In Yili | Qiaxi Forest Park (with a mini guide)

I knew Yili was beautiful, but I didn't expect it to be this stunning! This trip was tight and I was afraid of crowds, so I didn't go to Narati and came directly to Qiaxi. Looking at a bunch of photos online is nothing compared to the joy of seeing it with your own eyes, it's really too beautiful! The grassland is like a painting on the ground, the woods are clean and orderly, and many times when I look up, I feel like I'm in a Hayao Miyazaki manga. You can see the tents of the herders everywhere and the herds of cattle, sheep, and horses scattered all around, and when the wind blows through the roadside wildflowers, it lifts waves of yellow blossoms. 🎫【Ticket/Admission Time】The ticket is 30 yuan per person, and you can't buy it at the tourist center after 8 pm, but you can buy it at the entrance of the scenic area so don't worry about not being able to get in. Qiaxi scroll and the loop drive are open from 10 am (but we were let in just after 9 am). 🗺️【Route】There is only one road inside, just drive to the end, and you will find the exit is right where the Qiaxi entrance is (otherwise why call it a loop, haha), but parking is not allowed at the Qiaxi scroll, and that place is very photogenic, which is a bit troublesome, so you can first take pictures from the plank road and then drive back to the campsite to go to the loop. ⛺️【Camping】There is a campsite, including toilets, showers, food, and drink, the environment is nice but it's really cold at night. At 5 am the next day, who would know, a horse was eating grass right above my head, which woke me up 🥹 🚗【Car】Why have a separate category for cars? Because the Qiaxi loop is really strict! They don't allow small cars in, only off-road vehicles and SUVs can enter, so if you want to go to the loop, make sure to drive a big car, mainly because there are several water crossings and big pits (the car in front of us kept slipping and couldn't get up at the water crossing). 🍲【Food and Supplies】There are very few supply points in Qiaxi, after all, you come out after driving the loop for a few hours, but if you plan to camp for a few days, bring more food and drink. Down the mountain is Qiaxi town where you can buy more stuff, and the prices are not expensive (the 5 yuan beef skewers are delicious, recommended!) Yili is really beautiful, not just the scenic spots, even the farmland next to the highway is so pleasing to the eye, the wind blowing through the wheat fields brings a wave of greenery, I swear I will definitely go again next time!