Xiata Tourist Area

The tranquil canyon was formed by the alluvial deposits of Xiata River over the years. The open and flat Xiata grassland spreads down along the Tianshan Mountains. During the flood season, Xiata River meanders through the grassland canyon and finally merges into Tekes River. Together with the four seasons, they weave this ancient and primitive picture.



There are three ancient roads from the north of Yili to southern Xinjiang, namely the famous Wusun Ancient Road, which leads from Wusun to Qiuci (Kuqa). One of them goes from Xiata Township, Zhaosu County, over Muzat Daban and directly to Baicheng County, Aksu, southern Xinjiang. This passage running through the north and south of Tianshan Mountain is the Xiata Ancient Road. The ancient road is steep and rugged, and the narrowest part is only for people and animals to pass, and vehicles cannot pass. Descendants who rely on modern transportation have found other ways, and the decline and abandonment of the ancient road is an inevitable fate.



The once ancient Silk Road, which carried traces of history, has gradually disappeared into an uninhabited secret place.



Friends who have been to Xiata before said that the scenery you see after a 10-minute hike is the same as that after a 2-hour hike, both are V-shaped valleys with glaciers. This is true. The only difference is that the closer you get to the snow-capped mountains, the stronger the wind and the lower the temperature. You should wear a single layer of clothing at first, but eventually you will put on a down jacket. Some people also say that Xiata Scenic Area is quite boring, which has to do with your mood, not the scenery.

We arrived at Xiata Scenic Area at about 6:00 Beijing time. The gate was closed to the public. Finally, the Kazakh herdsmen who were recruiting us to stay took us in. I think they asked us for 600 yuan for accommodation! It was about 20 kilometers of mountain road from the entrance of the scenic area to the camping site. It was not easy to walk! When we arrived at the camping site, we were shivering with cold. After all, it was only about 15 kilometers away from the Muzart Glacier. We quickly changed into a thick coat in the car.

The one-way distance from the campsite to the Muzart Glacier in Xiata Scenic Area is 15 kilometers. You can hike or take a herdsman’s motorcycle - it costs about 30 yuan per person one way. We finally only advanced about 8 kilometers. Fortunately, we didn’t walk more. When we returned, we encountered heavy rain about four kilometers away from the campsite. The most distressing thing was the camera, which was almost scrapped. It is recommended to bring water and food. There are very few people selling these there. Do a good job of sun protection, SPF50+ sunscreen. This advice applies to the entire trip!

From Zhaosu to Xiata Scenic Area, you will pass through Xiata Pastureland and Wetland Park along the way. The scenery on the road is actually very beautiful. Xiata Scenic Area is also very beautiful. After we arrived at Xiata Scenic Area, we decided to stay here for one night. But in fact, I think the beauty of Xiata is not as good as that of Tanggula later.

In Xiata, we stayed in a Kazakh yurt. We bargained with the owner and paid 150 yuan per night. The yurt was actually quite good. It was very clean. The sleeping mat was made of wool and the quilts were all handmade wool quilts. I was afraid of the cold, so I covered myself with a thick one, which was very heavy. The quilt was very beautiful. Please note that it is inconvenient to take a shower here. And it was too cold. It was about 10 degrees at night. It felt only 12-3 degrees in the morning. Because it was too cold, I rented a military coat for a day. In fact, a light down jacket is enough.

Later, we drove through the Tanggula Ten-Li Gallery along the way, and felt that the Tanggula grassland was more beautiful. If I could do it again, I would give up Xiata and go to Tanggula. The next day we set off very early, and the owner of the yurt drove us to the entrance of the scenic area to the grassland. There were horse teams and battery cars here. You can choose to take a battery car and arrive at a scenic spot inside in about 10 minutes. Take a stroll, but there is nothing to see in this scenic spot, personally. We chose to rent horses from the horse team, 300 yuan per horse a day, and 600 yuan per horse for two of us. It took about 10 minutes to reach the end of the battery car, and then continue to go forward to see the flower sea grassland and glaciers. We set off at about 9 o'clock in the morning and returned to the horse team at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. Then take the scenic spot shuttle bus back to the gate.

If you want to choose Xiata, all the scenic spots are there. Of course, if you are traveling with your parents and children, Xiata Scenic Area is not recommended. After all, the highlights need to be reached by horseback. Riding a horse here is not for fun, but a real means of transportation. Riding a horse for a whole day is also quite tiring. When I just got off the horse, I felt pain in my buttocks, but it was fine after a while. But my waist hurt for a week before it recovered.

Khan Tengri Peak in the distance appears from time to time. Khan Tengri Peak is located at 80.2 degrees east longitude and 42.2 degrees north latitude, on the border between the People's Republic of China and Kazakhstan. It is the second highest peak in the Tianshan Mountains, at the junction of Kokshaler Ridge and Harke Mountain in the Tianshan Mountains, with an altitude of 6,995 meters. Khan Tengri Peak is located in the western Tianshan Mountains. In Mongolian, "Khan" means "king" and "Tengger" means "sky", that is, "Khan King Peak of the sky". The terrain around Khan Tengri Peak is high and steep, with mountains above 4,000 meters above sea level, as many as 40 peaks above 6,000 meters, and a large area of mountains protruding above the snow line. Khan Tengri Peak is high and majestic, with snow all year round and frequent ice and snow avalanches. The geological conditions of Khan Tengri Peak are also relatively complex. It belongs to the core of the fold-fault complex anticline, which has caused the terrain of this peak with steep cliffs, steep peaks, and crisscrossing trenches. Even today when mountaineering activities have become relatively developed, no mountaineers have visited the Chinese side of the southern slope.

