County, Ili, Xinjiang, an important town on the North Road of the ancient Silk Road. It is located in the Ili River Valley at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. It is very similar to the geographical location, climatic conditions and soil environment of Provence, France, the world-famous lavender producing area. Therefore, Jieyou Princess Lavender Garden is the first in China to bring together lavender introduction and seedling cultivation, standardized planting, production and processing. and other themed tourism industrial parks.
As soon as you enter the lavender garden, the endless purple and the faint scent of lavender give people a strong sensory stimulation. The lavender in Ili is the third largest lavender planting base in the world after Provence in France and Furano in Japan. It is naturally carved, Unpretentious, pure original ecology
The lavender harvester is working. The workers said that because of the epidemic this year, there are a lot fewer tourists, so they simply harvested earlier to refine lavender essential oil.
At noon, the sun was very hot, so we rushed to the next destination, which was also the focus of this trip - the Kalajun Grassland Scenic Area.
Today we will stay in the Kalajun Grassland for one night. To enter the scenic spot, we must take the sightseeing car of the scenic spot, so we sort out the toiletries tonight and bring them into the scenic spot.
Take the cruise ship first, and then we will take the sightseeing bus in the scenic spot after landing. The scenic spot car will stop at every scenic spot
Crocodile Bay, in order to punch in this scenic spot, climbing up and down the steps is really hard
crocodile bay
"Kalajun" is a Kazakh language, which means "wilderness on the ridge". The Kalajun grassland is located between 2000-3600 meters above sea level. It is an alpine meadow pasture. The precipitation here is rich and the soil is fertile, which is very suitable for the growth of grass. .
The top of Kala Jun Mountain is a high platform landform that slopes to the south in one piece, with luxuriant grass, like a stretched blue carpet, spreading to the foot of the snow-covered mountain. Experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations made a special trip to investigate and believed that the Kalajun Grassland is a rare first-class natural grassland in the world.
Kuokesu River Small Nine Twists and Eighteen Bends
Every year from mid-June to mid-September is the golden season in Kalajun. At this time, about 200,000 livestock in Tekes, Gongliu and other counties come here to escape the summer heat and catch fat. Breeding sheep also use this place as a place to spend summer.
The pure and beautiful pasture with the texture of Kalajun flannelette, the naturally formed ravines outline this calm meadow like the undulating waves of the sea, adding a dynamic beauty to this prairie, known as "the most beautiful grassland with human body"
Have you seen the "beauty waist"? The Kalajun Grassland has soft lines and regular ups and downs, so enchanting and charming, with various styles, and the uncanny workmanship of nature is amazing.
The horse galloped past and swept up a cloud of dust, which attracted everyone to clap wildly
The shooting was fun, and the sun also fell behind the mountain. We took the scenic car to the cableway station, and took the cableway to cross the Kuokesu Canyon
Spectacular Kok Suk Canyon
Since the off-duty time of the scenic spot has passed, the sightseeing car in the scenic spot has been out of service. We can only ask the owner of the inn to pick us up. The car drives us to the depths of the Kalajun grassland. It feels like it has been driving for a long time at least It took half an hour to reach the herdsman's cabin.
Although I was mentally prepared for the difficult accommodation conditions tonight, the situation at the scene still felt that I had exceeded my ability to bear it. We 5 women slept in a small wooden cabin. There was no bed but a large bunk with a floor on the floor. Thin carpets, piles of mattresses and quilts piled up in the corner, whether it is clean or not is no longer considered, there is no electricity here, only the herdsmen go to send a little electricity during dinner, so it is not eating in the dark.
That is because it is extremely original and there is no light pollution, so there is a beautiful starry sky here. At 12:30 in the middle of the night, we took pictures of the starry sky under the leadership of the photography teacher. Looking up at the sky, the stars are shining, and a Milky Way hangs in the sky. The Milky Way was not photographed, but the Milky Way tonight has been engraved in my heart.
Lay down in your clothes tonight, and tomorrow will be an even better day.
D5, 2020.6.23 Kalajun Grassland - Qiongkushitai Village Live in a log cabin in Qiongkushitai Village
Get up at 6 o'clock to shoot Kala Jun in the morning light
The day of the Kazakh herdsmen starts with milking the cows. In the golden morning light, the scenery is so beautiful. In front of this scenery, all the hardships of last night are just clouds.
