The First Experience of the Great Ring Road in Tianshan, Xinjiang 15 Tianlu Book (I)

Love in Tianshan Mountains: My First Experience in Xinjiang (Part Two)

I remember I liked geography very much when I was a child. Every time I open the map of China, my eyes always fall on the west of China unconsciously. Compared with the eastern region where many provinces are crowded together, the division here is clear, namely Xinjiang in the northwest and Tibet in the southwest.

Xinjiang, in particular, is the province with the largest land area in China, accounting for one sixth of the total land area of China. In this vast land, there are majestic Altai Mountain, Tianshan Mountain and Kunlun Mountain, desolate and majestic Pamirs, the largest Taklimakan Desert in China, the lowest Turpan Basin in China, the second highest peak in the world, beautiful Ili grassland, mysterious Kanas Lake, rich natural resources and countless ethnic customs. ...

Being able to set foot on this magical land in person has always been my dream since childhood. After years of planning and preparation, from August 2065438 to August 2008, I finally started my long-awaited first trip to Xinjiang.

Because of the limited time, my first visit to Xinjiang was mainly designed around the Tianshan Mountains and the Ili Valley in central Xinjiang. Before traveling, I learned that serious rockfall occurred in Zhuo Ma-Nalati section of Dooku Highway, which led to the road closure, and made appropriate adjustments accordingly.

15 days. The specific itinerary is as follows:

Hami → East Tianshan Mountain → Balikun Grassland → Fukang → Kuitun → Qiaoerma → Kuitun → Sailimu Lake → Yining → Zhaosu → Xiata → Tekes → Harqin → Tekes → Nalati → Bayinbuluke → Kuqa → Kuqa Grand Canyon → Turpan → Flame Mountain → Hami.

Detailed explanation of road book

Travel planning

Starting from Hami, crossing the East Tianshan Mountains to the north, passing through Balikun Grassland and Qitai County, and finally reaching fukang city on the edge of Urumqi, the whole journey is about 600 kilometers, which takes about 12 hours, including the lunch time of the middle brigade.

The beautiful scenery must be seen.

East Tianshan 1

The majestic East Tianshan Mountains run through Hami from west to east, and the towering peaks block the southward movement of water vapor, resulting in a completely different climate in the south and north of the mountain. Hami is a typical Shannan region, with high temperature and little rain in summer, abundant sunshine and dry climate. The north of the mountain is abundant in rainfall, cool and pleasant, and forests, grasslands and lakes are connected together. When crossing the East Tianshan Mountains from south to north, it was really beautiful.

2. Balikun Grassland

Located in the northern part of the East Tianshan Mountains, the majestic peaks of the East Tianshan Mountains have created this vast grassland. Balikun grassland in summer, with blue sky and green grass, fresh air, flocks of cattle and sheep, and suitable temperature, is a good place for summer vacation and leisure.

The Stay Hotel

Based on the consideration of cost performance and convenient travel, our family of three (three adults) chose to stay in fukang city. The hotel I stayed in was a 7-day hotel chain (Fukang Bus Station). The address is 388 Junggar Road, diagonally opposite Fukang Bus Station. Ctrip.com made a reservation, and the price at that time was 220 yuan/day. Fukang city is not very large in scale, but it has complete supporting facilities and convenient eating and shopping. It is a good place to replenish on the way.

Travel planning

Starting from fukang city, all the way to the west, after visiting the Anjihai Grand Canyon, arrived in Kuitun City. The whole journey is about 360 kilometers. Including lunch time, it takes 9~ 10 hours. It should be noted that due to the child's physical discomfort the next day, unfortunately, the planning of Anji Sea Grand Canyon was finally cancelled and left directly in Kuitun.

The beautiful scenery must be seen.

Anji sea grand canyon

Located near Kuitun, the Grand Canyon is a huge alluvial fan formed by the erosion of Anji Haihe River on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain for many years, which is very spectacular.

The Stay Hotel

As we will take the northern section of Duku Highway the next day, there are three cities to choose to stay in, namely Dushanzi, Kuitun and Wusu. Wusu city is far away, so we ruled it out first. Dushanzi and Kuitun, of which Dushanzi is the closest, the accommodation is a little more expensive, and Kuitun is a little farther, but the accommodation, eating and shopping conditions are much better. After comprehensive comparison, I finally chose Kuitun City to stay.

