When you come to Xinjiang, you must drive on the most beautiful road in China: "Duku Highway"

Everyone who owns his or her beloved car will want to drive across the great rivers and mountains of the motherland and get to know fellow enthusiasts from different ethnic groups; they also want to drive over the Taihang Mountains and experience the wonders of nature. There are cliffs everywhere; if you want to drive in Tibet, breathe the cleanest air and touch the clouds closest to the sky, no one will turn a blind eye to the beauty of nature.

But when you really want to make up your mind to go out and see the world, time, money, and unexpected changes will all make your plan ruined. In the end, you can only spare a few days to relax. . Although the time is not long, it must be worthwhile, so what I recommend to you today is the three-day and two-night self-driving trip on the Duku Highway. The best guide to "Duku Highway": it is only open for 5 months every year, and it is as beautiful as heaven.

When you come to Xinjiang, you must drive the most beautiful road in China: "Duku Highway". The 560-kilometer-long Duku Highway from Dushanzi to Kuqa is a place that countless self-driving enthusiasts in Xinjiang yearn for. It is also known as "the most dangerous highway in China". If it is your first time to drive on mountainous roads, it is better not to go there. . Moreover, the Duku Highway is only open from May to October every year and will be temporarily closed if extreme weather occurs.

Attractions passed: Dushanzi Grand Canyon-Nalati Grassland-Bayinbuluke Grassland-Big and Small Dragon Ponds-Tianshan Grand Canyon

DAY1: Urumqi>> (Total distance is 248.1 kilometers, driving 3 hours) >> Dushanzi >> (Total journey 720 kilometers, driving time 8 hours and 54 minutes) >> Nalati DAY2: Nalati >> (Total distance 168 kilometers, driving time 3 hours and 22 minutes) >> Bayinbuluke Grassland< /p>

DAY3: Bayinbuluke Grassland >> (Total distance is 648 kilometers, driving time is 9 hours and 53 minutes) >> Kuqa

First day of self-driving:

Dushanzi

Set off in the morning and arrive at Dushanzi before noon, a small city famous for its oil. This is also the starting point of the Duku Highway. The winding mountain roads and the comfort of the small town are impressive. The air is very fresh. Drive towards Zhunnan Road for about half an hour and 27 kilometers to reach the Dushanzi Grand Canyon located next to Duku Highway.

It is known as "the secret realm of Duku, a wonder that lasts for hundreds of millions of years". Tickets start at 30 yuan, and other items such as glass bridges and high-altitude bicycles are charged separately. There are many canyons, and they are really deep. The view from the top down is very shocking and will scare those who are afraid of heights. Every place has its own uniqueness, so you have to experience it.

The top of the canyon is a plain, with horses and sheep foraging leisurely. The picture is beautiful. It’s best to visit around 2 o’clock, because it’s still a long drive to Nalati.

Nalati

This drive is relatively long, but there are many small scenic spots on the way, so you can take pictures while walking. We arrived in Nalati at about 23.00 in the evening. We first found a hotel to stay in and visited the Nalati Grassland the next morning. The ticket is 107 yuan, which is cheaper for Xinjiang locals.

Nalati Prairie is known as the "Sky Grassland" because of its high altitude. There are grasses and mountains here. Nalati Scenic Area is also very famous locally. Snow mountains, forests, grasslands, rivers, etc. are all fascinating.

With attractions such as Summer Ranch, Wangtian Cave, and Kezilashia Waterfall, and herds of cows and sheep, it can be said to be a "fairyland on earth". There is also a horse riding project, but it is charged, about 100 yuan for an hour of riding. The pristine prairie will definitely relax you physically and mentally, making your trip worthwhile.

?The second day of self-driving:

Bayinbuluke Grassland

There are three scenic spots in Bayinbuluke Scenic Area, and my favorite is Bayinbuluke Grassland. You must arrive at Bayinbuluke Grassland before evening to watch the sunset, and enter the scenic spot before 7 o'clock at the latest.

According to the locals, if you come before sunset, you can take photos of the nine suns. Although I was a little disappointed not to see such a scene, the sunset is also very beautiful.

However, there are also regulations on the opening hours of Bayinbuluke Grassland. You must check online in advance to see if it is open, otherwise you will miss out. It is the second largest grassland in my country, second only to the Ordos Grassland in Inner Mongolia.

Covering an area of ??nearly a thousand square kilometers, it has lush vegetation and is the habitat of wild swans, as well as the elegant and charming Swan Lake. As the saying goes, "If you haven't been to Xinjiang, you don't know how big China is, and if you haven't been to Ili, you don't know how beautiful Xinjiang is." You must come to the Bayinbuluke Grassland in person to truly feel that being in it is like being outside the world.

We stayed in a hotel near Bayinbuluke that day, and the price was about 200 yuan. It also took a long time to leave Kuqa on the morning of the third day. Be prepared with plenty of water and food.

The third day of self-driving:

Kuqa

During this day’s drive, we will pass through many Daban, and we will also see large and small mountains on the way to Kuqa. The dragon pond shines brightly in the sunlight and is very beautiful. Like a gem set in it!

There is also the Tianshan Grand Canyon, located in Kuqa County. The entrance fee is 40 yuan. The Grand Canyon consists of a main valley and seven branch valleys, with a total length of more than 5,000 meters. I really like this kind of landform. Thousands of walls stand on both sides of the Grand Canyon. The red rock surface is very beautiful, spectacular and magical. It makes people marvel at the uncanny craftsmanship of nature, which is a bit like the Antelope Canyon in the United States.

Taking photos in a place like this can produce blockbusters in no time, especially when the weather is good. If possible, you can also take aerial photography. There is no cell phone signal when you enter the innermost part, so you can only take pictures of the breathtaking scenery.

Tips:

☆There is no signal in many places, so be sure to download offline maps.

☆There are few places to eat on the road, so prepare snacks, water, etc. in advance.

☆ "There are four seasons in one day" is not called for nothing. The temperature difference is very large, so you need to prepare everything from short-sleeved shirts to down jackets.

☆Be sure to pay attention to safety when driving by yourself. Be sure to fill up the tank where there are gas stations, and proceed with caution on rainy days.

☆The following vehicles are prohibited: passenger cars with more than seven seats, full trailers, semi-trailers, tourist charters, and vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals.