Tianshan + Southern Xinjiang | You are the spirit of summer, accidentally entering my green dream

                                                                                                                                                           Preface

How large is Xinjiang? It covers an area of 166,000 square kilometers, accounting for approximately 1/6 of the country's land area. Its border stretches over 5,000 kilometers, and it borders 8 countries. How beautiful is Xinjiang? The red of the Flame Mountain, the yellow of the Kumtag Desert, the blue of the Sayram Lake, the green of the Karajun Grassland, the purple of the Hoh City Lavender, and the white of Mount Mushtag, together form a breathtaking landscape painting.

In one's lifetime, one must visit Xinjiang at least once. Experience the vastness of the country and the magnificent landscapes, taste the various delicious dishes and fruits, watch a performance of Uyghur music and dance, and gallop on horseback in the grassland.

                                                                               Seri Mu Lake, Lake Tour, Experience Ten Miles of Different Sceneries

Early in the morning, we set off from Urumqi and reached the Sayram Lake via the Lianhuo Expressway. After the tour guide exchanged the tickets at the scenic area ticket office, we took our own buses for a tour around the lake.

Upon arriving at the first stop, the weather was gloomy and the color of the lake water was grey. The circumference of Sayram Lake around the lake is approximately 90 kilometers. Usually, one enters from the east gate and exits from the south gate. Considering the bad weather, we had a brief visit at the first stop and then took a vehicle to the second stop around the lake.

At this point, the weather began to improve, and the color of Sayram Lake gradually started to emerge. One could see that the lake water changed from its original gray color to a light blue-gray, and there was a lot of vitality in front of one's eyes.

The most astonishing thing was that when we finally reached Songzhuotou, several swans were playing and swimming in the lake. The swans had rich feathers and a plump body, and were extremely beautiful. At this moment, looking at the swans before me and the azure Seryum Lake, one couldn't help but feel: These two are the most perfect match!

                                                                                              Huo City Lavender, the purple romance from Xinjiang

We rested for one night in Qingshui River. The next morning, we arrived at the Jiuyuan Princess Lavender Farm in Lucaogou, Huoqing County. Here, there are large fields of lavender.

The area of the scenic spot is not large. After we exchanged the tickets at the entrance of the scenic spot and had them checked, we walked in and entered the scenic area.

As soon as you enter the scenic area, the first thing that catches your eye is a small patch of pale purple lavender fields. The further you go, the larger the area of lavender cultivation becomes, until we reach a high hill where the area of lavender cultivation reaches its maximum.

Although it is in full bloom season, it doesn't seem to have reached the peak of blooming yet. Therefore, the current lavender still appears to be a mixture of purple and green.

However, being able to see such a large-scale lavender field in Xinjiang is also a special and beautiful experience~

                                                                                                      Koksu Grand Canyon, with land, sea and air forces all participating

After visiting the lavender fields, we took a vehicle to the Korksu Grand Canyon, which is not far from the Tucheng County. Although we have visited many scenic spots in Xinjiang, there are not many places like the Korksu Grand Canyon that require multiple modes of transportation (boats, sightseeing buses, cable cars) to visit.

Entering the scenic area, one first takes a boat to cross the Kuldere River. Looking ahead, the lake water seems right in front of you and within reach, presenting a scene of "high mountains creating a flat lake".

Next, we took the sightseeing bus and arrived at "Crocodile Bay". We slowly walked down the wooden walkway of the scenic area and reached a viewing platform. Looking down from above, we could see that the mountain below really looked like a crocodile lying in the water, extremely lifelike.

Immediately after that, we went to "Human Prairie" and "The Nine Turns and Eighteen Curves". Due to the decrease in rainfall in recent years, the Human Prairie has turned into a barren yellow color, which somewhat disappoints us.

At the last stop, we arrived at Kuldai Canyon. From here, you can have a panoramic view of the entire canyon. It is indeed a great viewing platform.

                                                                                                               Karajuun Grassland, An Unforgettable Night of Starry Sky

When it comes to the most memorable scenery during this trip, it has to be the Kalarjuun Grassland.

