Are Xinjiang scenic spots open? Can you go there now? Duku Highway Self-driving Tour Route Map and Attraction Recommendations

Now the scenic spots in Xinjiang have begun to fully resume tourism, which means that everyone can travel to Xinjiang. The editor recommends that you go to the Duku Highway in Xinjiang, because this road is only 6-10 Open every month, closed at other times. Is it open - can I go?

It is open, you can go and play.

From September 2, Xinjiang’s outdoor scenic spots will be fully opened, and cross-provincial (autonomous regions and municipalities) tourism will resume. At present, the staged results of Xinjiang's epidemic prevention and control have been further consolidated, and Xinjiang has entered the stage of normalized epidemic prevention and control, and has fully restored normal production and living order. Starting from September 2, all outdoor tourist attractions (spots) in the autonomous region will be open to tourists, and cross-provincial (autonomous regions and municipalities) tourism will be resumed at the same time.

All scenic spots, travel agencies and other tourism-related enterprises will strictly follow the requirements of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases" and the "Guidelines on Epidemic Prevention and Control Measures for the Resumption of Tourist Attractions" to strengthen the management of scenic spots. We will do a good job in public health and epidemic prevention work to ensure the safe and orderly opening of tourist attractions.

The most convenient way to play in Xinjiang is to drive by car. Driving on the precipitous and beautiful roads, you can not only drive on the aerial grasslands like the nomads here, but also like ancient adventurers. Experience the mystery of traveling across the Asian continent like home. Duku Highway

Duku Highway, which can be called a monument in the history of highway construction, is like a giant dragon lying in the Tianshan Mountains. It spans the vast Tianshan Mountains and climbs four Daban (passes) with an altitude of more than 3,000 meters. One day Within a short period of time, you can experience spring, summer, autumn and winter, see all the typical Xinjiang topography and landforms, and enjoy the ethnic customs of Uygur, Mongolia and Kazakhs.

Nowadays, except for some roads that are under renovation, they are basically all paved roads. The speed limit on most road sections is 40 kilometers per hour, and passenger cars with more than 7 seats are not allowed to enter. You need to pay attention to falling rocks and dark ice along the way, and slow down when making continuous curves. Especially on rainy days, the highway is very prone to disasters such as mudslides, water damage, and landslides.

1. Dushanzi District

Dushanzi used to be a desolate Gobi. The urban area of ??Dushanzi is not big, and the streets are empty and deserted. Because it is closer to the Tianshan Mountains, the summer is cooler. . Mud Volcano (free) is located 1 km southwest of the city. You can hike to the top of the mountain, which is about 5 kilometers round trip and takes about an hour. If you are confident enough in your vehicle performance and driving skills, you can also drive up along the one-car-wide gravel road. The Dushanzi Oilfield site passed along the way is the location where the first oil well was drilled in Xinjiang in 1909. The top of the mountain overlooks the entire Dushanzi city.

Driving: It is always uphill after leaving Dushanzi. After about 30 kilometers, you will enter the spectacular Kuitun River Grand Canyon. As the journey progresses, the mountains and valleys on both sides of the road gradually become higher and higher, and the colorful bare rocks tower into the clouds. Such a dazzling landscape can be seen for dozens of kilometers.

2. Qiaoerma

Qiaoerma is a small town formed in the era of road construction. It is located at the intersection of Duku Highway and Iqiao Highway. The three forked roads lead to Kuqa respectively. , Dushanzi and Yili. There are simple restaurants and accommodations in the town, where you can refuel, park and rest.

The distance from Jorma to Swan Lake is 180 kilometers, and it takes 4 hours on paved roads and winding mountain roads. About 120 kilometers away from Qolma, you will pass the intersection of G217 National Highway and G218 National Highway. From there, it is only 7 kilometers to Nalati Grassland. There are alpine meadows along this section of the road, and from time to time you will see large herds of cattle and sheep on the hillside.

3. Bayinbulak Grassland (Swan Lake)

Bayinbulak is Mongolian, meaning "rich spring water". Thousands of small springs are scattered throughout the hinterland of the southern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains. Together with the melted water from the surrounding snow-capped mountains, they form the Kaidu River, the mother river of Bazhou. The river nourishes lush grasslands, forms large and small wetlands and swamps, and attracts large flocks of birds. There is China's first swan nature reserve on Bayinbuluke Grassland: Swan Lake (the scenic spot is open from mid-April to late October). It is composed of many interconnected small lakes and is home to more than 120 species of birds, the most precious of which are wild swans. In addition, there are also rare birds such as black storks, golden eagles, and white-shouldered eagles.

