[2025 Zhaosu Attraction] Travel Guide for Xiata Ancient Trail National Forest Park (Updated Mar)

“Nothing can stop you from yearning for freedom.” Every time I hear this song, I think of the wonderful moments of my self-drive tour in Yili. 🕐️DAY 1: Urumqi—Anjihai Grand Canyon—Jinghe 13:00 Arrive in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Pick up the car at the airport, an orange Tank 300. Have a meal at Loulan BBQ (Yingbin Road Branch), then head to Anjihai Grand Canyon. This is a great first stop for a self-drive tour. The scenery on the way to Anjihai is already stunning. The sky is high and the clouds are light, the view is vast and desolate, and there are snow-capped mountains in the distance. In the evening, arrive in Jinghe County and check in to the hotel to prepare for tomorrow's trip to Sayram Lake, Bole. 🕐️DAY 2: Sayram Lake—Guozigou Bridge—Yining City Morning: Head to Sayram Lake, Bole. When we first arrived, the weather was not good, it was overcast and gloomy. Keep going, and after passing the south gate, the weather cleared up. The sun shone down, and the color of the lake and the surrounding grassland scenery became as beautiful and stunning as the legends say. As we drove forward, the scenery was overwhelming. On the left, there was a multi-layered green grassland and cedar forest, and on the right, the blue of Sayram Lake was clearly visible in the sunlight. The road ahead stretched straight to the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The vast, magnificent, and multi-layered scenery made us excited and thrilled. Evening: Leave Sayram Lake Scenic Area at 7:30 pm and head to Guozigou Bridge. The stunning scenery began after driving down from the Guozigou Bridge viewing platform. After descending to the bottom of the valley and moving forward, we experienced the first shock and excitement of this trip. We drove through the mountains, with towering and steep mountains on both sides, changing vegetation, and occasional white yurts and cattle and sheep. It felt unreal, as if we were driving through a painting. Arrive at the hotel at 11 pm and have a big plate of chicken. 🕐️DAY 3: Yining—Yizhao Highway—Xiata Morning: First, we went to Liuxing Street in Yining City for breakfast. Then, the highlight of the day was the Yizhao Highway, known as the "Little Duku Highway." We drove for 8.5 hours, stopping and going, and arrived at the homestay near Xiata Ancient Road National Forest Park at around 8 or 9 pm. Today's trip on the Yizhao Highway left a deep impression on us. We started driving along the mountain, and every turn revealed different scenery, both dangerous and vast. There were winding roads, cliffs, and towering mountains in front of us, as well as deep mountains and vast skies, grasslands, and snow-capped mountains in the distance. The near, middle, and distant views were all natural. Every time we stopped, we stood by the cliff and seemed to automatically ignore the sound of passing cars. As we slowly looked into the distance, a feeling of emptiness, grandeur, insignificance, and silence naturally emerged, and we enjoyed it. In addition, there were changes. The magical thing was that after a turn, the deep brown three-dimensional mountain scenery suddenly turned into a vast grassland like a green carpet. Looking up, the sky was high and the clouds were light, and eagles were soaring. Looking down, a horse stood alone on a distant mountain, eating grass like a still life painting. Looking down again, the grassland canyon had undulating terrain, stretching to the depths of the distant mountains, with flocks of white sheep and dark cattle and horses in the mountain valleys. We continued forward, left the Yizhao Highway, turned onto County Road 758, passed several small towns, and approached Xiata. As we drove forward, there was a fairy-tale-like tranquility on the right, with a vast grassland, and on the left, a vast grassland in the foreground and silent mountains in the distance. The sky was extremely blue, the clouds were extremely white, and they were low. In the evening, we checked in to a homestay near Xiata. DAY 4: Xiata—Qiongkushitai