On the green carpet-like grassland, Kazakh herdsmen’s yurts are dotted among them, bursts of cooking smoke are floating, and the warm sunlight shines on the ground to form mottled light and shadows. All this is really beautiful
Horses, cattle, and sheep are scattered freely on the grassland, eating grass and drinking water in a peaceful environment
This is the cabin we stayed in last night
We are happy at the foot of Tianshan Mountain
After breakfast, we went down the mountain and came to East Kalajun. There are Huahua Terrace, Falcon Terrace and other scenic spots, but we have seen such beautiful scenery before, so there is no such conventional tourist attraction for us. The attractiveness, so everyone agreed to take the scenic spot sightseeing bus directly out of the scenic spot. Then take our car again and go to the village of Qiongkushitai.
Qiongkushitai Village is located in Karadala Township, Tekes County. It is a herding village with more than 300 households and 1,700 people. The residents in the village are mainly Kazakhs.
The village is surrounded by mountains, and the houses are built along the water. Most of the houses are wooden structures. Most of the village entrances are wooden inns for tourists.
When I arrived at the cabin in Qiongkushitai Village that day, I quickly took a shower and changed into clean clothes, because it was raining and I didn't take a good stroll in the village.
D6, 2020.6.24 Qiongkushitai Village Tekes County Live in Tekes County
In the early morning, we came to the back mountain of Qiongkushitai Village, where we can overlook the panorama of Qiongkushitai Village
Qiongkushitai Village is a paradise deep in the grasslands of the Tianshan Mountains. It is also known as the Little Oriental Switzerland. Kazakh herdsmen have settled here for generations. It is located deep in the mountains with inconvenient transportation and few tourists.
It was already dawn, and our destination today is Turks County. We stopped when we saw a good view along the way, and took pictures while walking.
In Xinjiang, the best scenery is always on the road
"heart" shaped highway
D7, 2020.6.25 Bayinbulak, Tekes County Live in Bayinbulak Hotel
After breakfast, drive to Bayinbulak, go south along the most beautiful road connecting the north and south Xinjiang - the Duku Highway, and stop at suitable places along the way
Kunes River Valley, where the primeval forest is densely covered with the most beautiful spruce
Does this spruce look like a cockscomb?
When I came to Bayinbulak, I met the unique sheep here. These sheep have black heads and white bodies, commonly known as "Obama sheep".
Finally arrived in Bayinbulak, checked into the hotel at the entrance of the scenic spot, and after putting down our luggage, we went to the restaurant of the hotel for lunch. We ordered Obama mutton soup and a vegetable. After eating and resting for a while, we gathered and bought tickets to enter the scenic spot, and sat in the scenic spot After a short stop by the Swan Lake, the battery car came to the "Nine Curves and Eighteen Bends"
The Bayinbulak Grassland is mainly located in Bayingoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang and Bayinbulak District in the northwest of Jingxian County. Bayinbulak Mongolian means "rich spring" - rich spring water. It is an alpine basin in the middle of the Tianshan Mountains. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the altitude is about 2500 meters
The grassland is flat and rich in water and grass. It is a typical grass meadow grassland and one of the most important animal husbandry bases in Xinjiang.
The Kaidu River with its "nine bends and eighteen bends" nourishes the prairie and nurtures generations of life on the prairie. In order to capture the charming sunset of "nine bends and eighteen bends", we occupied favorable terrain early and set up a tripod to wait. with.
The weather is strong today and gave us a perfect sunset
When the sun sets on the river, the other side of the sky shows a charming rose red, which is so beautiful against the snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and rivers. All this is so exciting
This charming rose red only lasts for a few minutes, but it is this short few minutes that fascinates and obsesses all the people at the scene.
The staff of the scenic spot are urging loudly, "The last scenic spot car is about to leave, please get on the car immediately", reluctantly taking a last photo
D8, 2020.6.26 Bayinbulak Duku Highway Kuitun Living in Kuitun
Photographers are always early, and the charming light and shadow in the morning sun are unwilling to give up no matter what, not to mention the morning fog today
The swans swam freely, and the marmots also got out of their holes and poked their heads out. It's just a pity that the focal length is too short.