Starting from June 2023, the Xiata Scenic Area needs to be booked one week in advance on the "Smart Travel Zhaosu" public account. Tickets for the 9-10 o'clock time period are the most popular. I was a little late and couldn't get them. I could only buy tickets for 11-12 o'clock. Tickets for adults are 80/person (tickets are 40+interval buses are 40, which cannot be purchased separately), and children are half price.

The hiking experience in Xiata Scenic Area is good, but the biggest disadvantage of this scenic area is that its capacity is not large enough, especially on the road from Jiangjun Bridge to Kara House No. 4, where the pedestrian path and the horse riding path are not separated, causing crowds and affecting the experience.

My personal suggestion is that if you just want to experience hiking, you can walk from the hot spring hotel along the wooden plank road to Jiangjun Bridge, and then take the battery car back. It is quite comfortable to watch the snow-capped mountains all the way. If you want to see the snow-capped mountains up close, it is best to catch the first batch of people entering the scenic area early in the morning, take the battery car to Jiangjun Bridge from the hot spring hotel, walk to the No. 4 Kara House, turn back, return to Jiangjun Bridge and take the battery car back (most of this road is in the woods, and you can't see the snow-capped mountains on most of the road).

If Qiongkushitai is a dreamland where people can enjoy themselves, then Xiata Ancient Road gives people a feeling of solemnity and mystery, and being in it will make one feel awe.

The wind in the canyon was blowing, and drizzles of rain were falling from the sky. Thick clouds and fog always surrounded the Muzart Snow Mountain, gathering and dispersing from time to time. The majestic and holy snow mountain, the strange and changing weather, and the vibrant grassland made this place absolutely a pure land on earth.

The Xiata ticket + scenic area bus costs a total of 80 yuan, but after arriving at the entrance of Xiata Valley, you need to transfer to a shuttle bus for 50 yuan round trip to enter the deeper attractions. You can also choose to ride a horse for 80 yuan/hour. Of course, you can also go there on foot, but the distance is far and it takes a lot of energy.

Depart at 8:30 after breakfast. After leaving the city, head southwest along National Highway G577.

We originally planned to see flowers near Tianma Cultural Park, but the fields were still green. Then we drove to the 77th and 76th Regiments. It is said that the basil flowers in the 77th Regiment and the rape flowers in the 76th Regiment are very large. But when we asked at the 77th Regiment, they said it was too early and we had to wait until July or August. Speechless!

In addition, you will pass by the Junmachang Grassland on the way. If time permits, you can go in and take a look. Also, you will pass by Zhaosu Wetland Park. The beautiful scenery of Tianma Bathing River is on the roadside, and you don’t need to enter the scenic area. But this is a rare opportunity.

Then we headed straight to the Xiata Scenic Area. Both sides of National Highway G577 were lined with towering trees, making it a truly scenic avenue.

Several tour groups came before us. When we went to the tourist center to buy tickets, we were told that there were too many tourists and the shuttle bus could not handle them. Many people were waiting inside, so ticket sales were suspended and we had to wait. We waited for two hours! There were not many tourists, but the reception capacity was speechless!

Tickets 40 + shuttle bus 40 = 80/person. The shuttle bus travels 28 kilometers, stops twice for tourists to take photos, and finally arrives at the hot spring hotel, the terminal, a one-way trip of 50 minutes. The scenic road is too narrow and the road surface is relatively bad. However, the scenery along the way is really good, with towering trees everywhere.

You can see the Muzart Glacier from the hot spring hotel. It is really beautiful! This is the highlight of this scenic spot.

Walk 600 meters along the wooden plank road from the hot spring hotel to the starting point of the battery car. The battery car travels 6 kilometers and needs to buy a separate ticket (round trip 50, one way 25). The terminal is the Frog Spring shooting point. From the Frog Spring shooting point to the foot of the Muzart Glacier, it is 14 kilometers and requires hiking or horseback riding. It takes five or six hours to go back and forth.

We arrived at the starting point of the battery car, and the staff said we had to wait for 20 minutes because there were too few battery cars. I was speechless again! There were not many tourists, and the reception capacity of this scenic spot was really too poor!!!

I saw a viewing platform on the half-rock slope to the left of the battery car starting point, so I immediately decided to give up the battery car and climb up to have a look. The icebergs here are in full view, which is really shocking!!!

The tickets are also divided into ticket + section ticket, and the section train in question can only be seen halfway

If you want to see the beautiful scenery, you have to pay another 50 yuan to take the sightseeing bus to continue driving forward. It's a rip-off.

Full score 5 stars, you can see the spectacular snow-capped mountains and the sea of flowers is very beautiful

I think this is the most beautiful place on this trip

Xiata Scenic Area is a canyon with strong winds. It should be cold if the weather is bad, but it is not cold on sunny days.

If there are no clouds in the sky in the morning, you can go sightseeing first. When you return in the afternoon, there will usually be clouds on the snow mountain.

There is only one route in the scenic area. Go straight into the canyon and see the snow-capped mountains up close.

First, take the shuttle bus to the end, then choose a sightseeing bus or ride a horse or motorcycle to sit inside

Then we hiked further in, but we didn’t have enough time to reach the foot of the snow-capped mountains.

Xiata is still a stunning place among the many beautiful scenery in Yili. In July, the Xiata River Valley is full of rushing water, flowers everywhere, snow-capped mountains in the distance shining, and the legend of the ancient road is fascinating. Highly recommended! It is recommended to enter the scenic area early. The scenery only reaches the frog spring, and there is still 20 kilometers to get close to it. It needs to be reached on foot or on horseback.