Morning: Go to Xiata, where people wear all kinds of clothes, from short sleeves to jackets and down jackets. First, take a bus for 40 minutes, then take a sightseeing bus to the transfer bridge. Transfer Bridge—General Bridge—Kara House No. 1—Kara House No. 2. We should have reached between No. 2 and No. 3. The highlight of Xiata's scenery is the view of Muzart Glacier from the corridor-like canyon. Along the way, the mountains surround us, the grassland extends from the foot of the mountain through the tall cedar forest, and the river formed by glacial meltwater accompanies us. We rested in a shady mountain forest and saw the first squirrel. Later, we saw several more squirrels and a marmot, eating naan and looking cute. We calculated the time to Qiongkushitai and started to return. At around 6 pm, we left the scenic area and headed to Qiongkushitai. The road to Qiongkushitai was particularly challenging, with three mountains and two valleys, various hairpin turns, folding turns, and continuous 360-degree turns. It felt like we made 1,800 turns along the way... It was an unprecedented driving experience, with adrenaline pumping, excitement, and thrill. We continued forward, entered the dense forest in the mountains, and finally reached Qiongkushitai Village. DAY 5: Qiongkushitai—Wusun Ancient Road—Back Mountain—Xinyuan, Yili After breakfast at the homestay, we went to Wusun Ancient Road in the morning. We walked along a rushing river into the dense forest. We were on the left bank of the river, walking through the mountains and forests, occasionally encountering a few wooden house homestays and many silent horses grazing and resting. On the right bank of the river, there were grasslands, forests, and homestays nearby, and mountains in the distance. The mountain road was difficult to walk, with tree roots, strange rocks, and muddy horse trails. More people chose to ride horses back and forth. We went back to pack our luggage, left the homestay, and went to the back mountain. We didn't spend much time in the back mountain. If we have the chance to come again, I even feel like we should spend more time there than on Wusun Ancient Road. Then we went down the mountain and planned to reach Nalati Tourist Scenic Area, Xinyuan, from Qiongkushitai, to prepare for tomorrow's trip on the Duku Highway. We left a bit late, and calculated that it would take until 11 or 12 pm to reach Nalati, which would affect our meals and rest. So we got off the highway in Xinyuan, Yili, and stayed overnight. We arrived at the hotel in Xinyuan at around 11 pm. DAY 6: Duku Highway—Dushanzi District, Karamay, Dushanzi City Today's plan was to drive on the Duku Highway, from Xinyuan to Nalati, and then from Nalati to Dushanzi, which is equivalent to half of the Duku Highway. After getting on the Duku Highway from Nalati, the first half was relatively flat. We turned at Qiaerma and went to Tangbula Hundred Mile Gallery for a look. After passing Qiaerma, the scenery began to change. When we set off from Nalati in the morning, there was vegetation on both sides of the mountains, and everything was green. But here, the mountains began to turn gray-brown or even gray-black, and they became steeper and more dangerous. The change started at Hashilegen, at an altitude of 3,400 meters. In one photo, the sky was clear and the scenery was clear. In the next photo, the gray-white fog had already enveloped the background. The weather on the mountain changed suddenly, with fog and sporadic rain. We continued forward and reached a parking lot, where it had already turned into thick fog. We played in the snow for a while. When we set off again, the visibility was very low, and we drove slowly along the winding mountain road with the hazard lights on. After descending to a lower altitude, the fog began to dissipate, and the air was clear as if it had been washed, but it started to rain. At 10:30, we arrived in Dushanzi and left the Duku Highway. On the way into Dushanzi City, we suddenly saw the distant city lights in the darkness, and we felt a slight sense of returning to the world. DAY 7: Return trip, Urumqi—Xinzheng Airport.

