Bayanbulak

China's second-largest grassland, where the meandering Kaidu River creates the famous "nine suns" sunset and swans gather on Swan Lake — the most popular stop midway along the Duku Highway.

Bayanbulak lies in the northwest of Hejing County in Xinjiang's Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, in a high mountain basin in the central Tian Shan at about 2,500 m above sea level. Its Mongolian name means "abundant springs". The Bayanbulak Grassland covers roughly 23,000 km², making it China's second-largest grassland; the Kaidu River winds across it in countless loops known as the "Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns", and its wetlands host China's largest population of wild swans. The Bayanbulak Nature Reserve is one of the four components of the Xinjiang Tianshan UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Most local residents are Torghut Mongols.

Best time to visit: June–September. From late June to August the grassland is at its greenest and wildflowers are in full bloom; this is also when the Duku Highway (G217) is open, so self-drive visitors are most numerous. In September the grass begins to turn golden and crowds thin out; after October the swans fly south and the weather turns cold. Winters (Nov–Mar) are bitterly cold, with lows down to -40°C, earning the area a reputation as one of China's "cold poles".

Suggested itinerary: On day one, arrive and check in at Bayanbulak Town, take the scenic-area shuttle bus to Swan Lake in the afternoon, and watch the sunset over the Nine Bends in the evening. On day two, catch another sunrise over the Kaidu River at dawn, then head north through the alpine valleys around Kunes Forest Farm and Aiken Daban to Nalati, or south along the Duku Highway to Kuqa. Allow 1–2 days.

Getting there: Most visitors arrive via the Duku Highway (usually open mid-June to early October, closed at night) from Nalati or Kuqa. Year-round, you can reach it by road from Hejing County town or Korla, and Hejing Bayanbulak Airport has a handful of flights. The town has petrol stations, hotels and guesthouses; book ahead in peak season.

Tips: Temperatures swing widely between day and night on the plateau — even in midsummer nights can drop to just a few degrees, so a down jacket is essential. UV is strong and mosquitoes are plentiful on the grassland. Drones that disturb birds are banned in the reserve. Check official announcements for current ticket prices, shuttle fares and Duku Highway opening dates.

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