Xiata Scenic Area, where there is the famous "Xiate Ancient Road". The Xiate Ancient Road starts from Xiate Ranch in the north and ends at Aksu in the south. It connects the north and south of Tianshan Mountain. It is 120 kilometers long. It is a shortcut from northern Xinjiang to southern Xinjiang. It is the most dangerous ancient pass on the Silk Road. More than a thousand years ago, Tang Xuanzang crossed this road to the ancient country of Qiuci south of Tianshan Mountain. It has many high mountain passes, rapids, and glaciers, and is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. The ticket for the scenic area is 40 yuan for adults, half price for children, and 60 yuan for the transportation bus. Our family of three costs 280 yuan, which is really expensive. Because the roads in the scenic area are narrow, the transportation bus is a minibus, the condition of the bus is not good, and the number of equipment is obviously less than the number of tourists. The queue for the bus is at least half an hour. The ticket is manually numbered and the number is called to get on the bus, but according to the number of seats, it is possible that the person behind you will get on the bus before you. This scenic spot is a place you will regret if you don't visit and will regret if you do. We stayed in the scenic spot for more than three hours, spent more than an hour queuing for the bus, nearly two hours on the bus, and only spent more than half an hour in the scenic spot. I never saw the electric cars near the hotel in the scenic spot during the half hour I stayed there. No wonder Master Yan, who has many years of travel experience, tactfully suggested on the road that we go to the military horse farm instead instead of here. From the moment I waited for the bus into the mountain, I secretly regretted not listening to the advice. So if you are not a hiking enthusiast, there is no need to go to this scenic spot. Even Zhaosu grassland is worth more than here.

Hiking in Xiata. Before the trip, I heard that this is a famous ancient pass on the Silk Road and a paradise for top outdoor hikers. We hiked in Xiata that day. It was a bit tiring. We rode horses on the way and stayed in a yurt. We encountered heavy rain that day, but the rain came and went quickly. The accommodation was quite novel. The leaders Shanmao and Lao Wang also bought fresh lamb in the town on the way and said they would make the most authentic Xinjiang grilled lamb skewers for us.

It's worth a visit. You can choose the tour method according to your physical strength.

If the weather is bad, you can't see the snow-capped mountains and the scenery is very average. The sightseeing bus charges in two sections, which needs to be improved.

I've been here for an hour, but I still haven't gotten on the shuttle bus, and I'm not allowed to drive up. I don't know what to do in this scenic spot during the peak season.

We moved along the wide and flat canyon between the two mountains, accompanied only by the gurgling sound of the Xiata River.

The light and shadows in the canyon changed very quickly. I was dizzy and dazed just now, so I drank some Red Bull to replenish my energy. After turning a corner, the river was half red and half rustling. The little girl gazed at the Xiata River under the afterglow of the setting sun. The picture was very beautiful. As soon as she turned around, she started her favorite business. The characteristics of the emulsion of glacier water make it both fine and sticky like mud, which is perfect for making yogurt products.

Tips from Dad:

About driving into Xiata Scenic Area: If you want to stay in the hot spring hotel for one night, it is strongly recommended to drive in (you can book a hotel at the tourist center and go through the self-driving procedures). 300 yuan per car, 100 yuan per person (including the shuttle bus, whether you take it or not). The distance from the scenic area gate to the hot spring hotel is 22km, about 45 minutes. There is only one lane in many places, and it is difficult to pass each other. When you meet on a narrow road, it really tests your skills.

About the hiking route: The distance from the hot spring hotel to the best spot for watching the sunset, the Frog Spring, is 4 kilometers. You can walk along the trail or take a battery car to the hot spring. If you want to go to the Muzart Glacier, the distance is 15 kilometers, and it normally takes 6 or 7 hours to go back and forth. It is recommended to spend a day. If you are not physically fit, you can also ride a horse. You can ask for a horse from the horse riding point near the hot spring. The horses are led by teenage Kazakh boys. It costs 80 yuan per hour and 300 yuan for the whole day.

The terrain here is very similar to the canyon in Yosemite National Park in the United States. The Xiata River, formed by the melt of the Muzart Glacier, gurgles and flows over the white stone beach at will. Who would have thought that it was the river that cut and formed this flat and open canyon over thousands and millions of years.

The glaciers in the distance are so white and dazzling that it is impossible to look directly at them. You have to take a picture of such a scenery.

Based on what we have seen and heard in 29 national parks in the United States, Xiata is definitely qualified to compete with these national parks. Glaciers, canyons, grasslands, forests, and multi-layered rich beauty. Even in Xinjiang, where there are scenery everywhere, it is unique. Of course, the setting and supporting facilities of the scenic area need to be greatly strengthened, and more hiking routes should be set up.

It is worth a visit, a paradise for hikers. You can see the snow-capped mountains right in front of you without climbing the plateau. The plank road along the way is very convenient and very suitable for camping. It has not been overdeveloped yet, so it is best to go there as soon as possible.

The glacier is worth a day, and there are small wild flowers everywhere, which can be easily seen in a short time.

The shuttle bus will pass by two scenic spots. One is the turtle-like Shengui Stone in the river. It is as big as a bed. I really don’t understand why a piece of stone can be used as a scenic spot. The second is a mudslide.

The terminus of the shuttle bus is also the starting point of the hike. If you don’t want to hike, you can also take an electric car or ride a horse to a place 10 kilometers away where you can see the glacier. The ticket price is 80-200 yuan.

Since we arrived early, the clouds in the sky were still very low at around 10 o'clock, but as we walked along we could see the clouds rising as the temperature increased.

When you walk to 8 or 9 kilometers, you will see a sign that says "Crossing the ancient trail is risky, do not try if you are not qualified." It is indeed true. Even if the road is flat, it will take two days to walk 120 kilometers. Some hikers need to make a good strategy and preparation before setting off.

