A Filter-Free Trip to Xinjiang—Day Ten

Nalati~ Leisurely Tour Since entering Nalati, two little kids have been singing that familiar song, “Is it because there’s beautiful Nalati there?” Yesterday afternoon, after arriving at Nalati town, we saw it from afar through the rain and mist—a vast expanse of varying shades of green, the sound of babbling streams, and the faint sight of yurts. Each detail sparked a strong interest in us. We were very lucky to drive into the scenic area ourselves, and even luckier to choose an entrance that no one else used, enjoying a unique view. “Taiyiasu”—because of this distinctive name, we chose this entrance. Winding around a quiet little village, we once doubted the navigation, but then we saw a very simple checkpoint. After showing the staff our electronic tickets, we were finally sure this was the right entrance, and thus began our journey to the “Beautiful Nalati”! When we left through the regular visitor center gate in the afternoon, we realized how wise it was to choose this entrance because of its name. Of course, if you’re in a hurry, this entrance is not recommended as it takes over an hour longer than the normal entrance to reach the main scenic spots. But if you don’t mind missing the usual check-in points, I think entering through this entrance already lets you experience the beauty here... Here, for the first time, we saw such vast, rolling alpine meadows, quiet villages nestled at the foot of the mountains, leisurely scattered flocks of sheep, and a nearly vehicle-free winding mountain road that took us deeper and deeper into the most beautiful parts of this grassland... Here, for the first time, we saw countless little birds nesting on the slopes, flying in and out together—so adorable... Here, for the first time, we saw up close the fragility of the mountain grassland, with only a thin layer covering the surface... This journey into the scenic area became the most special key to unlocking the gates of Nalati. There were still quite a few visitors at the core scenic spots, especially where the sightseeing buses pick up passengers. So for a better experience, you must drive yourself, because the beauty of Nalati is definitely not at those few crowded parking spots, but rather in the places where you can park freely and quietly enjoy the grasslands! Stopping and going, when aesthetic fatigue set in, we decided to rest at the guesthouse. The small courtyard of the guesthouse was also worth sitting in; being surrounded by such nature is enough.