Nine-Bend River of Bayanbulak
九曲十八弯
The Kaidu River winds across the grassland in countless bends. At sunset, the bends reflect multiple suns, making this the classic sunset viewpoint in Bayanbulak and across Xinjiang.
Nine-Bend Eighteen Turns is a meandering stretch of the upper Kaidu River, formed in the Great Yuldus Basin of Bayanbulak. The riverbed has an extremely gentle gradient, so the water loops back and forth across the flat grassland, forming a chain of bends and oxbow lakes. The scenic area has built a viewing platform and wooden boardwalks on the hillside by the river, with several hundred steps to climb. From the top, you can see the river bends catching the light and stretching across the green grassland to the horizon. The most famous sight is sunset on a clear day, when the sun is reflected in several bends at once, known as the 'Nine Suns'. To get there, buy tickets at the visitor center in Bayanbulak Town and transfer to the scenic-area shuttle bus, which takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour. Check the official notice for the last shuttle time to the sunset platform. In peak season the platform gets crowded, so plan to arrive 1 to 1.5 hours early to secure a spot. Tickets and shuttle combined cost roughly RMB 200 (subject to the scenic area). Note: the altitude is about 2,500 m, and temperatures drop sharply after sunset, so bring a down jacket or windbreaker even in summer. Mosquitoes are plentiful on the grassland.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–22:30 (Beijing time, peak season)
Nearby sights
- Bayanbulak Swan Lake
- Bayanbulak Town & Great Yulduz Grassland
- Kunes Forest Farm & Kunes Valley
- Aiken Daban Pass
- Tielimaiti Pass