Yili Prefecture Gongliu County - Encounter the beautiful and less crowded Kuerdening in the Western Tianshan Mountains

Gongliu County is located in the central part of Yili Prefecture, about an hour and a half drive from Yining City. The county town has relatively complete infrastructure, decent accommodation conditions, and a lower cost of living compared to Yining City. There is a night market next to Diehu Lake in the county town, offering a variety of delicious foods. Kuerdening Scenic Area is located in Gongliu County, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang, about an hour's drive from the county town. It is a nature reserve in the Western Tianshan Mountains. The main feature of the scenic area is its forest landscape. From the viewing platform, you can see the Kabamba Peak in the distance, and you can also ride horses to get a closer view of the forest and snow-capped mountains. The water in the valley comes from melted high mountain ice and snow, and even at noon in late July, the water is still icy cold. Camping enthusiasts can put their drinks and watermelons in the river and soon enjoy the pleasure of ice-cold refreshments. There is a herdsman halfway up the mountain who offers accommodation in yurts (though I recommend bringing your own tent for camping, or you can stay at the RV campsite within the scenic area). You can also bring your own meat and ask the owner to help cook it. We brought a leg of lamb, half of which the owner made into a large plate of lamb, and the other half we grilled into lamb skewers using the owner's stove. There is almost no light pollution locally, and on clear nights, you can see a sky full of stars. Notes: 1. Remember to clean up your trash when camping and do not use fire in the wild. 2. The scenic area has a one-way loop, and with a ticket, you can enter the park unlimited times on the same day. Camping is allowed at night. 3. Camping equipment can be rented in Gongliu County town at a reasonable price. 4. The road conditions are good, so there is no need to worry if you are driving a sedan. There is only a small section of dirt road. For reference, an A6L can pass through normally.