Kekeya Memorial Hall
柯柯牙纪念馆
Commemorates the Kekeya greening project, in which Aksu's people spent more than 30 years planting trees in the Gobi desert. The memorial is surrounded by orchards and forest belts.
Kekeya lies on the Gobi wasteland at the northern edge of Aksu city, on the border with Wensu County. It was once a source of sandstorms. Since 1986, local officials and residents of all ethnic groups have persisted in planting trees. They have built over one million mu of protective forest, along with apple, walnut and jujube orchards. Bingtangxin (ice-sugar-heart) apples are mostly grown in this area. The memorial hall uses photographs, objects and multimedia displays to tell the story of the Kekeya greening effort. Outside, you can look out over the forests toward the Tian Shan mountains. Admission is free, and you need to make a reservation or present your ID card. It can be visited on the way to Tomur Grand Canyon and Ta Village, and a visit takes about 1 hour. The memorial is about 20 minutes' drive from central Aksu.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–19:00 (Beijing time); check on site
Nearby sights
- Hongqipo Apple Orchards
- Aksu Prefecture Museum
- Duolang River Scenic Belt
- Aksu National Wetland Park
- Tagelake Village (Ta Village)
- Tianshan Tomur Grand Canyon
- Bozidun Scenic Area
- Dolan Tribe Scenic Area