The most beautiful places in Ili you should not miss during summer

Ili is known as “a place with south China scenery.” Its grasslands contain various kinds of meadows from alpine meadows, upland meadows, to mountainous grasslands, desert plains, and river valley meadows. But not only are there well-known grasslands like the Nalati Grassland, Karajun Grassland, and Ku’erdening Grassland among others, there are many other remote and primitive grasslands like Kongdunasu, which are equally beautiful.

The months between June and September each year are always the most beautiful season for all the grasslands in Ili. As temperatures rise, snow gives way to lush carpets of new grass that soon fertilize oceans of flowers. The layer of the green grass stretches up along the beautiful winding mountains and deep into the spruce forests. It also helps breed a variety of wild flowers and provides feed for cattle, sheep, and horses that return every year to the grasslands to graze at their leisure. Herdsmen gallop their horses up and down the grasslands.

In addition to these, vast expanses of rape flowers are in full bloom in Zhaosu County from mid to late July to August. Tens of thousands of acres of rape flowers are miraculously transformed into a golden sea, spreading all the way to the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Zhaosu is also the hometown of the Ili heavenly steed. Here, visitors can experience the thrill of seeing water spraying up from a herd of horses running through the river as well as the spectacular view of horses galloping down the hillside.

01. Sayram Lake

Sayram Lake, renowned as a pearl on the mountain, is the largest and highest alpine lake in Xinjiang. The water in the lake is clear and peaceful, attracting flocks of ducks and swans. Flourishing cedar trees cover the whole mountain. It's most attractive with its breathtaking scenery, including dazzling sapphire-like lake, verdant forests, snow-capped peaks, thriving grassland, and most charming wild flowers if you visit in late spring to early autumn.

02. Nalati Grassland

Nalati Grassland is Xinjiang’s top grassland, where river valleys, mountains, deep gorges, and forests form a natural summer resort. From June to September, the vast expanse of lush grassland is dotted with colorful wild flowers. The surrounding snow mountains, white clouds, blue sky make this grassland more charming. Thus, this period is the best time to visit this wonderland. Many activities are held in this ‘Cradle of Kazaks’. The hospitable Kazak herdsmen receive guests with their particular custom and culture.

03. Qiongkushitai Village

Qiongkushitai is 90 kilometers away from Tekes County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. It is a mysterious place hidden in the mountains and the starting point of the Wusun Ancient Road. The Kurdai River valley is wide and the water flows continuously throughout the year. Qiongkushitai ravines are vertical and horizontal, and it is quite masculine in the grassland. Under the blue sky and white clouds, there are silver snow-capped mountains, dark green cedar forests, light cyan grasslands and colorful flowers. Several colors are distinct and harmonious, forming a natural picture scroll.

04. Kalajun Grassland

Kalajun Grassland has the most graceful curves. The vast grasslands are like rolling ocean waves. Colorful flowers bloom everywhere. It enjoys dense forests, gorgeous canyons, snow peaks, charming rivers, etc., as well as tessellated meadow. It was praised as The Rare Natural High-quality Prairie in The World and The Grassland in the Clouds.

The Karajun Trail is the most beautiful route in the Tianshan Mountains because of its beautiful scenery and low hiking difficulty. The trail from Ku’erdening to Qiongkushitai is 120 kilometers long, and it generally takes 6-7 days to complete a thru-hike. On the way the hikers will pass vast expanses of grasslands, dense forests and deep valleys, the essence of the Ili grasslands.

05. Xiata

Xiata is a valley 70km southwest of Zhaosu County, It's the site of ancient trail connecting Ili and Aksu region.This trail was one of the important routes on ancient Silk Road. Xiata is a dream pasture under the snowy peaks of icebergs. In the distance lies the mighty Muzhalte Snow Mountain. The Turks River tumbles down from the snowy mountains. Traditional Kazakh herders still take their herds to graze this vast grassland.

06. Huocheng Lavender Garden

Huocheng county is located in the north west of Xinjiang, the western part of Tianshan Mountain, and the northwest of Yili valley, it is the largest area of lavender grown in China. Huocheng is at the same latitude as Provence, France, which is renowned as the world's lavender capital. This gives the county similar climatic conditions and makes it the third largest lavender planting base in the world after Provence and Furano in Japan.

A variety of colorful flowers are planted in a stripe shape in the beautiful flower field. Among the flower fields, it has some decorations such as scarecrows, colorful flowers, windmills, sculptures, etc. The whole scene is very romantic and suitable for photography.

07. Tangbula Grassland

Tangbula grassland has natural landscape that collects forests, grasslands, streams, mountain and stones forests.

Tangbula Grasslands actually is collectively referred to the valley and grassland along the upstream of Kashgar River. Tracing up the Kashgar River from Nileke County, the upland meadows and grasslands in the valley on both sides of river is known collectively as Tangbula Grasslands. It is said that there are in total 113 valleys in this place, and each of them has its own unique highlight. Meandering streams, warm hot spring, peculiar stone forest, spectacular prairie sunset, snow-covered snow mountains and other special scenes attracts tourists from all over the world.