Hey, travel lovers! Don't stay at home for the New Year, let's go out and have fun! This brand new 5-day Yili-Bortala travel guide is definitely worth a read. Follow the guide and let's explore the unknown beauty of Xinjiang in early spring! . 🌏Itinerary: Day 1: Yili Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area -> Zhaosu Rapeseed Flower -> Zhaosu Grassland -> Xiata Ancient Road National Forest Park -> Zhaosu Wetland Park Scenic Area On this day, we have the opportunity to admire the magnificence of the Tianshan Flower Sea, gaze at a sea of rapeseed flowers, step into the grassland, walk along the Xiata Ancient Road, and feel the tranquility of the wetland. Day 2: Kalajun Scenic Area -> Kuokesu Grand Canyon As the sun rises, we step into Kalajun and explore the grandeur of the Kuokesu Grand Canyon. On this day, the ever-changing geographical features are the main attraction. Day 3: Chaxi Grassland Scenic Area -> Kurdening Scenic Area In the morning light, we head to Chaxi Grassland and then to Kurdening Scenic Area to experience the perfect blend of nature and culture. Day 4: Nalati Tourist Scenic Area -> Air Grassland -> Yili Old Town Kazanqi Folk Tourism Area -> Yining City Six Star Street The fairyland-like Nalati, the heavenly grassland, the ancient charm of Yili Old Town, and the vitality of Six Star Street will bring you beauty and freshness on this day. Day 5: Sayram Lake -> Guozigou Before the end of the trip, we will admire the clarity of Sayram Lake and visit the beauty of Guozigou, ending the trip with full memories. . 🧳Travel Checklist: ❄️Clothing: In Yili-Bortala, the weather in January is cold, so down jackets, wool hats, gloves, scarves, and windproof and snowproof long boots are essential. In the evening, we can also gather around the campfire and tell adventure stories, so warm pajamas are also a must. 👜Accessories: Camera, power bank, smartphone, and a thermos bottle for hot water. Also, don't forget sunglasses and sunscreen, as the sunlight reflected by the snow can burn your skin, so be sure to protect yourself. 📚Documents: ID card, household registration, bank card, cash, and some common medicines. Keep these small items safe, especially documents and money, don't lose them. Also, try to buy travel insurance in advance, just in case. . This concludes our Yili-Bortala trip. I hope you find your little happiness in that unique grassland paradise!

Hey guys, want to explore Yili in northern Xinjiang? Here's a super useful 4-day travel guide to help you explore Yili. Save it now! -------- 📅Itinerary: Day 1: Qiongkushitai Visit the mysterious Qiongkushitai and experience the grandeur of nature and the depth of history. Day 2: Crocodile Bay Head to the unique Crocodile Bay and enjoy the tranquility and harmony of nature. Day 3: Zhaosu Grassland - Xiata Tourist Area - Xiata Ancient Road National Forest Park - Yizhao Highway - Baishifeng Cross the Zhaosu Grassland, visit the Xiata Tourist Area and Ancient Road Forest Park, drive along the Yizhao Highway, and finally climb Baishifeng to experience the grandeur of nature. Day 4: Guozigou Bridge - Guozigou - Sayram Lake - Sayram Lake Point General Platform - West Sea Grassland - Keleyongzhu Cross the spectacular Guozigou Bridge, explore the beauty of Guozigou, enjoy Sayram Lake and its Point General Platform, and finally experience the gifts of nature at the West Sea Grassland and Keleyongzhu. -------- Tips: Be careful when visiting Yili in January! 📌 The weather is cold, so remember to dress warmly. 🧣 Try roasted lamb and pilaf, as you can't miss the delicious food! 🍖 Experience the Uyghur culture and don't miss the local festivals! 🎉 Respect local customs to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. 🙌 -------- Come to Yili and experience the grandeur of nature and the charm of culture. It will be a worthwhile trip! 🌄✨ Remember to like and save this post, and make it your next travel destination!

Winter in Xiata, the best time for a winter hike The road is no longer bustling with summer tourists, and peace returns. As the car drives by, the mountains change their appearance in a second, and I capture them all with my camera. The mountain stream, blue sky, spruce, cattle and sheep, snow-capped mountains, and roads form a series of vivid canvases. 🏔️🌲🐎 The deeper you hike into Xiata, the more expansive the forest becomes. The sun changes the angle of light and shadow, and the spruce and the earth change their appearance. The sound of cattle and sheep, birds, snow falling on branches, and spring water flowing under the frozen riverbed, Every step is a gentle healing. After crossing mountains and ridges, Finally, Muzart Glacier is right in front of you. The snow water of Tianshan nourishes all things in Xiata, Even the dead wood, fallen leaves, and ravines are full of vitality. 🌲: Xiata, Ili, Xinjiang 🧭: Navigate to "Xiata Ancient Road National Forest Park" 🚙: In winter, you can drive into the scenic area, but snow tires are required. You can drive up to General Bridge, and a four-wheel drive can go a little further, then you need to hike or ride a horse into the mountain. 🛣️ Ili winter self-driving route: D1: Urumqi - Kuitun ▫️ Dushanzi Grand Canyon, watch the sunset and blue hour D2: Kuitun - Jinghe - Yining ▫️ Drive around Sayram Lake, chase swans ▫️ Guozigou, enter another landscape, snow-capped spruce D3: Yining - Kuerdening ▫️ Yining Swan Lake, get up early to see the rime and swans ▫️ Stay at Kuerdening camp D4: Kuerdening - Tekes ▫️ Kuerdening, horseback riding, forest hiking ▫️ Aerial view of Bagua City D5: Tekes - Xiata ▫️ Light hiking, see Muzart Glacier D6: Xiata - Yining - Urumqi 🤸🏻‍♂️ Winter hiking tips in Xiata: ▫️ If you want to see the golden mountain, calculate the return time. It gets dark quickly in winter, and the mountain road is difficult to walk on the way back. ▫️ Ili in winter is suitable for hiking on sunny days. When we went there, it was -8°C to 3°C, and a three-in-one jacket was just right for the weather around zero. ▫️ Be aware of icy roads when hiking in winter. The river you pass by when hiking in Xiata is frozen, so be careful if the ice is solid. ▫️ You can bring snow goggles, which can block the light on sunny and snowy days. ▫️ Trekking poles will also make snow hiking more comfortable, so bring foldable ones when traveling. ▫️ Non-slip and high-top hiking boots are important. Snow hiking can be uncomfortable if snow gets into your shoes. ▫️ On the way back from Xiata to Yining, you can visit Zhaosu Yuhu Lake, where the icy blue water is beautiful in winter and freezes around January.