The azure blue snow-capped mountains in the middle of the canyon were magnificent. We walked into the pine forest ahead and then turned back, wanting to reach the foot of the glacier. It looked close, but in fact it was still far away.

Walking into the pine forest, I didn't see any small animals like squirrels. But it was really comfortable to enjoy the scenery of the canyon under the shade of the trees. Walking back, I felt that the scenery was different. Under the abundant sunshine, the canyon was particularly beautiful as if it was painted. I looked back from time to time to see the majestic glacier. Maybe this is what it means to be reluctant to leave. If you come in May or June, this meadow will be full of flowers, and the scenery will be unique.

Let me tell you a secret. Since the electric car will only run when it is full, when it is one or two people short, everyone is waiting to go back, so you can get on the car directly and return to the starting point for free. It takes about 5 or 6 hours to walk down the whole canyon.

You have to get off the bus and register your ID card when entering Xiata. The gate of Xiata Scenic Area is still a long way from Xiata Grassland. We can only park the car in the parking lot at the entrance of the scenic area and take the scenic area shuttle bus to continue the tour. Since it is not the peak season, there are not many tourists, but the distance from the scenic area visitor center to the scenic area gate is far, and there are tourist attractions to stop on the way. There are few shuttle buses. We waited for almost 1 hour before we waited for the shuttle bus back from the scenic area. Because there is a number on the ticket, there is no need to queue up and get on the bus by calling the number. The car stopped at the Shengui Stone, Xiaotian Dog, Shanshen Lao Ren, Qingren Valley, Quicksand Waterfall and other scenic spots, allowing tourists to get off the bus and take pictures. Finally arrived at the visitor center. This visitor center is actually a hotel where you can stay. If I had known that I would stay here that night, I could have a deep tour of Xiata.

At the visitor center, you can see the snow-capped mountains and glaciers in the distance through the woods. You can take a battery car or ride a horse to a grassland closer to the snow-capped mountains. There are mountains and woods on both sides of this grassland, and a grassland and a small river in the mountains in the middle. The upper reaches of the small river lead to the direction of the snow-capped mountains. You can see the snow-capped mountains more clearly. You can ride a horse to the foot of the snow-capped mountains here, which takes about 5 to 6 hours to go back and forth. Considering the subsequent itinerary, there was not enough time to go back and forth easily, so we finally chose to quietly watch the snow-capped mountains, the woods, and the small river in this grassland.

First of all, I would like to state that the entire scenic area of Xiata can be walked! You can walk! You can walk! In addition, I will explain the route to you. First, there will be a shuttle bus from the entrance of Xiata. The shuttle bus will stop at two scenic spots on the way. I thought it was very beautiful at first, but later I found that Xinjiang is full of such scenery, which is not surprising. Going to the glacier, you will pass a wooden plank road. At the end of the wooden plank road is the frog spring. You can choose a sightseeing car or a horse (you could ride a motorcycle before, but now there is no motorcycle). You have to get off the sightseeing car at the frog spring, and you can walk to the foot of the glacier on horseback. It costs 300 yuan a day to ride a horse, and 20 yuan for the sightseeing car. When you arrive at the frog spring, people all over the street are looking for horses. There are too many people and too few horses, so you can't find any at all. At this time, if you want to ride a horse to the glacier, you can get on the horse directly at the horse team that gets off the shuttle bus. You can also go back and walk on the wooden plank road. The Internet says that it takes at least 6 hours to go back and forth. We may have returned in 4 hours that day. You can't walk to the foot of the glacier by going up the mountain. The Kazakh brothers said that it would take two more days to walk to the foot of the glacier. In fact, they have reached a flat area where you can see the glacier. So whether to ride a horse or not is up to you.

The river water is white. Will it be called the "Milk River" in the future? This is because the river water contains too much limestone powder.

Objectively speaking, the Xiata Scenic Area is quite beautiful, but we didn't feel anything when we entered it. On the return bus, a group of people from the tour group praised it highly. I wondered why there was such a contrast? It should be because they were a tour group and were brought here directly by car, while we drove by ourselves, stopping along the way and seeing all the scenery we should see. Although the scenery in the Xiata Scenic Area is very beautiful, it is similar in style and beauty to the Yizhao Highway we took, so we didn't feel anything, but it was different for the tour group.

I had never known about this before, so I always thought that the special thing about this day was the hiking experience. Forgive my ignorance. I really didn't have much expectation for this place at first. A few hours later, I found out about its beauty, which became the biggest pain of this trip to Xinjiang. For the sake of the Xiate Ancient Road, we promised to come to Yili again. The scenery on the way to the Xiate Ancient Road is very beautiful. Although the road was closed due to the Tianma Festival, we took a lot of detours, but the beautiful scenery of the alpine grassland on the road made up for it. It was just that the weather was not optimistic, and it was rainy all the way.

The driver was an enthusiastic Kazakh guy. We were still immersed in our disappointment when he said that we were not very lucky, as the place was very beautiful yesterday. Then he took out his mobile phone to show us videos and photos. We all broke down and wanted to cry the moment we saw them. It turned out that the Xiata Ancient Road on a sunny day was as beautiful as a fairyland. We complained in annoyance that we would not have been so painful if we had not known it was so beautiful, but we also made an agreement that we would come to Yili again for the Xiata Ancient Road.

Unless you are hiking across the glacier, you can skip Xiate and spend more time in Qiongkushitai, Kalajun or other places. Xiate is not only expensive (30 yuan for tickets and 60 yuan for shuttle buses), but also has limited accommodation conditions. In addition, there is only one view to see during the entire journey, and similar views can often be seen in the following itinerary.

If I were to reschedule my trip, I would not come to Xiata. The scenery is not bad, but it is not very special either. The most complaining thing is the shuttle bus service. The whole day in Xiata, we were either on the shuttle bus or waiting for the shuttle bus. After getting off the shuttle bus and walking deep into the mountains, we could see the snow-capped mountains.

