Tekes & Zhaosu (Kalajun)

Base yourself in Bagua-layout Tekes to see Kalajun’s “five-flower meadows” and Kokshal Grand Canyon, then Zhaosu’s million-mu rapeseed fields, “Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River” and the Xiata Glacier.

Tekes & Zhaosu lie in the Tekes River valley on the northern slopes of the Tianshan in southern Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, and are among the areas with the richest grassland scenery in Ili. To the east, Tekes County town is laid out on the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) plan as the “Bagua City,” and serves as the base for visiting Kalajun Grassland and Kokshal Grand Canyon; deeper in the Tianshan valleys lies the old Kazakh village of Qiongkushitai. To the west, Zhaosu County is a high-plateau basin known as the “Home of Heavenly Horses.” In July, a million mu of rapeseed flowers meet the snow mountains, and the Tekes River Wetland Park stages the “Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River” show. In the south are the Xiata Ancient Road, the Muzart Glacier and Jade Lake; the county town has the Shengyou Temple, and on the western border stands the Gedeng Mountain Stele. The best season is June–August: wildflowers peak at Kalajun in June, Zhaosu’s rapeseed flowers and the Heavenly Horse Festival come in July, and the grasslands are lush in August; late September brings autumn colors. Winters are cold, and mountain roads such as the Yizhao Highway close. Getting there: Yining to Tekes takes about 2 hours and to Zhaosu about 3 hours (in summer you can take the Yizhao Highway), and Yining has an airport; the drive between the two counties takes about 1.5–2 hours. Sights are spread out, so self-driving or hiring a car is recommended. Suggested time: 3–4 days. Notes: summer brings frequent thunderstorms and cool mornings and evenings, so bring rain and warm clothing; carry your ID in the border area; watch for livestock on pastoral roads; choose licensed stables for horseback riding on the grasslands.

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