Duku Highway
Traveling the Duku Highway once allows you to see the scenery of all four seasons. Taking photos in short sleeves under the snow walls is a must-do pose for many travelers. This is a road of heroes. It is open every year from early June to the end of September. During this period, if there is severe weather, temporary traffic control may be imposed, so not everyone is lucky enough to travel it. The road is very treacherous, with mountains on one side and rivers on the other. It took road construction soldiers 9 years to build, and 168 soldiers sacrificed their lives due to avalanches or mudslides. Along the way, travelers will pass by the Qiaolma Martyrs Monument to commemorate these soldiers.
It is a highway from Yining to Zhaosu, also restricted to vehicles with fewer than 7 seats, and operates similarly to the Duku Highway. Like the Duku Highway, it is renowned for its picturesque scenery. The entire route is 120 kilometers long, winding up the mountains, offering breathtaking views, hence the name: Little Duku. This section features the famous Baishi Peak, with a parking lot at the foot of the mountain and shepherds' homes on the mountain where you can drink milk tea and barbecue.
Sayram Lake
Using 'the blue tears of the Atlantic' to describe Sayram Lake is quite fitting. Sayram Lake is embedded in the grasslands, and in the blooming summer, it is surrounded by cattle and sheep, with endless green velvet carpets all around. Sayram Lake has now become a cold-water fish farming base, and the cold-water fish dried at the entrance of the scenic area tastes quite good. It is said that Sayram Lake is like a high-altitude girl; even in summer, there is a slight chill, but it does not hinder the appreciation of her beauty. June and July are the best months to visit, as the mountain flowers are in full bloom during these two months.
Nalati Grassland
Divided into valley grassland and aerial grassland, with the aerial grassland being the most beautiful. In 2005, it was rated as one of the six most beautiful grasslands in China by National Geographic Magazine. It is also the grassland with the highest concentration of Kazakh people. Every summer, many popular grassland events are held here.
Kalajun Grassland
The gentle human-shaped grassland is a favorite among photography enthusiasts. This is the site of the ancient Wusun Kingdom, the largest state in ancient China's Western Regions, and also an ancient horse racing ground. Tekes County, where it is located, is the only place in ancient China where I Ching culture and grassland culture merged. Tekes County is known as the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) Town, and there is a sightseeing tower in the town center that you can visit if you have time.
Some people like Xiata because of its long history. Here lies the famous Xiata Gorge, also known as the Tang Monk Ancient Road, the most treacherous section of the ancient Silk Road. When you come to Xinjiang, you can hardly imagine the dreams and extraordinary perseverance Xuanzang had as he traveled from Dunhuang to the Great Desert of Hami, from Northern Xinjiang to Southern Xinjiang, and finally reached the sacred land of Buddhist scriptures. This grassland is ancient and quaint, with simple and honest folk customs. There is also a hot spring 30 kilometers away from the mountain pass, which has excellent health benefits.
