My Third Trip to Xinjiang: Ranking the 6 Grasslands of Yili in My Heart

All the grasslands in Yili turn green in summer, but which one should you choose for your limited itinerary? After visiting Xinjiang three times, I've ranked the 6 grasslands I've been to based on personal preference and experience for your reference~ 1️⃣ Xiate (Xia Tala) ★★★★★ Highly Recommended I believe Xiate is the most beautiful scenic spot in Yili. The grassland stretches through valleys carved by glacial meltwater, ending at the Muzart Glacier and towering snow-capped mountains. The entire area has a strong three-dimensional feel, with distinct layers of snow mountains, forests, and grasslands. Xiate is relatively far from Yining City and other grasslands. If time permits, I highly recommend dedicating a full day to Xiate. In summer, the Yining-Zhaosu Highway will open, offering breathtaking views as you drive through the Tianshan Mountains! 2️⃣ Tohulasu ★★★★★ Highly Recommended Tohulasu Grassland was the most delightful discovery in Yili! Unlike other famous grasslands, Tohulasu is very niche—even during the May Day holiday, the crowds are sparse, making it an excellent escape from tourist crowds. Compared to other grasslands, Tohulasu still features distant snow-capped mountains and vast wildflowers, but the lack of forests makes the scenery slightly less layered. The Tohulasu scenic area is vast, with excellent road conditions, allowing you to easily find your own private stretch of grassland, making the experience exceptional! 3️⃣ Qiaxi ★★★★ Recommended Qiaxi Grassland is located in Gongliu County. In early May, the Qiaxi-Ta Loop Road was not yet open, so the scenery was mostly concentrated at the Qiaxi Panorama Viewing Platform. In my opinion, the view from the platform is stunning—the distant snow mountains and nearby forests live up to its "panorama" name, making it the most beautiful viewing platform after Xiate. If the Qiaxi-Ta Loop opens, there are even more breathtaking sights deeper inside—definitely worth it! The downside is that the road into the scenic area is very narrow, making it difficult for vehicles to pass each other. It’s prone to traffic jams during holidays, and the road to the Qiaxi Panorama is unpaved and in poor condition. 4️⃣ Ku’erdening ★★★★ Recommended Ku’erdening’s scenery is similar to Qiaxi, featuring a three-dimensional landscape of snow mountains, forests, and grasslands. On the way to the Qimengde Viewing Platform, it’s easy to take photos with the grand snow-capped mountains. We encountered heavy rain during our visit, but the scenery was still magnificent! Like Qiaxi, it gets crowded during holidays, so I recommend entering early in the morning to avoid peak times~ 5️⃣ Kalajun ★★★ Average My impression of Kalajun Grassland is its massive size, complicated shuttle buses, the "Human Body" grassland, and Kuokesu Grand Canyon. The large scale means expensive tickets and shuttle fees, but the grassland scenery isn’t as layered as Qiaxi or Ku’erdening, and the distant snow mountains aren’t as majestic as Xiate’s. While the "Human Body" grassland has a unique shape, similar rolling hills can be found in other grasslands. 6️⃣ Aketas ★★★ Average A high-altitude grassland near Tekes County, Aketas has distant snow-capped mountains and relatively monotonous scenery. Aside from its vast views, there isn’t much that stands out.