Every city has its own mother river, and the "Chapu River" in Xinyuan County is a river of life flowing down from the snow-capped mountains. Go upstream along the Chap River, hike on both sides of the river valley, and appreciate the original ecological beauty that nature has left for the river. Before setting off, I searched for the relevant strategy information of "Qapu River Baigou Scenic Area" on the Internet, but there are very few references, which may not be as popular as the attention of major scenic spots like Nalati in Xinyuan County. When I arrived in Xinyuan County, I even called the Tourism Bureau to consult with the relevant personnel, but I couldn't tell a thing or two. It is such a very inconspicuous tourist spot, only locals know to drive to this extremely remote place for leisure and vacation during weekends or holidays. But for me, a backpacker without a car, it is definitely an unforgettable experience.
"Qapu River Baigou Scenic Area" is located at the southern end of Xinyuan County. I took a taxi from the city to a small hydropower station at the entrance. Because the road conditions were extremely bad, the driver refused to go there. I paid 30 RMB and started the walking tour. The small power station is vertically on the Chapu River, a bridge connects the two banks, and the dirt road leading to Baigou is on the right. It is about 20 kilometers away from here to Baigou, and the road is probably uphill all the way. It was 2 o'clock in the afternoon when we arrived, and there was no one on the road at the moment. I walked along the rugged mountain road, and saw horses grazing quietly on the side of the road, the stream in the mountain was flowing continuously, and the treetops in the forest had already been dyed golden by the autumn colors. Everything I saw around It looks so quiet and beautiful. Occasionally, one or two motorcycles pass by, which is probably the main means of transportation for the Kazakhs here. The more you go in, the more charming the scenery is. The narrow walls on both sides of the river are facing each other. Thousands of mountains and birds are flying, and thousands of miles of people have no shadows. I enjoy walking in the picturesque original ecological world alone.
The pictures created by the matching of nature are so coordinated, exuding a kind of original ecology and fresh beauty, which cannot be described in words. The autumn sunshine is so soft and contagious, covering the mountains and land with golden yellow clothes. Unknowingly, I walked in this beautiful picture for almost two hours, and came to a three-way intersection at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The trail on the right is estimated to go to the main scenic spot of Baigou, which is the location of Xinyuan Forest Farm. There were no road signs on the side of the road, so I had to stop a motorcycle heading up the main road to inquire. Unfortunately, the owner of the car was vague and not very clear. It was almost evening at this moment, considering that it was getting late in the mountains early, and there was no mobile phone signal here. If you continue to walk in, you don't know how many kilometers are left, not to mention that it is difficult to meet people on the road. At this time, the temperature in the mountains begins to drop, and the cold wind is blowing. For the sake of safety, I had no choice but to withdraw my troops here and go back home.
On the way back, a small car came bumping all the way, and I hurriedly signaled to stop. The enthusiastic Kazakh young man motioned for me to get in the car. The young man is a doctor who works in a hospital near the county seat. Today he is going home to move things. Through the conversation, it happened that his father and his elder brother's family lived in a yurt not far from Sanchakou. Most of the Kazakhs make a living by grazing animals. If they had met the young man earlier, they would have known it by heart. The snow-capped mountains above can be crossed to the Nalati Grassland on foot. It is a very attractive route. Leave some reverie next time to find a young man's family to lead the way on foot.
The three-day and two-night itinerary in Xinyuan County is over. The beautiful scenery of the small Xinyuan County is everywhere, and it is pleasing to take pictures casually. The original plan was to take a car from Xinyuan County to the Bayinbulak Prairie, but unfortunately the road was closed due to snow and it was impossible to go there. Temporarily changed from Nalati Airport to take a plane to Korla, the second largest city in Xinjiang. At this time, the two Populus euphratica forest spots around Korla are catching up with the most beautiful season.
