Barkol Grassland
巴里坤草原
A vast grassland at the northern foot of the Tianshan, where snowy peaks, wheat fields and herds intermingle. It is rich in Kazakh nomadic culture and is a famous pasture in eastern Xinjiang.
Barkol Grassland lies in the Barkol Basin at the northern foot of the Tianshan. It is an important natural pasture in Xinjiang and has been famed since the Han and Tang dynasties for its fine horses. In summer the pastures turn green and wildflowers bloom, with the snowy Barkol Mountains in the distance. The farmland has large fields of wheat and rapeseed in flower. You can ride horses, stay in yurts and taste Kazakh milk tea and hand-grabbed mutton. It is about 120 km from Hami city across the Tianshan, roughly 2 hours by car. Most of the grassland is open, but please ask permission before entering herders' pastures, and watch for low temperatures at this altitude in the early morning and evening.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Barkol Ancient City
- Dahe Ancient City
- Dizang Temple (Barkol)
- Lanzhouwanzi & Xiheigou Sites
- Dongheigou Site
- Songshutang
- Tianshan Temple (East Tianshan Scenic Area)
- Barkol Lake