Standing in a line, approaching the marmots quietly
The grassland smoked again, and the shepherd dog looked at us vigilantly
Suddenly it came towards us. At first, I was a little scared. It turned out that it asked us to beg for food, so I gave it the packed breakfast-eggs and ham sausage
our car
Today we will go north along the Duku Highway, take pictures while walking, and experience the unique charm of this highway
Du (Shanzi) Kuqa (vehicle) Highway, that is, Dushanzi to Kuqa section of National Highway 217. It starts from Dushanzi District of Karamay City in the north, runs through the north and south of Tianshan Mountains, and connects to Kuqa City in Aksu Prefecture in the south, with a total length of 561 kilometers. Because more than half of its area spans the high mountains, crosses the deep river gorge, and connects many minority-inhabited areas, it was selected as "the landscape avenue running through the backbone of Tianshan Mountain" by National Geographic.
Gradually entering the summer, the herdsmen on the grassland began to shear the thick wool for the sheep
tie your feet
When I started shearing the sheep, I felt that the sheep were so innocent and their eyes were so helpless
you're done
The Qiaoerma Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery is located in Qiaoerma, Nilek County, Ili Prefecture, Xinjiang, beside the 217 National Highway deep in the Tianshan Mountains.
The majestic Tianshan Mountains divide Xinjiang into two parts, north and south. In the past, it took at least 4 days for vehicles to travel between the north and the south. After the founding of New China, the Duku Highway Project was officially launched on April 21, 1974. Duku Highway is located in the middle section of the Tianshan Mountains, crossing the four ice Dabans of Hasilegen, Yuximolegai, Laerdun, and Tielimaiti, and crossing the Kuitun River, Kashgar River, Gongnasi River, and Bayingoleng River The five main rivers of the Tianshan Mountains, the Kuche River and the Kuqa River, run through the famous alpine grassland in my country - the Bayinbulak Grassland. The People's Liberation Army invested 13,000 troops. It took ten years and the Duku Highway was finally completed in August 1983.
Its connection has shortened the distance between the north and the south of Xinjiang by nearly half from the original 1,000 kilometers, which can be regarded as a monument in the history of China's highway construction. At that time, in order to build this road, tens of thousands of officers and soldiers struggled for 10 years, and 168 of them gave their precious lives.
Chen Jungui, a veteran who participated in the construction at that time, never forgets his friendship with the sacrificed soldiers. He volunteered for decades and became the "Moving Chinese Person of 2013" by CCTV. Now Chen Jungui is a volunteer commentator of the memorial hall. Tourists tell stories about the Duku Highway.
Now Qiaoerma is already a business card of Duku Highway, the base of patriotic education in Xinjiang
Chen Jungui and his wife signed books for tourists
Leaving Joelma we move on,
After passing Qiaoerma, there is a section of the most rugged section of the Duku Highway, and we have to hold our breath again and again because of the danger of the road.
One-third of the Duku Highway is a cliff, and one-fifth of the section is in the alpine permafrost, so the difficulty of driving can be imagined
long snow tunnel
The dangerous mountain on one side is covered with a net to prevent the stones from rolling down, and the other side is the cliff
The scenery along the Duku Highway can only be described as magical. The roads of Daban, snow-capped mountains, lakes, and clouds in the mountains will all make the journey on this road extraordinary.
After receiving the notice, the Duku Highway will be closed after 20:00 that night, so we speeded up and stayed in Kuitun that night.
D9, 2020.6.27 Kuitun-Urumqi Live in Tarim Petroleum Hotel
Because the Red Mountain Grand Canyon is not yet open to tourists, we will go back to Urumqi directly today. The trip should end here, but we decided to spend a day in Urumqi because we were too tired to go back to Shanghai.
Continue to "Xiao Gazi", goat's feet, mutton pilaf, air-dried fish, and finally bring naan and fruit tea back to Shanghai
D10, 2020.6.28 Urumqi-Shanghai
After breakfast at the hotel, I went to the supermarket near the hotel to buy red dates and candied fruit, which are special products in Xinjiang. Then I went to the airport and took the Juneyao Airlines HO1256, which took off on time at 16:15 and arrived at Hongqiao Airport at 21:00, ending this happy trip.
