Kuerdening, Xinjiang | The Spruce Kingdom Deep in the Tianshan Mountains, a Lost Fairyland

| The Spruce Kingdom Deep in the Tianshan Mountains, a Lost Fairyland. 📍 Basic Information Tickets: CNY 60/person (peak season), shuttle bus CNY 48/person. Private cars are allowed into the scenic area (hiking required on some sections). Opening Hours: Open all day. Recommended visit time: 1–2 days. 🚗 Transportation Guide 1. Main Transportation Plane: Fly to Yining Airport, then take a chartered car/drive to Kuerdening (approx. 3-hour drive). Train: Urumqi → Yining Station (approx. 5 hours), then transfer to a bus. 2. Driving Route From Yining: Yining → Gongliu County → Mohur Township → Kuerdening Scenic Area (approx. 180 km). Road Conditions: Mostly mountain roads. SUV recommended; snow chains required in winter. 3. Public Transportation Yili Prefecture Bus Station → Gongliu County (bus approx. 2 hours), Gongliu County Bus Station → Kuerdening Scenic Area (1–2 buses daily). 🌈 Best Season and Highlights Season Core Experience Recommended Activities May–June Grassland wildflowers in full bloom (trollius, iris), snow mountain meltwater streams Wildflower photography, light hiking July–August Spruce forest lush and dense, summer retreat (average daily temperature 20°C) Forest camping, stream tracing September–October Autumn colors, layered forests, snow mountains and colorful forests in the same frame Hiking and sightseeing, stargazing December–March Snow-covered forest, tranquil fairytale world Snow hiking, forest snowfield photography 📸 Must-Visit Attractions and Photo Spots 1. Kabanbayi Peak Highlight: Famous snow peak in the Tianshan Mountains, overlooking the spruce forest and valley. Photography: Use a telephoto lens to capture the layers of the snow mountain and valley. The misty clouds at sunrise are the most stunning. 2. Da Mohe Gully Highlight: Valley streams flowing through the spruce forest, cattle and sheep scattered like an oil painting. Photography: Use a slow shutter speed to capture the atomization effect of the stream. Have people stand on the wooden bridge (wide-angle, low angle). 3. Qimengde Viewing Platform Highlight: 360° panoramic view, snow mountains/spruce trees/grassland in the same frame. Route: Hike or ride a horse (approx. 2 hours), crossing through the primeval forest along the way. 4. Wuling Ridge Highlight: Overlooking the entire Kuerdening area, high probability of sunrise and sea of clouds. Tips: Need to get up early, prepare warm clothing and a tripod. 5. Spruce King Highlight: Giant snow ridge spruce with a tree age of over 300 years and a diameter of 2m+. Composition: Have people stand under the tree to compare the size of the giant tree, and shoot the crown of the tree with light. 🏠 Accommodation Recommendations Inside the Scenic Area: Wooden cabins (approx. CNY 400–800/night, snow mountains visible from the window). Tent camp (open in summer, experience sleeping under the stars). Surrounding Area: Gongliu County hotels (budget-friendly, 1.5-hour drive). Tekes/Xinyuan County (choose when visiting Kalajun/Nalati along the way). ⚠ Precautions Safety Protection: No signal in some sections. Download offline maps in advance. Wear non-slip shoes and bring hiking poles for hiking. Environmental Protection Guidelines: Do not cut down or damage spruce trees, and do not litter. Do not drive on the grassland. Drive on designated routes. Weather Response: The weather in the mountains is changeable. Prepare a windbreaker/raincoat and mosquito repellent in summer. Respect Customs: Do not photograph herders and livestock without permission. Obtain consent before entering the grassland. Drones: Need to be reported in advance to take aerial shots of the spruce forest and valley curves. Filters: ND filter (slow shutter stream), CPL polarizing filter (reduces reflections from leaves).