Slow Travel in Ili - 6-Day Self-Drive Trip to Tekesi and Zhaosu
The trip to Ili starts and ends in Yining City, forming a loop. The most beautiful scenery is in Tekesi and Zhaosu. The self-drive route is as follows: Yining - Tekesi Bagua City - Kalajun Scenic Area - Kuoketireke Village - Kaxiagar Township - Zhaosu Yuhu Scenic Area - Xiata Tourist Area - Zhaosu - Yining. Except for the start and end points, other places belong to the jurisdictions of Tekesi and Zhaosu. Although traveling in the vast Xinjiang, where the distance between scenic spots can be hundreds of kilometers, our journey was leisurely arranged, with stops and rests, covering only a small circle but enjoying the ultimate beauty of nature. Perhaps only Xinjiang people can have such a luxurious trip.
During this trip, two whole days were spent on the road, and these two days became the essence of the entire journey. Probably because Tekesi and Zhaosu are full of beautiful scenery, there are too many places that can be circled as scenic spots, so many free scenic spots are left for travelers to roam.
On the third day of the trip, we headed from Tekesi to Xiata. Following the advice of fellow travelers, we added Kuoketireke Village and Kaxiagar Township to our navigation, as there were no planned scenic spots for that day. We chose a slightly time-consuming route with a try-it-out attitude. Thus, we crossed the cloud-covered grasslands, passed through villages with rolling wheat waves, and saw Kazakh houses with blooming flowers in front of their doors. The Yuhu Scenic Area is very close to Kaxiagar Township, just on the way to Xiata. We took a detour and saw the small Kanas Lake. Facing the green, winding lake between the Tianshan Mountains, we sat down and enjoyed a cup of authentic American coffee. This moment of modern life in the deep mountains and forests, a short rest during a long journey, is so unique that it will always linger in my mind.
The fame of the Yizhao Highway is now as high as that of the Duku Highway. On the winding mountain road from Yining to Zhaosu, there are often car queues several kilometers long. Fortunately, we traveled in the opposite direction, from Zhaosu to Yining, which was much better. Moreover, this direction is more friendly to non-professional drivers because it is on the mountain side, not the cliff side, making it feel safer psychologically. The downside is that there are fewer stopping points, so whenever there is a place to stop, be sure to stop and enjoy the great scenery. After all, you can only catch a glimpse while driving. Coming out of the homestay in Zhaosu, even before getting on the Yizhao Highway, the roadside scenery was already breathtaking. On both sides of the road, golden wheat fields extend to the distant green mountains, with snow-capped peaks either floating with clouds or shining with golden light. The most beautiful section of the Yizhao Highway is near Zhaosu, especially from Wild Wolf Valley, Swan Valley to Baishi Peak. This section of the road is basically at an altitude of 4000 meters, shuttling between the peaks. Turning a corner, you see a vast alpine meadow, and another turn reveals a barren giant stone peak.
Kalajun was rated as the most three-dimensional grassland by "China National Geography" magazine, and I call it the most photogenic grassland. Under the light and shadow, the grassland, sheep, shepherds on horseback, blue-green slopes in the shadows, continuous tan peaks, and wandering white clouds are arranged in an orderly manner, with layers of colors, without a trace of clutter or excess, as if it were a carefully designed photo shoot by a photographer. Unfortunately, we missed the most beautiful season of blooming flowers in June.
Xiata is a scenic spot with polarized reviews. If you encounter rainy days, the muddy roads, cloud-covered peaks, and cold wind and rain will naturally make the experience very bad. Fortunately, the weather was kind to us. It rained the day we stayed in Xiata Town, and the weather forecast predicted moderate rain the next day. I was already inclined to retreat, but unexpectedly, the next morning was sometimes cloudy and sometimes sunny, just right for hiking. By 4 pm, when we left the scenic area, it was raining heavily in the mountains. Therefore, it is recommended to enter Xiata in the morning, and it is even better if you can get a self-drive ticket early. To enter the scenic spot, first take the shuttle bus, then the electric car (not included in the ticket, need to buy separately). Shortly after the electric car starts, you will see the Muzart Glacier. After that, whether riding a horse or walking, you will always be heading towards it. Looking at the nearly 7000-meter-high Khan Tengri Peak from a distance, it looks like an eagle spreading its wings or a sitting Maitreya Buddha. Although it is high above, overlooking all beings, it feels very close, perhaps because in front of it is the river formed by Tianshan snow water, the vast grassland nourished by the river, and colorful flowers.
Here is the accommodation information. The homestays and hotels we stayed in were all good and highly recommended.
1. Tekesi Our Courtyard. The homestay is very new, with a fresh and fashionable design style, equipped to a 4-star standard. The central courtyard is suitable for sitting and chatting. It is just off the street, making it convenient to walk around Bagua City. The breakfast shop "Qianyuan Backyard" recommended by the homestay is excellent, especially the zucchini pie, which is the best breakfast I had in Xinjiang. At the "Pomegranate Blossom" restaurant, we had extremely delicious lamb chops.
2. Xiata Huizhiyun Homestay. The homestay looks like an American motel from the outside, equipped to a 4-star standard. The homestay is 1 kilometer away from the Xiata Scenic Area, making it quite convenient.
3. Zhaosu Gongyue Homestay. The homestay is very new, with large rooms equipped to a 4-star standard. The whole house has excellent smart control. From the corridor on the second floor, you can see the snow-capped mountains. If you get up early, you can also see the golden mountains at sunrise. It is an excellent resting place between Yining City and Xiata. You can stay here and enter Xiata early the next day.
4. Yining City Jiangu Hotel. The hotel is newly opened, very new, with large rooms and a great location, a 15-minute walk to Liuxing Street.
Travel Tips for Scenic Spots
1. Kalajun can be self-driven. Just navigate to the self-drive entrance to buy tickets. Once inside, the self-drive route signs are very clear, so you don't have to worry about taking the wrong route. If you don't take the cable car to Kuokesu Grand Canyon, don't drive to the Kuertai cable car station, because the corner of Kalajun Lake you see there is not beautiful. Just exit the scenic area directly from the exit.
2. Xiata Scenic Area can be self-driven, but the daily quota is limited. Some tourists go to the scenic spot entrance to grab tickets as early as 6:30 in the morning. Most tourists take the scenic area transportation, shuttle bus + electric car to the transfer bridge, General Bridge. Horse riding tickets are bought at the General Bridge, directly riding to the Flower Terrace. The round trip is 240 yuan, and the one-way trip to the 4th Kara House is 120 yuan. It is about 2 kilometers from the 4th Kara House to the Flower Terrace. It is recommended that elderly people ride horses back and forth because the hiking route is rugged and muddy, making it quite strenuous. Of course, the purpose of riding a horse in Xiata is to save effort. If you want to find the feeling of galloping, you will be greatly disappointed because the horse trail is mostly gravel and muddy roads. To ensure the safety of tourists, the horse owners usually lead the horses slowly, and their speed is even slower than walking.