June is the best time for bird watching. At that time, large groups of swans and geese will come from South Asia and even the Mediterranean and the Red Sea to build nests and hatch their eggs here. Please do not disturb them when visiting. The peak tourist season is from June to August, when the weather is cool, the pastures are luxuriant, and everything in the field of vision is green that is almost dripping with oil. From the fourth to the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, the annual grassland event Naadam and the Donggui Art Festival are held in Bayinbuluke Town, where the Swan Lake Scenic Area is located. There are horse racing, wrestling, sheep racing, yak racing and other activities as well as national costumes, national songs and dances. Waiting for traditional performances.

There is also a Torgut Folk Culture Village in the town. In addition to displaying the folk customs of the Torgut tribe, there are also live performances with the theme of Donggui, which are grand scenes. You don’t have to enter the scenic area, the grassland scenery beside the highway is equally beautiful. There is a wetland landscape 5 kilometers away from Bayinbuluke Town in the direction of Qolma. Compared with the lakes that are enclosed and charged, it is not inferior to the free and open lakes.

4. Big and Small Dragon Ponds

Dalong Pond and Xiaolong Pond are two alpine lakes deep in the Tianshan Mountains. They are formed by the melting of snow and water from the Tianshan Mountains. The waters are wide and crystal clear. . Dalongchi is large in area and the water color is particularly beautiful. Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty once passed through Dalongchi when he went west to collect scriptures. There is a description of Dalongchi in his "Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty".

The two lakes are about 4 kilometers apart and both are beside the G217 national highway. You can take a look at them.

5. Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon

The entrance to Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon is located next to the G217 National Highway. The canyon is about 5.5 kilometers long. The huge red mountain group was formed in the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era 140 million years ago. After hundreds of millions of years of wind erosion, rain erosion, and torrent erosion, the stone walls on both sides have transformed into various shapes, which are uncanny and lifelike. Entering it, the huge red sand wall seems to be rushing towards you immediately. If you want to push this "pressure" to the extreme, you can try to visit the branches of Geshi Valley and Shen Shen Valley.

The only artificial masterpiece in the canyon is the Aai Grottoes. It is located about 1.5 kilometers from the mouth of the canyon. It is excavated on a high cliff. There are remaining murals inside, as well as a large number of inscriptions in Chinese characters, and even the names of the donors are clear. Because it is located at a high place, it is inconvenient to climb. Compared with other grottoes of the same period, this place is quite well preserved. Unfortunately, it is not open to the public at ordinary times, so you can only look up at the bottom of the valley. You can only walk in the canyon, and the whole trip takes about 3 hours.

It is about 70 kilometers from the Mysterious Grand Canyon of the Tianshan Mountains to Kuqa, and the road is paved and takes 1.5 hours by car. The canyons along the way are also very beautiful. The Red Mountain Stone Forest and the Yadan landform are desolate and magnificent. You will see road signs on the way, and you can take a detour of 6 kilometers to see the Kizilgaha beacon. This seemingly inconspicuous loess building is the oldest and best-preserved beacon on the Silk Road. It was first built during the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty and has stood on this riverbed for nearly two thousand years. The remaining height is about 13.5 meters, with a watchtower and wooden components on the top.

6. Kuqa

When Kuqa was still called Kucha, it was already famous. Kuqa is like a sponge, absorbing elements of civilization from all directions and flourishing in the history of civilization in the Western Regions. It's worth staying here for a day. The old town of Kuqa still retains a strong Uyghur custom. The Kuqa Mosque is the largest mosque in Kuqa, second only to the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, and has a history of more than 500 years. There is also an ancient religious court in the courtyard, which is the only one left in Xinjiang. From the back porch here you can see a quite ancient Kuqa residential area.

The Kuqa Palace not far away was the former residence of the last generation of Kuqa King Dawuti Maihesuti. The flowers, plants and pomegranate trees that he once planted with his own hands are still welcoming visitors with vitality. You can learn about the history of the 12 generations of Kuqa kings here. The Qiuci Museum (formerly Kuqa County Museum) in the palace has tens of thousands of cultural relics on display.

The Subash Buddhist Temple Ruins (ticket 25 yuan) located 26 kilometers northeast of Kuqa County was first built in the Wei and Jin Dynasties and was most prosperous during the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It was once the royal temple of the Qiuci Kingdom. Currently, less than a quarter of the entire Western Temple is open to visitors. Among them, the central pagoda and the main hall of the Western Temple are relatively well preserved.

·When to go: The highway is only open from June to early October every year. July and August are the best seasons to visit the grassland.

·Best photography spot: The mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains, with rocks as red as fire.

·The best self-driving experience: from Dushanzi to Qolma, the mountain road is winding and the scenery is spectacular.