Hey, guys! Here's a super detailed guide for an 8-day Urumqi-Zhaosu tour in Xinjiang! It will help you enjoy the beautiful scenery and avoid any pitfalls. Save it now! . 🚗 Itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi and start your Xinjiang tour! Day 2: Explore the Anjihai Grand Canyon and marvel at the grandeur of nature. Day 3: Visit the beautiful Sayram Lake and immerse yourself in the fragrance of the Princess Jieyou Lavender Garden. Day 4: Explore the Shata Ancient Road National Forest Park and experience the mystery of the primeval forest. Day 5: Admire the unique scenery of the Kurdening Scenic Area. Day 6: Stroll through the Nalati Grassland, admire the Swan Lake Scenic Area in Bayinbuluke, and marvel at the spectacular Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns. Day 7: Enjoy the natural beauty of the Tangbula Grassland. Day 8: Enjoy free time in Urumqi and end your unforgettable Xinjiang tour. . **Notes**: 🛫 Airport transportation: The Urumqi-Zhaosu route is now open, and the flight takes only 1.5 hours, allowing you to quickly and conveniently reach the hometown of the heavenly horses. 🎉 Local customs: Respect local customs, avoid trampling on the rapeseed fields, and experience the authentic Xinjiang culture. 🍽️ Food recommendations: Be sure to try the Zhaosu-style barbecue and pilaf to enjoy the authentic flavors of Xinjiang. 👕 Clothing recommendations: The temperature difference between morning and evening in Zhaosu is large, so remember to bring warm clothes, as well as a sun hat and sunglasses. 🐎 Activities: If you choose to go horseback riding, be sure to follow a professional horse team to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. . On your Xinjiang tour, don't forget to leave your footprints and stories. The scenery from Urumqi to Zhaosu is waiting for you to explore!

✨The trip to Yili, Shatuo became the most amazing existence. As soon as I entered the scenic spot, the snow-capped mountains in the distance seemed to be a beautiful picture unfolding in front of me. 🌳Starting from the transfer bridge, head towards the flower stand all the way. Along the way, the scenery is dreamlike and diverse, with vast grasslands, lush woods, winding rivers, and gurgling streams. Originally planned to go back a little bit in front of the General Bridge, but who could have thought that walking along the way, taking beautiful photos, unknowingly walked to the flower stand. 🐎Finally, when returning from the Kara No. 4 house, I asked the horse team master if there were any horses to ride. Fortunately, I didn’t have to queue up and rode directly to the General Bridge. This experience is really great! 💪Come to Xinjiang, I really recommend everyone to take a hiking trip. Although it will consume some physical strength and time, the beautiful scenery along the way is definitely worth it. In Shatuo, you can feel the purest charm of nature, as if you are in a fairy tale world. Come to Shatuo and meet your beauty! 💕 Travel guide: - Transportation: You can choose to drive by yourself, or you can choose to take a shuttle bus or sightseeing bus. - Tickets: Tickets + scenic spots 80 yuan, student tickets 60 yuan, including shuttle bus, excluding sightseeing bus. The sightseeing bus is 30 round trips per person, free for those under 1.3 meters, and there are no other discounts. - Opening hours: 10:00-19:00 (Monday-Sunday from April 1st to November 30th). - Time reference: more than 3 hours. - Accommodation: You can choose to stay in a hotel or homestay outside the scenic spot for 1 night, or you can choose to stay in a hot spring hotel or local herder's yurt in the scenic spot for 1 night. - Precautions: - Shatuo hiking is difficult, for tourists with limited physical strength, please choose to take a battery car or horse riding project in advance, and you may not have a horse to ride if you want to queue up later. - The equipment list to be brought to Shatuo includes stormtrooper (plus fleece)/down jacket, sun protection sunglasses, sun protection hat, sunny umbrella, raincoat, hiking shoes, hiking poles, water, dry food, etc. - Please book in advance for accommodation during the peak tourist season, and you can stay near the entrance of the scenic spot and in the scenic spot. - The viewing of Shatuo is related to the weather, please pay attention to the weather forecast before departure. The weather in this place changes a lot, please bring rain gear. - The opening of the Shatuo scenic spot is time-limited, please pay attention to the announcement of the scenic spot. - Protect the environment, everyone is responsible, please do not litter.

