Ili River Valley

The "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall" nestled in the Tianshan, a region of grasslands and wildflowers around Narati, Kalajun, Zhaosu and Sayram Lake.

The Ili River Valley lies in the heart of the Tianshan in western Xinjiang, ringed by mountains on three sides and open to the west; moist Atlantic air brings abundant rainfall, earning it the name "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall." It mainly comprises Yining (Liuxing Street, Kazanqi Folk Area), Huocheng's lavender and Guozigou Bridge, Sayram Lake (part of Bortala but usually visited together), Xinyuan's Narati Sky Grassland, Tekes's Bagua City and Kalajun Grassland, Zhaosu's canola flowers and heavenly horses, and Gongliu's Kurdening and Qiaxi Forest. A common itinerary takes 5–7 days: Yining – Sayram Lake – Huocheng – Yining – Tekes/Kalajun – Zhaosu – Narati – (northern section of the Duku Highway). Yining Airport has many routes, and trains run to Yining and Khorgos; between scenic areas you need a chartered car or to self-drive. In the summer peak season hotel prices are high and early booking is needed; Zhaosu sits at about 1,800 m, so mornings and evenings are cool. The valley's Xiata Ancient Trail is a famous hiking route in China, with distant views of Muzart Glacier; festivals such as the Zhaosu Heavenly Horse Festival and the Lavender Festival are concentrated in summer, while the cafes and guesthouses of Yining's Liuxing Street keep slow travelers lingering.

Destinations

• Yining
• Sayram Lake
• Nalati
• Tekes & Zhaosu (Kalajun)
• Bayanbulak
• Gongliu

Itineraries

• In-Depth Ili Valley Grassland Loop – In and out of Yining, connecting Sayram Lake, Zhaosu, Kalajun, Kurdening, and Nalati
• North Xinjiang Grand Loop: Kanas, Ili & Duku Highway – Depart from Urumqi to loop through Altay, Sayram Lake, and Ili, returning via the northern section of the Duku Highway
• Duku Highway: North-to-South Tianshan Crossing – Drive the entire Duku Highway from Dushanzi to Kuqa, experiencing grasslands, mountain passes, the Nine Curves and Eigh…