Ili is wonderful in summer, but you need to know how to enjoy it

Ili is the only region in the country that combines 'a sense of oppression and relaxation' in the best possible way. But to enjoy it well, you need some experience and 'principles': 1. Choose between Kuerdening Qiaxi and Shata. It is recommended to use early June as the dividing line, before which Kuerdening Qiaxi is preferable, and after which Shata is the choice. 2. The way to enjoy Ili is inherently outdoorsy. The difference in scenery between the hiking routes and the conventional routes is huge, and incorporating some outdoor elements into your itinerary is a standard for an in-depth experience. Some of these can be done by off-road vehicle, some by horse, and many only on foot. Qiaxi Kuerdening can include the tail of the Kalajun crossing line, Kalajun can extend to Qiongkushitai or Gazagan camp, Shata has the Shata ancient trail, and even the Yisai shepherd trail and Tuhulasu grassland hiking route. If you really have no outdoor experience, you can also ride a horse for the first ten kilometers in front of Wusun or behind Qiongkushitai to get a feel for it, which is much better than just wandering around scenic area trails every day. 3. The golden period for Ili is from mid-May to late June. This is based on a comprehensive score of 'grass + forest + low snow line + temperature'. Too early and the range of grasslands is limited, for example, Kalajun is not very green, and Shata has a high frequency of bad weather in the afternoon. Too late and the weather is hot, the snow line disappears, and having only grasslands and forests loses the advantage of the snow-capped mountains. 4. 'There is no need to go to Qiongkushitai if you're not staying overnight' makes sense because Qiongku's absolute advantage lies in the scattered distribution of homestay wooden houses and a leisurely travel mindset, all predicated on 'staying at least one night', otherwise you won't be able to relax. 5. The priority for summer accommodation in Ili is lonely and well-conditioned homestays close to the scenery, followed by homestays with average conditions but good scenery, then experienced camping, then county town hotels, and the least preferable are poorly conditioned homestays without much scenery. However, the latter is precisely the choice most people will make, because they want both... but that's difficult. 6. Ili during the May Day period is good, but there are a few things to note. First, try not to attempt pure wilderness camping, as the weather during May Day is extremely unstable, with heavy snowfall every year. Second, do not apply aesthetic expectations to flowers and large areas of greenery, learning to appreciate Ili's snow-capped mountains is important. 7. Ili's summer sunsets are incredibly beautiful, and returning to your accommodation a bit later is not dangerous, but missing the pink hues in the mountains would be a great pity. 8. Don't think that regular scenic spots are too 'mainstream'. Every scenic spot, before it appears before people, is niche and equal. By making use of the scenic spots and further exploring within them, you are more likely to find 'good stuff' than by blindly heading straight for the mountains, just as starting a franchise is easier than creating an independent brand.