Located in the northwest of Xinjiang, Yili (Ili) is known as the seat of Chinese Kazakh people and famous for its stunning sceneries of the lakes, grassland, and mountains. Besides the tourist attractions in the Altay region, Sayram Lake, Narat Grassland, Kalajun Grassland, and Bayanbulak Grassland are the ones you should not miss.
For luxury travelers, there are no international brand hotels in this region, local 4-star hotels are the best options. One of China’s best wild luxury hotels, the Hot Spring Keluge Yeshe Campsite, is here, near Sayram Lake.
yili tourist attractions
Sayram Lake
Sayram Lake is located in the Bortala Prefecture near the Tian Shan Mountains, Xinjiang, China. It is also known as Santai Haizi. It is the largest (458 km²) alpine lake in Xinjiang and also the highest (2,070 m).
Narat Grassland
Narat Grassland Scenic Area is located in Xinyuan County, Xinjiang, in the hinterland of Tianshan Mountains. It is known as “paradise on earth”.
Kalajun Grassland
The Kalajun Grassland is located in Tekes County of the Yili River Valley in Xinjiang. It is the transition zone from the West Tianshan Mountains to the Yili River Valley. “Kalajun” is the Kazakh language. “Kala” means dark, rich, and vast. “Jun” describes a dense appearance.
Bayanbulak Grassland
Bayanbulak Grassland National Nature Reserve is the second largest grassland in China, located in the Bayanbulak Basin of the Tian Shan mountains in northwest China.
Guozigou Bridge
The Guozigou Bridge or Talki Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge with a main span of 360 meters. The bridge is the first cable-stayed highway bridge in Xinjiang and the first cable-stayed highway bridge with double towers and double cable faces in mainland China.
Tekesi County
Tekesi County is a county within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The county center is known for being a planned community with a shape of a bagua.
Qiong Ku Shi Tai Village
Deeply hidden in the mountainous grassland, 90 km (3 hours driving) to the southeast of Tekes County, Qiong Ku Shi Tai Village is a peaceful and beautiful village of the Kazakh people. When travel in Tekes, Yili Prefecture, do not miss it, a real hidden gem of your whole journey in Xinjiang.
Lavender Garden
The Lavender Garden located in Qingshuihe Town of Yili Prefecture consists of a lavender production and processing area, lavender museum, and lavender herb garden.
Anjihai Grand Canyon
The Anjihai Grand Canyon, also known as the Hongshan Grand Canyon, is located at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. The canyon is about 20-30 kilometers long, with the deepest part reaching 300 to 400 meters.
Apricot Valley
Xinjiang Apricot Valley located in Yili prefecture of Xinjiang is the largest primitive wild apricot forest left from the Middle Ages, concentrated on the north bank of the Gong and Si River, covering an area of more than 60 km².
Zhaosu
Zhaosu County, located in Yili Prefecture of Xinjiang, is a high-level intermountain basin surrounded by mountains. is the only county in Xinjiang without desert and famous for its flower blossoms.
Xiata Scenic Area
Xiata Scenic Area in Zhaosu County, Yili Prefecture, is a magical tourist attraction. It was originally a transportation station from Yili to Aksu in ancient times.