The hotel is Kuitun Yintong Hotel, the address is 64 Bole Street, and there is a military compound nearby. The horn is very kind. Hotel price triple room 320 yuan/day, Ctrip reservation. Kuitun City is relatively developed, with complete supporting facilities. There are all kinds of large supermarkets in the food court of the shopping center, which is very convenient for eating and shopping. It is suggested to buy the convenience food of Kuku Expressway the next day here.

Travel planning

Depart from Kuitun, go all the way south, take the famous Dooku Highway in the north section, and return to Kuitun after arriving at Jorma. It's 300 kilometers round trip. Because it takes a lot of time to take pictures, it is estimated that it will take 1 1~ 12 hours with lunch.

The beautiful scenery must be seen.

Duku highway north section

There is a saying among the local people in Xinjiang that they have never been to Xinjiang without taking the single-library highway. Indeed, this heavenly road, which is only open for a few months every year, passes through Tianshan Mountain and Ili Valley. You don't need to find any scenic spots to drive on this expressway. Looking up, it's really beautiful everywhere.

Depart from Kuitun, pass through Dushanzi area of Karamay, and enter the majestic and endless Tianshan Mountains to the south. At first, the slope of Panshan Highway for several tens of kilometers was not large, but there were many bends. The scenery on both sides of the highway is magnificent and desolate Through the world-famous anti-avalanche tunnel, across the ice sheet at the foot of the glacier, the scenery suddenly became clear. The endless mountain grasslands and towering dangerous peaks constitute a beautiful landscape picture. ...

The Stay Hotel

Same as day 2.

Travel planning

Starting from Kuitun, go west along Lianhuo Expressway into Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, cross a dry desert, and finally reach Sailimu Lake surrounded by mountains. After the tour around the lake, I lived in a yurt in Guozigou near Sailimu Lake. The whole journey is about 350 kilometers, and the total time of tourism and catering is 14~ 15 hours.

The beautiful scenery must be seen.

Selam L.

Focus on recommendation! Sailimu Lake is the highest altitude and largest alpine lake in Xinjiang, and it is also the most beautiful lake seen in Xinjiang and even since traveling. No one. Sailimu Lake is the last place where the warm and humid air currents in the Atlantic Ocean can reach, and it has the romantic reputation of "the last tear in the Atlantic Ocean"! Sailimu Lake is clear and transparent, with a transparency of12m. When the weather is fine, Sailimu Lake is like a dazzling blue gem embedded in the mountains. That deep blue is richer than the sky and brighter than the sea.

The best way to visit Sailimu Lake is to drive around the lake, but I'm sorry to hear that driving is no longer allowed. But the beautiful scenery of Sailimu Lake is really worth visiting. You can watch the sunset on the east bank of the lake. How spectacular! Bring your own lunch, and dinner can be settled at the gate of Sailimu Lake. There is mature catering service here, which is very good.

The Stay Hotel

Accommodation is the only headache in Sailimu Lake and Guozigou. There are good hotels near the gate of Sailimu Lake, but they are expensive and often difficult to book. There are campsites and yurts in other places around. The conditions are poor but the price is high. You should book them in advance. The yurt I chose at Jinding Station in Huocheng was booked by Ctrip. It was 286 yuan/day. Gong Wei can't take a bath, so I didn't mention anything else, so I slept with my clothes on my arms all night.

Travel planning

After watching the sunrise in Sailimu Lake in the morning, go to Guozigou for sightseeing, then take Lianhuo Expressway to the end of Horgos, have a rest here, then turn east, and finally stop in Yining via Qingyi Expressway and National Highway 2 18. The whole journey is about 230 kilometers, and the total time for travel, rest and dining is about 10 hour.

The beautiful scenery must be seen.

1, Sailimu Lake

Sunrise in Sailimu Lake, the most perfect and spectacular sunrise in this trip, must be seen. The most beautiful place is on the high mountain to the west of Guozigou, but it is close to the yurt where I live. Walking to the top of the mountain, I watched the sun rise in Ran Ran, and a golden warm current gently awakened the beautiful Sailimu Lake. That golden dream is really intoxicating!

2. Guozigou

The Stay Hotel

The beautiful scenery must be seen.

The Stay Hotel