|Shata. Shata—The snow mountain seen here is the highest peak of the Tianshan Mountains at an altitude of 7443 meters-Tomur Peak, which is the closest and largest place to the snow mountain in the entire Yili Ring Line, known as the "staircase to the snow mountain" Shata: Located in Zhaosu County, Yili, 75km away from the county seat, 1.5h by car 📌Navigation: Shata Ancient Road National Forest Park Visitor Center 🎫Ticket: 80/person (including bi-sit sightseeing car) 📝Ticket purchase method: "Zhiyou Zhaosu" book 7 days in advance - Shata scenery📸 Muzart Glacier The only natural glacier in the world, the ice layer 🉑️ is up to 20m thick, and there are often ice peaks collapsing all year round Muzart Daban The watershed of the Tianshan Mountains in the north and south, the sea wave is as high as 3500m, and the snow mountains around are towering like a view of Everest Shata Canyon, Grassland There are wild flowers🌸 and grasslands🍀 The distant dark green mountains are stacked on top of each other, like a surging green ocean Wildlife Park Due to its remote location, Shata still maintains its natural primitive state. This is a paradise for wild animals. Squirrels🐿️ marmots, snow rabbits🐇 pheasants, snow leopards, north goats🐏 sheep are regular visitors here Ancient relics As an important passage in ancient times, there are many relics of Ussu and Western Turks📜 Huge earth tombs, grassland stone statues that suddenly appear, etc., all prove that there have been exchanges between various ethnic groups here - Special attention: 1. The temperature is very low when entering the scenic spot in the morning, be sure to prepare quick-drying, down jackets, storm jackets, etc., reduce clothes as the temperature rises, experience four seasons in one day, prepare raincoats, shoe covers, in case of rain. 2. There will be many animals along the way, cows, sheep, horses, ground squirrels, squirrels, be sure to pay attention to safety when taking pictures. (—There are few people going in early, and it is easy to encounter small squirrels) 3. You can bring some water and food appropriately. The Kara house also provides instant noodles and barbecue. The instant noodles are 10 yuan a bowl, and the self-brought instant noodles charge a 5 yuan hot water fee 4. There is no signal in the scenic area and mobile payment is not possible. It is recommended to bring some cash

Shatuo, a ladder to the dreamy Ili snow mountain. Shatuo is located in Zhaosu County, Ili, Xinjiang, and is a magical tourist attraction. Shatuo is the phonetic transmission of the Mongolian word "Shatu Aman", which means "ladder", and it is the ancient transportation post from Ili to Aksu. Here, there are glaciers that do not decay, and there are vast and secluded pastures at the foot of the snow mountain. The snow mountain seen here is the highest peak of the Tianshan Mountains with an altitude of 7443m, Tomur Peak. It is the closest place to the snow mountain in the entire Ili ring line, and the largest place of the snow mountain. July in Shatuo is the season of wild flowers blooming, and the lower tower becomes a snow mountain, and the classic combination of spruce and wild flowers is best presented. In addition, squirrels and ground squirrels can also be easily seen. In Shatuo, staring at these snow ridges and spruces, I believe you will also gain their power.