Xinjiang | Duku Highway

"Crossing the Tianshan Mountains, connecting north and south" - Duku Highway Starting from Dushanzi in the north and ending in Kuche in the south, the highway is 560 km long, with thrilling and exciting roads all the way, making your adrenaline surge 【Transportation】 Option 1. Urumqi - Kuitun, take a taxi to Dushanzi (around 30 yuan) Option 2. Urumqi - Karamay, take a bus to Dushanzi (45 yuan/person, 2.5 hours) Option 3. Urumqi - Kuche, take a taxi to Kuche 517 Station (riding Duku in reverse) 【Opening hours】 Early June to early October each year, specific opening hours are subject to official announcements 【Cycling equipment】 Clothing: 3-in-1 windbreaker, light down jacket, sports trousers (2), sports shoes (2), cycling clothes (2), thick separate raincoats, shoe covers, socks (medium and long, two pairs each) Equipment: Headscarf, headlights (front/tail lights), mobile phone holder, cycling glasses/gloves (full finger thin and thick), knee pads Others: Thermos cup, toiletries bag, charger, power bank, ID card, sunscreen, other electronic devices 【Budget】 Car rental fee: 480~560 (within 8 days) Cross-city return fee 100 Food and accommodation: Breakfast and dinner plus lunch supplement 100~120 yuan/person/day, accommodation 100~150 yuan/person/night, depending on your budget Total budget 3000+, excluding transportation costs Day 1. Arrive in Dushanzi from all over the country, check in at the hotel, go to Dushanzi 517 Station to complete car rental procedures, understand road conditions, and plan your itinerary 【Duku Highway Museum】 Learn about the history of highway construction, the scenery along the way through the mountains, and feel the deep memories Tickets: Free (closed on Mondays) Opening hours: 9:30~19:30 Note: Explanation fee, opening hours change subject to museum notice 【Duku Gifts】 and Duku Highway Theme Creative Center, where you can choose representative creative products in the store 【Dushanzi Grand Canyon】 After years of erosion and carving by the Tianshan snowmelt water, the cold wind blows through, forming a unique Danxia landform, wave-shaped valley slopes, a masterpiece of nature, and a masterpiece of nature Tickets: 30 yuan/person Opening hours: 10:00~19:30 Note: There are other paid projects in the scenic area, please consult the visitor service center for details Day 2. Dushanzi - Wulan Sadak (76KM) Starting from the Duku Highway starting stone, climb all the way, cross the Watchtower of Tianshan, and reach Wulan Sadak through Tiger's Mouth. The first day is mainly long climbs, with an altitude of about 500 to 1800 Day 3. Wulan Sadak - Qolma (57KM) Starting from Wulan Sadak, via the Hashilegen Tunnel, to Qolma. The tunnel has no lights, many curves, and steep slopes, as well as a 24 km long downhill, pay attention to control your speed Hashilegen Tunnel is the highest point of the whole journey, with a pass of 3400 "Hundred Li Gallery" - Tangbula Grassland 【Qolma Martyrs Cemetery】 In the south there is Kangxiwa, in the north there is Qolma, this is a national highway built with the blood of a generation, and it is also an immortal monument in the history of Chinese highway construction Tickets: Free Opening hours: 10:00~13:00 16:00~19:30 Day 4. Qolma - Nalati (110KM) Qolma departs 35 km gentle uphill, crosses the Yuximolegai Tunnel, 40 km downhill to Nalati. This section of the journey crosses the second highest altitude - Yuximolegai Tunnel (3300 meters), as well as a 40 km long downhill, with scenery and danger coexisting, control your speed and eyes, and arrive safely in Nalati Town Day 5. Nalati - Bayinbuluk - Bayingoleng Township (109KM) Nalati departs 32 km uphill, crosses the Ladun Tunnel, downhill into Bayinbuluk (Note: Bayin is deep in the central Tianshan Mountains, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, thus forming a unique high-altitude alpine meadow grassland). Cycle another 50 km to Bayingoleng Day 6. Bayingoleng - Kurluq (110KM) Bayingoleng departs 50 km uphill, crosses the Tielimaiti Tunnel (3200 meters), 40 km downhill through the Big and Small Dragon Pools, to Kurluq Tielimaiti will also be the last pass of the whole journey, and crossing it will also indicate that this journey is coming to an end Day 7. Kurluq - Kuche (98KM) The last day of the journey is a slow downhill, the road conditions are dusty and gravel due to frequent coal transport by mining trucks, pay attention to dust and sun protection, pass through the Kuche Grand Canyon to the final stone monument K1075 to complete the journey Cycle to Kuche 517 Station, complete the car return procedures, receive the Duku Highway medal and certificate 【Food】 Big plate chicken, peppercorn chicken, pit meat, rack meat, red willow barbecue, grilled buns, naan, grilled lamb chops, minced meat pilaf, stir-fried meat noodles, stir-fried rice noodles, cold noodles, yellow noodles... After experiencing this journey of wind and rain, ten miles of different skies, four seasons of travel, and crossing the Tianshan Mountains; this dusty journey, perseverance, overcoming difficulties, and conquering oneself, will finally come to an end in the fragrant food and frequent toasts of Urumqi beer Share with fellow travellers, family and friends