[2024 Tekes Attraction] Travel Guide for Kalajun Prairie (Updated Nov)
Address:
新疆維吾爾自治區伊犁哈薩克自治州特克斯縣喀拉達拉鎮
Zhaosu Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River Viewing Guide & Kalajun Grassland Travel Guide.
Detailed travel guide for Zhaosu Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River and Kalajun Grassland:
1️⃣ Zhaosu Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River:
1. Viewing time:
Held at a fixed time every day. It is recommended to check the specific time in advance and plan your trip accordingly.
2. Spectacular scene:
The horses gallop through the river, splashing water everywhere. The scene is spectacular.
3. Cultural background:
Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River is a show created to develop tourism. As early as the Han and Tang dynasties, Zhaosu horses (Yili horses) made great contributions to the consolidation of the frontier in successive dynasties.
4. Photography tips: It is better to use a drone for shooting, but pay attention to flight safety and avoid collision with other drones.
2️⃣ Kalajun Grassland:
1. Location:
Located in Tekes County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, it is known as the "King of Grasslands."
2. Travel tips:
It is recommended to visit the entire Kalajun area (Kalajun Grassland + Kuokesu Grand Canyon), which takes about 7–8 hours.
3. Main attractions:
East Kalajun is mainly grassland, while West Kalajun is mainly hilly. There are also Kuokesu Grand Canyon, Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns, and other attractions worth visiting.
4. Experience activities:
You can take photos with lambs and feel the vastness of the grassland and the harmony of nature.
21Cook_~Grace
Kalajun
The Kalajun Prairie Scenic Area is located 56 kilometers southeast of the national historical and cultural city -- Baguacheng, 175 kilometers away from Yining City. It is an important part of the Yili State tourism loop, belonging to a typical high mountain 'flower meadow' natural prairie. Stretching 89 kilometers from east to west and 32 kilometers from north to south, it covers an area of 2,848 square kilometers, with an altitude ranging from 2,000 to 3,600 meters. Kalajun is the summer pasture of Kazakh herders, with 104 types of natural high-quality forage grasses, representing a typical 'high mountain flower meadow' prairie. It has been praised by officials of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as: 'One of the rare high mountain natural high-quality prairies in the world.'
The main attractions in the West Kalajun Scenic Area include Wangyutai, Marmot Habitat, Liangyitai, Dielang Valley, Shiquan, Drinking Horse Bay, and the One Tree scenic spot, which can be visited by taking a tour bus that stops at each location. The West Kalajun Scenic Area is characterized by rolling hill-style landscapes, with Dielang Valley being a typical hilly prairie. In summer, the greenery is layered, making it a great place for photography.
East Kalajun is located deeper in and is also the essence of the entire prairie. The most famous attractions here include the Flower Meadow, Fresh Flower Platform, Kuerdai Forest Canyon, Sanjiyi Flat Viewing Platform, and Falcon Platform Viewing Spot. There are five scenic spots in total, featuring snow-capped mountains, prairie landscapes, and forest canyons, among others. The scenery is diverse and very beautiful.
NomadSoul
The vast Kanas Grassland is stunningly beautiful! You'll regret not visiting!
🌟【Must-Visit Attractions】🌟
In the heartland of Xinjiang, there lies a green ocean forgotten by time—the Kanas Grassland. Here, the sky is profoundly blue, the clouds are softly white, and the grassland is so green it seems to drip with juice. Kanas, meaning 'wilderness on the ridge' in Uyghur, is not just a grassland but a flowing scroll of painting that changes with the seasons, offering endless beauty.
🏞️【Address】🏞️
Kanas Grassland is located in the southern part of Tekes County, Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, China, about 30 kilometers from Tekes County town. It is a dazzling pearl in the Tianshan Mountains.
🚀【Transportation Tips】🚀
Self-driving: Depart from Urumqi, take the Lianhuo Expressway to Yining City, then switch to the G218 National Highway to Tekes County, and finally take the S316 Provincial Road to reach Kanas. The whole journey is about 700 kilometers, and the driving time is about 9 hours.
Public Transport: You can first take a plane or train to Yining City, then transfer to a long-distance bus to Tekes County, and finally rent a car or join a tour group to go to Kanas.