There were a lot of people going to Xiata Ancient Trail that day. Because the gate of the scenic area was more than an hour's drive from the starting point of the hiking route, the tour guide bought tickets for the scenic shuttle bus for us. However, there were too many people queuing, and we waited for more than an hour before we got on the bus.

On the way to the hiking trail of Xiata Scenic Area by shuttle bus, you will pass by several small attractions, and Liusha Waterfall is one of them.

After getting off the bus at Xiata Hot Spring Hotel, you can choose to walk, take a sightseeing bus or even ride a horse. Basically, it's enough to walk to the second bridge, and the round trip distance is about 10 kilometers.

The hiking trail is relatively easy to walk on, but the ultraviolet rays are quite strong.

The Xiata Ancient Road is said to pass through the Tianshan Mountains. It was dug along the Xiata River. The river water is white meltwater from glaciers, a bit like lime water.

When I went there, I walked from the plank road at the starting point of the hike to the second bridge, and then returned from the opposite side of the river to the first bridge, and then took a sightseeing bus to the hot spring hotel for 20 yuan. I thought the road on the opposite side of the river was not difficult to walk, but in fact there was no road on the opposite side of the river. The ground was bumpy and there were even some hidden streams. If you don’t want to challenge yourself, it is recommended to return the same way.

The melted snow water flows along the winding river channel, and the sound of rushing water can be heard in the distance. However, it should be the dry season now, and a large area of the river bottom is exposed. Various grasses and flowers grow stubbornly and bloom brilliantly on the colorful river pebbles and white sand. This scene of life and death, withering and flourishing amazes me and makes me intoxicated. Xiata is really good! It is worth staying here

It is one of my favorite attractions! There are a lot of marmots in this attraction. On the way to the entrance of the ancient road by the scenic area shuttle bus, there are countless marmots in various postures for tourists to watch. The ride takes 30 minutes, and you can watch them until you don't want to watch anymore. The Xiata Ancient Road is about 10 kilometers long, and the end is the Muzart Glacier (I heard that there is a frozen corpse from the Qing Dynasty or Ming Dynasty in the glacier! I really want to see it!) There are horses for rent at the entrance, 80 yuan per hour, and it seems to take two or three hours to ride to the glacier; the road of the ancient road is not easy to walk. There is a lot of water on the road after the rain, so we had to walk on the grass. There are also many grass bags on the grass that are vomited (I suspect that the grass grows on the dung pile). If the soles are too soft, it is easy to twist, so be careful.

It's like a painting in front of me! ! At the end of the spring scenery is a stretch of white snow, what a magical feeling. It's really comfortable! I believe there are more beautiful scenery in the forest that I haven't walked to! Don't miss it if you have the energy! ! It's really refreshing to walk like this! !

You can't drive yourself, so you have to take the scenic area's minibus to enter. When entering the scenic area, you write your number and wait patiently for the minibus. The minibus is driving on the Xiata Ancient Road, which leads to southern Xinjiang. On one side of the road are waves of churning mud, roaring and gathering into the Xiata River, rushing to where they are going. Drivers have to drive up the mountain to pass the car. The excavator is widening the dirt road. It takes about half an hour to drive into the scenic area. There is a nature reserve along the way. The marmot stood up on its two paws, raised its little head as high as possible, and looked up, so cute.

The blue sky and white clouds flew by, shining on the wild flowers. The temperature was estimated to be around ten degrees, terribly cold. I was wearing short sleeves in the biting wind, envying the winter clothes on others.

The biggest selling point of the scenic spot is the iceberg and the ancient road. There are two ways to play: one is to visit the Xiata Canyon, which takes about half a day; the other is to cross the Xiata Ancient Road, which takes a week. Due to limited time and the need for full preparation to cross the ancient road, this trip only visits the Muzart Glacier in the canyon. Take the shuttle bus from the entrance of the scenic area, passing through the God Turtle Stone, the Mountain God Old Man, the Lover's Valley, the Roaring Sky Dog, the Quicksand Waterfall, and the Wild Rose Beach, and drive 28 kilometers to the hot spring hotel. The roads along the way are very narrow, some of which can only accommodate one car, and the widest part is the size of a two-way single-lane road. The scenery on both sides is average, and the most attractive thing is the frequent appearance of marmots (marmots). You must stop at the Quicksand Waterfall Station on the way. There is an observation deck here.

The hot spring hotel is the end of the scenic area shuttle bus and the starting point of the hiking trail. There are also yurts near the hot spring hotel for accommodation. It is 8 kilometers from the hot spring hotel to the frog spring. The one-way sightseeing bus costs 50 yuan per person, and the horse riding costs 80 yuan per person. It is recommended to take the sightseeing bus because you can also ride a horse from the frog spring to the Khan Yalak Gods Garden.

The 8 kilometers were driven on the pristine countryside gravel road, with flying dust. Sitting on the battery car with ventilation on all sides, it was dusty and made people laugh and cry. Frog Spring is the first Muzart Glacier viewing point in the scenic area. The parking spot for the sightseeing bus is a wooden two-story viewing platform. Clear blue, clear white, and pure green. The blue is the clear sky, the white is the snow-capped mountains in the distance, and the green is the grassland full of cattle and sheep, with a few marmots occasionally. The scenery here is very simple, and the snow-capped mountains and valleys are nothing more than different distances from the snow-capped mountains. 7 kilometers ahead of Frog Spring is the Garden of the Gods of Khan Yalaq, which can be reached on horseback. View the glacier from a distance and the grassland from a close distance. On both sides, the grass is lush and the flowers are charming, and a flat gravel road extends to the distance. Beside you is the touchable water of the Xiata River, which comes from the meltwater of the glacier, is milky white and rich in minerals. In the empty and silent valley, there is only the sound of water. The stone path next to the horse trail is full of various stones, which is really a temptation for stone lovers. Compared with the Frog Spring, the Garden of the Gods in Khanyarak is just a viewing point closer to the glacier. In addition, further ahead is the entrance to the Xiata Ancient Road.

