Summer Trip to Nalati: How to Enjoy Without Any Pitfalls!

If it's your first time visiting Yili, Xinjiang, and it's the summer season perfect for exploring the grasslands, I recommend dedicating a stop to Nalati. We entered and exited Nalati four times over two days, experiencing fog, rain, clear skies after rain, sunny weather, and sunsets at different times. Here's a summary of how to enjoy Nalati without any pitfalls. Nalati has three main routes: the Air Grassland, the River Valley Grassland, and the Panlong Valley Road. Among these, only self-driving can truly capture the beauty of the River Valley Grassland and Panlong Valley Road! So, to fully enjoy Nalati, self-driving is a must. However, getting self-driving tickets requires some patience and skill. Tickets go on sale at 8 AM daily. If you miss the first wave, try again every half hour. Prepare photos of your driving license, vehicle registration, and ID in advance. Secure your self-driving ticket first; passenger tickets can be purchased on-site at the visitor center. I also recommend staying overnight in Nalati. Choose a hotel close to the scenic area for easy access. Avoid entering the scenic area on rainy or foggy days as driving can be dangerous and the experience poor. Here's a breakdown of the best ways and times to explore the three routes: Air Grassland: (The most popular route, best for photos capturing the streams and grasslands of Nalati! The stream bridge at the Nomadic Family spot is always crowded. To capture less crowded scenes, visit after 8 PM when the tour buses leave. Sunset backlighting can create a morning-like feel.) Route: Visitor Center - Tianyuntai - Tianjietai - Tianmutai - Nomadic Family - Return I recommend driving directly to the Nomadic Family, then parking and walking to the stream. Skip the crowded bridge and continue along the stream for fewer people. If time permits, visit Tianjietai and Tianmutai. Note that Tianjietai requires climbing a boardwalk and is the summer pasture of local Kazakh herders. At Tianmutai, you can watch free Kazakh wedding performances at 11:00, 12:30, 16:00, and 17:30. There's also a deeper Snow Lotus Valley route, accessible by tour bus from the Nomadic Family for 60 yuan per person, bringing you close to Nalati's main peak, Kabambaifeng. 2. Panlong Valley Road: (The ultimate self-driving experience! The route is more about the experience than photos, especially recommended after rain and at sunset.) Driving through the forest feels like navigating a hidden realm. Panlong Valley Road winds like a dragon along the mountainside, with ups and downs and twists and turns, making it a fun drive! Highly recommended is driving Panlong Valley Road after rain and at sunset for beautiful light and the forest's phytoncides, perfect for a forest bath! Route: Visitor Center - Taousani - Wusun Ruins - Yitigen Sai - Shilaiyunzhuan - Jiaolongchuhai - Woniugang - Return 3. River Valley Grassland: (Suitable for self-driving, but the experience is slightly inferior to Panlong Valley Road) Route: Visitor Center - Grassland Tribe - Taousani - Wusun Ruins - Yitigen Sai - Forest Park - Daigelas (Return) This route offers typical Xinjiang grassland scenery, vast and flat, with some man-made scenic spots for parking and entertainment/performance projects. You can visit Kazakh families, change into ethnic costumes, and ride horses. After reaching Daigelas, there's a deeper Hongertajiao Tower route, but it requires a tour bus and the scenery is relatively similar. Nalati Tips: 1. Opening hours: 8:30 AM - 9:00 PM 2. Self-driving entry costs 200 yuan per person, valid for 48 hours, allowing multiple entries into the scenic area.