🍽️【Food Recommendations】🍽️
How can you miss the authentic Xinjiang cuisine when you come to Kanas? Kebabs, pilaf, big plate chicken, yogurt, and naan—each one is unforgettable. Especially recommended is the local roasted whole lamb, with crispy skin and tender meat, it will definitely satisfy your cravings!
🌄【Nearby Attractions】🌄
Nalati Grassland: Echoing the beauty of Kanas, equally breathtaking.
Zhao Su Rapeseed Flower Field: In summer, the golden sea of rapeseed flowers interwoven with the green grassland forms a moving pastoral scenery.
Kuerdening Scenic Area: Combining snow-capped mountains, forests, grasslands, and rivers, it is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts.
📸【Tips】📸
1. The best time to visit is from June to September each year when the grassland is blooming with flowers and the climate is pleasant.
2. Remember to bring sunscreen and sunglasses, as the UV rays are strong on the plateau.
3. Respect local ethnic customs and experience a cultural journey.
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On this magical land, every inch of soil hides a story, and every breath is filled with poetry. Kanas Grassland is waiting for you to write your own fairy tale in the green wilderness. ✨
jacobmountain
12-Day Pure Play Tour around Northern Xinjiang
Freedom is the wind, and I hope you are free too. The beauty of Xinjiang must be witnessed with your own eyes, the brave get to enjoy the world first.
Recommended itinerary for the 12-Day Pure Play Tour around Northern Xinjiang:
D1 - Gather in Urumqi from all over the country
D2 - Urumqi - Colorful Beach - Burqin
D3 - Burqin - Kanas (Guanyu Pavilion, Kanas Lake)
D4 - Kanas (Fairy Bay, Moon Bay, Dragon Bay) - Hemu (Sunset)
D5 - Hemu (Hemu Morning Mist) - Urho Ghost City (Sunset) - Urho
D6 - Urho - Sayram Lake
D7 - Sayram Lake - Huocheng Lavender - Yizhao Highway - Zhaosu
D8 - Zhaosu - Shat Ancient Valley - Tekes Hexagonal City
D9 - Tekes Hexagonal City - Kalajun Grassland - Gongliu
D10 - Gongliu - Bayanbulak Grassland
D11 - Bayanbulak Grassland - Duku Highway - Hundred Mile Gallery Tangbula
D12 - Tangbula - Anjihai Grand Canyon - Urumqi
Must-visit Spots:
Colorful Beach - Benefiting from the unique hilly geology here, it displays a variety of colors. When the setting sun shines in the evening, the colors are splendid and magical, very spectacular.
Kanas - Known as 'a fairyland on earth', every year from May to August is the flower season in Kanas. Whether on the hillside, under the forest, beside the stream, or between the cliffs, the blooming mountain flowers turn Kanas into an ocean of flowers.
Hemu - Known as 'a fairy tale world', in May the snow melts, and the grass grows out immediately, marking the arrival of spring.
Sayram Lake - 'The last tear of the Atlantic'. Every year in May and June, the lakeside meadows are lush, and the grasslands are full of colorful flowers. The lake is azure blue, and the distant snow-capped mountains surround it like a fairyland on earth.
Kalajun Grassland - Rated by 'National Geographic' as the most beautiful 3D grassland, May is the perfect time for the blooming of wildflowers, making it very suitable for trekking from Qiongkushitai.
Precautions:
1. Xinjiang is nearly 2 hours ahead of mainland China. After arriving in Xinjiang, pay attention to adjusting to the time difference and temperature changes. The climate in Xinjiang is quite dry, so remember to drink more water.
2. Xinjiang is an area with a concentration of ethnic minorities, please respect the local ethnic customs.
3. The temperature difference between day and night is significant, so bring a thin down jacket.
4. Pay attention to keeping warm as the ultraviolet rays are strong on the plateau, and be sure to protect yourself from the sun.
5. The journey involves long car rides and many winding mountain roads, so bring some dry food and snacks, and make sure your power bank is fully charged.
Kanas · Burqin Colorful Beach Sayram Lake Kalajun Grassland
Tips: For more details, please click the link below to consult with a travel guide.