The Xiata Trail has a complex terrain and there are no supplies throughout the journey. It requires navigation and an experienced leader to lead the team. It takes at least 6 days to hike with heavy equipment. Autumn is the only season suitable for crossing the Xiata Trail. Around the National Day, the amount of water in the glacier gradually decreases, the weather is relatively stable, and the safety factor increases. However, the most beautiful season here is midsummer. Although it is impossible to cross the entire route, you can only hike to the Muzart Glacier and then return. The valleys and grasslands along the way are full of flowers, like a fairyland.

To get to Xiata Scenic Area, you need to take the scenic area shuttle bus. There are two stops along the way, one is to watch the peacock spread its tail, and the other is to watch the snow-capped mountains at the top of the mountain. The scenery along the way is beautiful, but I have been looking at forests and grasslands for these days and I am a little tired of it. When I arrived at the top of the mountain, I realized that it was still a long way to the snow-capped mountains. If I wanted to see the snow-capped mountains up close, I had to walk for another 6 hours, so I had to return home disappointed.

For those who have a special liking for snow-capped mountains, it is definitely worth a visit. There are not many tourists here, and you have to walk a long way to get closer to the snow-capped mountains. Of course, you can also ride a horse there.

You need to buy tickets to take the shuttle bus in the scenic area.

It was very windy and cold, the scenery was average in this season, it must be gorgeous in July.

It is about 70 kilometers south of Zhaosu. It takes one day to visit. You are not allowed to drive into the scenic area. There are shuttle buses, which is not very convenient. At the end, you can only walk in for a section!

A very beautiful combination of snow-capped mountains and grasslands, although the scenery is a bit monotonous. The snow-capped mountains are illuminated in the afternoon. Zhaosu itself is also very beautiful, you can walk slowly and play, it is worth a visit.

The entrance to the scenic spot is far from the destination. First, you have to take a bus for more than 20 kilometers, and there are several places where you can get off and play for six or seven minutes. After getting off the bus, you have to take a battery car for seven or eight kilometers before you can see the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Although we are at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, we are still more than ten kilometers away from them. We had a great time. The only regret is that we did not hike closer to the snow-capped mountains. This will also leave me with an opportunity to go there next time.

There are almost no artificial traces in the scenic area, and the original ecology is well preserved. The Xiata Ancient Road is also full of mountain flowers. Now this ancient road has been abandoned and has become a paradise for explorers. Due to the complex terrain, high mountains, rapids, and glaciers in the canyon, crossing this canyon is very dangerous and challenging.

The main highlight of Xiata Scenic Area is the snow-capped mountains. You can vaguely see the snow-capped mountains on the way from Zhaosu to Xiata, and with the morning sunshine, it is beautiful. The ticket plus the shuttle bus is 100. The distance from the shuttle bus to the innermost scenic spot is quite long. You can ride a horse or take an electric car. In fact, you can also walk, but we are too lazy, so we chose to take the electric car.

Xiata is a town in Zhaosu. Xiata Ancient Road is one of the most dangerous sections of the Silk Road and the road where Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty sought Buddhist scriptures. The reason for going here is that the grass of Saihu Lake has begun to turn yellow at this time of year, and Xiata is at a higher altitude, the flowers are beautiful, and you can see the snow-capped mountains. Xiata really lived up to my expectations.

Xiata is the Xiata Ancient Road, along the Tekes River. Its full beauty is not shown at the entrance of the scenic area. At present, private cars are not allowed to enter the scenic area. You can only take the scenic area's shuttle bus up the river. The first scenic spot where the shuttle bus stops is the Liusha Waterfall, which is not very colorful. But after getting off the bus at the terminal of the scenic area, the beauty of Xiata slowly unveiled its veil. Xiata is a dreamy pasture under the snow-capped peaks of icebergs. In the distance is the Muzart Snow Mountain. The Tekes River flows down from the snow-capped mountains. On both sides of the river are grasslands full of flowers. In the valley, there are Kazakh herdsmen who maintain the grazing tradition. In this season, the most beautiful thing about Xiata is the clear blue, the clear white, and the pure green. The blue is the clear sky, the white is the snow-capped mountains in the distance, and the green is the grassland full of cattle and sheep, with a few marmots occasionally.

At the shuttle bus stop, you can also buy a ticket for the electric car and take the car to the foot of the snow-capped mountains, or you can walk directly to the foot of the snow-capped mountains along the plank road or river valley.

It is recommended to walk first. The wild flowers on both sides of the plank road are enough to make your trip worthwhile. If you are too tired, you can ask the herdsmen to take you on a horse at the end of the plank road and walk to the flower sea closer to the snow-capped mountains. On the way back, if you are not energetic enough, you can take the battery car back to the section station.

In the future, when I grow old, I will choose a place to build my own cabin and live a leisurely life. Maybe I will choose Xiata to build my cabin, because the mountains, waters, trees, flowers and snow-capped mountains here have satisfied all my dreams.



Disadvantages: There are fewer shuttle buses, so you need to wait longer when there are many people. The last section of the electric bus is actually a little expensive, and the distance is not far. I don’t know why there is only one section of the electric bus. The shuttle bus can go a little further.

