Xinyuan Wild Fruit Forest
野果林改良场
Native forest of Xinjiang wild apples, ancestors of the world's cultivated apples. In spring the hillsides are covered with pinkish-white apple blossoms, making it a rare wild-fruit ecosystem in the Tianshan.
The Xinyuan Wild Fruit Forest lies in the low hills of the northern slope of the Tianshan, southeast of Xinyuan County town (around the wild fruit forest improvement farm). It is a Tertiary-period relict forest dominated by Xinjiang wild apple, mixed with wild apricot, wild walnut and cherry plum. It is considered an important ancestral origin of the world's cultivated apples, and it lies within the Ili River Valley ecological region, where the Tianshan World Natural Heritage site is located. Wild apple trees bloom from late April to early May, with pinkish-white flowers covering the hillsides and contrasting with distant snowy peaks and grassland. In September the wild fruit hangs on the branches and the leaves turn yellow. Most of the forest is protected natural land, so visitors mainly view the blossoms and take photos along the road and in open areas. Some sections have paid viewing areas. Transport: about 30 to 40 minutes by car from Xinyuan County town and about 1.5 hours from Nalati Town. It can be combined with Turgen Apricot Blossom Valley on the same spring day. Note: The wild fruit forest is a protected rare ecosystem, so do not break branches or pick fruit. Ticks live under the trees in spring, so wear long sleeves and trousers. Drive carefully when mountain roads are muddy.
Opening hours
All day (some areas of the reserve off-limits)