Bayanbulak Grassland

Chinese Name: 巴音布鲁克草原 （Ba Yin Bu Lu Ke Cao Yuan)
Location: Northwest of Hejing County, Bayinguoleng Prefecture, Xinjiang.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY65.00, sightseeing bus CNY90.00
Estimated tour time: 5-7 hours
Recommended time to visit: Jun to Aug.
Nearby attractions: Nalati Tourism Scenic Area, Kuqu Grand Canyon, Tangbula Grassland, Duku Highway, etc.

Bayanbulak Grassland National Nature Reserve is the second largest grassland in China, located in the Bayanbulak Basin of the Tian Shan mountains in northwest China.The terrain is mostly flat, and encompasses a middle section of the Kaidu River. The reserve is 200 km northwest of Korla in the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The Bayanbulak Basin is an intermontane valley of the basin-and-range of the Tian Shan mountains, to the north of the Tarim Basin. The total area of grassland is 23,835 km2 , of which the reserve itself covers 1,486 km2. The Kaidu River runs from west to east through the area, at times meandering and leaving cutoff lakes, and is fed from streams from the high ranges of the Tian Shan to the north and south. The rivers are meandering and braided over gravel beds.

Bayinbuluke Grassland – Bayinbuluke Grassland is the second largest grassland in China encompassing an area of 23,000 sq km. Bayanbulak means "rich spring" in Tibetan.

It's a verdant mountains basin surrounding by Tianshan and there are dense virgin forest, grassland, blooming flowers and cool and refreshing mountain spring lake. The snowy mountains encircle each other with terrain ups and downs, aquatic plants beautiful are attractive scenery. Every summer, the wild flowers in full bloom, high-quality “ghee grass” is green. Herds of cattle, sheep, horses, yaks, camels roam on the green grass, the scene was spectacular.

The Kaidu River in the reserve is famous for its "nine turns and eighteen bends" view and is a wonderful place to watch the sunset.As a high-altitude marshland, the reserve is an important breeding and staging ground for birds and waterfowl, and is the highest-altitude breeding ground for swans in the world. The area has been designated an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area by Birdlife International.

At the center of the reserve is "Swan Lake", a connected series of wetlands, which was designated in 1980 as the "Bayanbulak Swan Nature Reserve" by the Xinjiang government, and upgraded in 1986 to a "National Swan Reserve" by the government of China.

This habitat area has a lake named Swan Lake. Swan Lake is actually composed of many series of large area of lake swamp; it is the first swan nature reserve in China. Reserve spread rich grass, with wet climate and beautiful landscapes. Here is the home to the largest populations of wild swans, is breeding place of birds and the summer habitat.

Bayanbulak Grassland is inhabited by the Han, Tibetan, Kazakh and other nine nationalities.They have bright and colorful ethnic customs.Every year,the famous nadam fair is held on Jun 4-6 of the lunar calendar in Bayanbulak Grassland.

During this period, a large number of tourists enter Bayinbuluke prairie, enjoy the joy on the prairie.Vistors can enjoy the horse racing, wrestling, race sheep, yak race, national costumes and traditional folk dance performances during the festival. There are also many local specialties during the festival like whole roasted lamb, barbecue, pilaf, noodles, baked buns, Bayinbuluke tea.