Before coming to Xiata, I read some guides, which mentioned that we need to apply for a border pass to hike the Xiata Ancient Trail. We called the local public security bureau one day before coming and were told that it was not necessary. Haha, that saved us a lot of trouble~~

After entering Xiata Scenic Area, the sightseeing bus will drive around the scenic area for about an hour to take tourists to the designated parking spot.

Many adventurous travelers choose to hike along the Shat Trail to the Muzart Glacier.

Tips:

1. The temperature in Xiata is not high. It was raining when we went there, so it is recommended to wear a jacket + fleece (it is best to check the weather before going to the scenic spot and wear appropriate clothes according to the weather)

2. It is recommended to prepare disposable raincoats (disposable raincoats outside the scenic area are more expensive than those on the Internet and do not look good) + rain boots (or rainproof shoes) + umbrellas in advance

3. If you need to ride for a long time in cold weather, please wear gloves (we rode in the wind, rain and snow for 3.5 hours, and our hands were cold)

4. Put some brown sugar ginger tea in your thermos cup (to keep away the cold)

It feels great to ride a horse in the pristine grassland and forest here~~ However, the horse also shook us to death. Xiata on a rainy day has a fairyland atmosphere

There is a free rest area in the scenic spot ticket office, and hot water is available~

The grassland is a very disappointing scenic spot. Not only is the internal service not up to par, but you have to queue up for the shuttle bus. The gate of the scenic spot is very far from the final destination. The landslide section along the way is also advertised as a mud waterfall, which is considered a scene. To put it bluntly, it is not only a waste of money, but also a waste of time.

To enter Xiata, you need to take a shuttle bus. The shuttle bus will stop at three fixed locations for about 10-15 minutes for you to take photos. The end point of the shuttle bus is the hot spring hotel. From the hotel, you can walk to the foot of the glacier through the forestry protection station. You can choose to walk, ride a horse, or use a motorcycle to cross the ancient trail to the foot of the glacier. I heard that this journey is about 18 kilometers.

Xiata Tourist Area is located about 70 kilometers southwest of Zhaosu County and about 2 kilometers from Xiat Township Government. Convenient transportation: There are shuttle buses to Xiat Township in Zhaosu County. There are many buses, including minibuses and sedans. The sedan costs 20 yuan per person and the minibus costs 15 yuan. When getting on the bus, tell the driver that you want to go to Xiata Scenic Area. Generally, you will be sent to the gate of the scenic area because the township is not far from the scenic area. If the driver is unwilling to send, it is definitely okay to add some money. The ticket to the scenic area is not expensive, but the transportation fare is 90 yuan. After buying the ticket, take the transportation bus into the mountain, and the terminal is the hot spring hotel. There are 2 small scenic spots on the way, and the scenery is very ordinary. The highlight is the glacier in the distance. You can see part of it at the hot spring hotel. You can take the scenic area battery car and drive 5 kilometers. There you can see the glacier close at hand. At the battery car terminal, you can also take the herdsmen's motorcycle, go deep into the depths, and watch the glacier up close. At the end of May and the beginning of June, it is the season when wild flowers are in full bloom, which is very beautiful and spectacular.

Here you can see beautiful scenery similar to that of Switzerland and see huge snow-capped mountains up close.

The ticket to Xiata + the required shuttle bus is 100 yuan, but the shuttle bus only goes to a hot spring hotel halfway. If you want to walk deeper into the scenery, you have to buy another 25 yuan (one-way) to reach the entrance of the ancient trail. The scenery only starts from the ancient trail. The hiking trail at the end of the scenic area bus is getting closer and closer to the snow-capped mountains, and the small flowers and silly groundhogs all over the ground add a lot of fun.

As someone who hates shuttle buses, I was still impressed by the scenery in the end. The snow-capped mountains in the distance really make up for the cost. Since I spent so much money, I might as well spend a little more money to hire Ma to take photos.

Watching the snow-capped mountains up close is breathtaking in the hot summer.

This is a great place. It's not that the scenery is much more beautiful than other places, but there is no human habitation on the vast grassland except for cattle, sheep and camels. The emptiness and tranquility alone are enough to give rise to all kinds of beautiful fantasies and feelings. Let yourself go! Go wild, lie down, jump, run, chase cattle and sheep, flirt with camels... and finally drive recklessly on the roadless grassland and undulating slopes. Many years later, every time I think of this afternoon, this grassland is still a place for my soul to rest.

There is no city in the ancient city of Xiate, only a gate and some remnants of the city wall. This quaint stone gate standing on the snowy grasslands gives people a sense of time travel. Thousands of years of time have passed in just a moment.

Commonly known as the back garden of the gods, it is a relatively late developed scenic spot. It is said that it is 3 kilometers away from a beautiful viewing platform and 6 kilometers away from the final destination. It is all dirt roads and there are some small hills. In short, if you are interested in outdoor hiking, you can stay in a hot spring hotel in the park at night, and then start hiking into the mountains the next morning, so that you can come out in the afternoon. It is a more ideal choice. Although the scenery is a little inferior, I still like it here because it is primitive, less crowded, quiet and magnificent... It is infinitely close to the snow-capped mountains, but you can only watch from a distance and not play with them...

This is a purely outdoor attraction. Most tourists will not come here. Why? Because you need to hike here.

You may ask me what is so attractive about Xiata. I can only say that just sitting there quietly is a pleasure, because there are snow-capped mountains and Yunling cedars in the distance, glaciers and snow water nearby, large meadows, and scattered small flowers, red, blue, purple, and yellow, it is so beautiful.

The sky cleared up, and the glaciers stood out against the blue sky, green woods, and colorful flowers! The water of the Xiata River became brighter, with milky white waves, pouring out from the mountains and ridges, cutting through the flat grassland, and singing all the way to the distance. In front of me, there were lush grass, crisscrossing paths, blue sky, white clouds, green mountains, flowers, and flowing water, which made people feel relaxed and happy.