After visiting the Kekusu Grand Canyon, we successfully checked into the Pine Tree Campsite within the scenic area. After having a simple dinner at the Pine Tree Campsite, we strolled around the vicinity to digest the meal and waited for nightfall.

Around 12 o'clock at night, the sky grew darker and more stars appeared randomly. Seeing this, my roommate and I quickly grabbed our phones and cameras and rushed out of the yurt. We located the position of the Milky Way and took a lot of pictures. Although the night on the grassland was extremely cold, the countless beautiful stars above made us feel extremely warm. This became the most unforgettable memory of our journey.

The next morning, we visited the Flower Terrace and the Falcon Terrace. Although it was just a regular tourist route, we couldn't help but be amazed by the vastness of the Xinjiang grassland and the abundance of green grass. Especially the horseback riding experience at the Falcon Terrace, riding along the Kuldai Forest Canyon all the way, was simply fantastic!

                                                                                            Xata Scenic Area, the essence of Ili's landscapes

After leaving the Karajun grassland, we rested for a night in Zhaosu. The next morning, we headed to the famous Xia Ta scenic area. Due to arriving early and having a smooth journey, we didn't have to wait in line much when entering the scenic area.

Taking the scenic vehicle to travel through the valleys, one can have a close look at the beautiful scenery of the valleys. After about 40 minutes, we successfully arrived at the starting point for hiking, the Hot Spring Hotel. To spend more time in the scenic areas, we then took the sightseeing bus from the Hot Spring Hotel and reached the deeper area, General Bridge.

After driving along the bridge for a while, one would officially enter the core area of the Xia Ta scenic spot. Along the way, one could see snow-capped pine trees everywhere, the gurgling streams, and the blooming wildflowers on the grassland. It was truly a beautiful landscape painting!

Finally, we arrived at House No. 4 in Karah. This place is also known locally as "The Garden of the Gods". Looking at the magnificent scene of snow-capped mountains, green grass, and cattle and sheep before us, who wouldn't exclaim: "How magnificent the landscape is!"

                                                                                                         Bayinburuq, the regretful missed sunset

After visiting the Xia Ta scenic area, we took a vehicle to Bayin Buluk. Bayin Buluk is located in the middle section of the Keduk Road, connecting the north and south parts of Xinjiang, and it is an important distribution center.

Bayinburuq is famous for its nine twists and eighteen turns. Especially on sunny days, several suns can be seen in the water at the same time.

In the afternoon, we successfully entered the scenic area and happily reached the nine-turning and eighteen-curving viewing platform to wait. When we first entered the scenic area, the weather was still very nice, with clear blue sky and white clouds. However, as the sun began to set, the clouds in the distance suddenly became thicker. My friends and I were not willing to give up and still chose to wait patiently.

Finally, unfortunately, the sunset didn't come. Suddenly, it started raining lightly in the sky! We quickly took the scenic area bus and, accompanied by thunder and lightning, we returned to the hotel in a somewhat frustrated mood.

                                                                    Kuchun Tian Shan Grand Canyon, experiencing the scorching heat of southern Xinjiang

After leaving Bayinburuk, we headed to the mysterious Tian Shan Grand Canyon in Kuqa. As soon as we arrived at the canyon, we could clearly sense its intense heat.

When first seeing the canyon, it appeared in a deep red color, looking like a blazing flame. As one walked deeper into the canyon, one could experience its unique scenery, such as being carved by sharp tools. And the further one went in, the narrower the passage became, and the more magnificent the scenery became.

We took some photos in the canyon. Seeing that the heat was unbearable, we left the scenic area.

                                                                                    The Thousand Buddha Cave, the center of Buddhism in the Western Regions

After leaving the Tian Shan canyon, we headed for the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, which was once the center of Buddhism in the Western Regions.

As you approach the Thousand Buddha Cave, the first thing that catches your eye is the statue of Kumarajiva. He was a great translator from the Western Regions and made significant contributions to the spread and promotion of Buddhism in those areas.

Entering the Thousand Buddha Cave, under the guidance of the guide, we learned about the past and present of the cave, as well as the stories behind its carvings and murals. It is definitely worth a visit!