Things to do in Wusu

Duku Highway

Duku Highwayis the common name for the Dushanzi to Kuqa section of National Highway 217. It starts in the north at Dushanzi and ends in the south at Kuqa, the site of the ancient Qiuci kingdom. It spans approx. 561 km and runs through the Tianshan Mountains, cutting the travel distance between northern and southern Xinjiang, which originally required a detour of over 1,000 km, by nearly half. Half of the highway is at an altitude of over 2,000 m, and it crosses four mountain passes covered in snow year-round. One-fifth of the route lies in the alpine permafrost zone, and one-third consists of cliffs and precipices. It took ten years to build this road before it was fully opened to traffic. More than 100 soldiers who built the road rest forever in the Tianshan Mountains, and the Martyrs' Cemetery in Qiao'erma was built to commemorate them. It can be said that every kilometer was hard-won.

Hashilagen Daban

Hashilagen Daban is located within Nilka County. Its Mongolian name means "impassable." It serves as the boundary between Ili and Tacheng prefectures. The terrain is steep and rugged, the road winds through deep canyons, and the views along the way are magnificent.

Populus Euphratica Forest Scenic Area

The Populus euphratica forest scenic area is located in a vast area where plateaus and river valleys intersect. The forest is lush and the environment is tranquil. In autumn, the leaves of the Populus euphratica turn a brilliant golden yellow, contrasting beautifully with the blue sky and white clouds, creating a magnificent tapestry of colors. The roads and trails within the forest area are well-planned, facilitating close-up viewing of the Populus euphratica while maintaining the integrity of the natural ecosystem, allowing visitors to experience the tenacity of life and the power of nature while strolling through. The Populus euphratica forest within the scenic area is well-arranged, with tall trunks and abundant foliage, providing habitats for various birds and wild animals, resulting in a rich and diverse ecosystem. Walking along the forest paths, visitors can not only appreciate the magnificent scenery of the Populus euphratica forest but also experience the tranquility and mystery of the deep forest, feeling the harmonious coexistence of nature and humanity. The scenic area has complete supporting facilities, including viewing platforms, rest areas, and science education displays, allowing visitors to learn about the ecological value and conservation significance of the Populus euphratica forest while touring.

No. 8 of Best Things to Do in Northern Xinjiang

Dushanzi Grand Canyon

Dushanzi Grand Canyon is located in Dushanzi District, Karamay City, Xinjiang, about 28 km south of the urban area, with accessible roads for vehicles. The canyon floor is 100–400m wide, while the canyon shoulders span 800–1,000m. With a height of up to 200m from base to shoulder and an elevation of 1,070m, this attraction features spectacular canyon terrain. After breaking through the Tianshan Mountains, the river carved out a spectacular canyon in the sloping plains southwest of Dushanzi. The terraces on both sides of the canyon are clearly visible, with at least nine distinct levels. The terrace surfaces feature desert grasslands dotted with wormwood and feather grass. Within Dushanzi, the Kuitun River flows through the Dushanzi Grand Canyon, which runs nearly north-south. The canyon walls are steep cliffs, while the river at the bottom alternately converges and diverges. The canyon shoulders are covered in desert grasslands. Standing at the canyon's edge, visitors are treated to a classic grand canyon panorama. The meltwater from Tianshan Mountain and rainwater carve out these unique canyon views by forming alluvial gullies through the local soil. The canyon begins at the mountain's base, creating distinct soil layers across the grassland, primarily in shades of gray and black. Though fed by abundant snowmelt, the water turns turbid as it carries sediment through these mineral-rich soils.

Wusu Foshan National Forest Park

Wusufushan Forest Park covers an area of ​​more than 30,000 hectares and consists of three areas: Bayingou, Daifuseng and Wulan Sadek Lake. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers and has a beautiful environment. The park integrates tourism, sightseeing, summer vacation, vacation, adventure, field scientific research, and wild animal and plant viewing. It is a good place for your leisure and vacation.

Tianpu Waterfall

Duku Highway Starting Point (Dushanzi)

Dushanzi, as the northern starting point of the Duku Highway, is located on the west side of Karamay City, Xinjiang, at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains and the southwestern edge of the Junggar Basin. This small town, which rose up because of oil, is not only a transportation hub connecting southern and northern Xinjiang, but also the gateway to the magical journey of the Duku Highway, "seeing four seasons in one day, and different weather in ten miles". Its unique geographical location, magnificent natural scenery and profound oil culture make it a pilgrimage site in the hearts of self-driving enthusiasts. Driving south from the starting point, you will soon reach the "Gate of Tianshan" viewing platform, which is a barrier to entering the Tianshan Mountains. You can overlook the snow-capped mountains and the Duku Highway, which is like a black dragon winding into the distance. The scenery is shocking. Dushanzi is not only the geographical starting point of the Duku Highway, but also the spiritual starting point for exploring the magnificent scenery and cultural history of Xinjiang. Starting from here, crossing snow-capped mountains, canyons, grasslands and lakes, every kilometer is writing the legend of the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains.

Kuytun Food and Leisure Street

Kuytun Food and Leisure Street, also known as Wusu Street, sees traffic flowing back and forth every day, with busy crowds bustling in and out of the shops. This short street is lined with restaurants, reflecting the prosperity of the small city. It is filled with restaurants and snack shops offering a wide variety of delicious dishes.

Mud volcano

Not far to the southwest of Dushanzi, there is a mud volcano, bare, and the name of Dushanzi comes from this mud volcano. There are magma vents in the shape of a circle or an ellipse on the top of the mud volcano, and the mud accumulates in a cone shape on the ground. Some volcanic craters erupted violently, accompanied by a thudding sound. Mud volcanoes are rare natural features. The mud volcanoes here are still erupting continuously.

Fushan Park Daifuseng Area

Wusu Foshan Forest Park is located in the middle of the Tianshan Mountains, about 50 kilometers away from the urban area of Wusu. Tofu Seng Scenic Spot is an important and beautiful scenic spot in Foshan Park. Here there is the world's largest and most mysterious natural snow-capped Buddha, a sub-alpine ecological park that is rare in the world and unique in China, and a unique geological phenomenon in the Junggar Basin with relatively complete development, many strata, relatively complete rock formations, and exposed A continuous, well-preserved geological zone. It is a tourist treasure land intertwined by snow-capped mountains, forests, grasslands, rivers, glaciers and canyons.