Following the trend of outdoor travel, we came to Xinjiang

Traveled through Inner Mongolia

Visited Arshan

Enjoy the scenery outside the Great Wall

Experience the grassland

The guide's explanation gave me a deeper understanding

Tasted many local specialties

Make many friends

It was a great trip.

It takes 1 week to cross the Xiata Ancient Road

It is said to be dangerous, but along with the risk comes the magnificent scenery along the way.

Xiata has always been the place I most longed to visit on this trip, probably because of the glacier.

The shuttle bus was a bit bumpy when we went there, and the road was still under construction, but it didn't affect our mood much, because it was really beautiful!

It is said on the Internet that the Xiata Ancient Road used to be a hiking trail from northern Xinjiang to southern Xinjiang. It can be said that the further you go, the more beautiful it becomes. So, although I really wanted to hike, in order not to keep my companions waiting too long, I rented a horse and went as deep into Xiata as possible.

The ticket price includes a round trip bus for 100 yuan. You need to take the bus for about an hour to reach the depths of the scenic area. There is also a hotel here, but the reception capacity should be limited. You can also ride a horse and walk on the stone road next to it. There are all kinds of stones on the roadside, which is a temptation for stone lovers, but they are too heavy, so many people pick them up and throw them away.

You need to take a shuttle bus to enter, the ticket is 40/person, and the shuttle bus is 60. You can ride a horse when you enter the scenic area. We chose to walk in and ride back. It was fun to ride a horse for the first time in my life. If you want to see the stars at night, you can choose to find a homestay outside the scenic area. There is basically no light pollution and you can see the Milky Way.

You can hike in the Xiata Scenic Area, heading towards the snow-capped mountains. In front of you is the unreachable Mazart Glacier, and beside you is the touchable Xiata River, which comes from the meltwater of the glacier and is milky white. There are rows and clusters of snow-capped spruce trees. All you can hear is the sound of the rushing river and the wind. I sigh at the beautiful mountains and rivers of my motherland and am fascinated by them.

In the core scenic area, there are still herdsmen who invite us to ride horses or motorcycles to enter the glacier, but it takes 2 hours to go back and forth. We don’t have enough time. We have to take the shuttle bus to the entrance of the scenic area at 7 o’clock, so we didn’t go any further! If there is a chance next time, I will go again! The landscapes of Xiata and Daocheng Yading are very similar. Both are close to the glacier, but when I went to Daocheng, I don’t know how many mountains I climbed and how many hours I sat to reach the foot of the snow-capped mountains. In comparison, Xiata is really easy to approach the glacier, and there will be no altitude sickness. This is really a good choice for people like me who are lazy, afraid of hard work, and want to see beautiful scenery.

I have always been fascinated by this place. I am fascinated by all the places where the great monk Xuanzang has been. I have an inexplicable fascination with this place.

After entering the scenic area, you have to take a scenic vehicle at your own expense, or ride a horse. In fact, the places that can be reached by transportation are far from the most beautiful places. Hiking and adventure enthusiasts should like this place. After crossing the snow-capped mountains, you will reach southern Xinjiang.

The whole hike was 16 kilometers round trip, from 10:00 to 17:00. The road condition was very good, and we basically walked through the meadow. Of course, it was also good to have a trekking pole to help save effort. Don't forget to look up at the scenery, all the way through the canyon, the rushing Xiata River on the right, the majestic Muzart Snow Peak in front, and surprisingly saw the fat marmot looking around vigilantly.

There are lots of marmots in Xiata Canyon

The grass is full of rat holes of all sizes.

Want to see the huge snow-capped mountains like those in Daocheng Yading without altitude sickness? Want to see the snow-capped mountains like those in Banff, Canada without leaving the country? Come to Xiata.

Actually, the scenic spot is quite a rip-off. During holidays, the reception capacity is insufficient. You have to queue for several hours and take pictures for a few minutes... But the canyon streams and Muzat Glacier along the way are really beautiful. It’s just that the experience is really bad. I queued for several hours when I got down the mountain. I was very frustrated! !

I didn't finish the trip due to time constraints, but it is worth a visit. You should plan more time in Zhaosu, it is very beautiful there!

Xiata is a legendary resort, which is close to the main peak of Tianshan Mountain. There are two shuttle buses after entering the Grand Canyon Ticket Station. It is recommended to take both to save energy. The further you go into the scenic area, the more beautiful it is, but the scenery is closely related to the weather. If the weather is bad, you don't need to go.

The scenic spot is about 60 to 70 kilometers away from Zhaosu County, but the speed limit is very strict. It basically takes more than an hour and a half. It is recommended to charter a car. The WeChat phone number for the chartered car is 13779517828

I chose a leisure hike. With the slowly rising sun, wild flowers, cattle, sheep, and flowing water along the way, the scenery here is unique!

Driving to the legendary Xiata Canyon...



It is close to the main peak of Tianshan Mountain, and the Xiata River, which rushes out from the mountains, cuts through the flat grassland and merges into the Tekes River in the vast sea of smoke. The vast plain is as open as a whetstone, with lush grass and crisscrossing paths...



*Xiata Canyon is located 70 kilometers southwest of Zhaosu County. In the canyon there is an ancient transportation route from Yili to Aksu.

The "Xiata Ancient Road" is also called the "Tang Monk Ancient Road". Today, this ancient road has long been abandoned and has become a paradise for explorers. Due to the complex terrain, high mountains, rapids, and glaciers in the canyon, crossing this canyon is very dangerous and challenging.



*Special Tips:

Foreign tourists going to Xiata Canyon need to apply for a border pass in advance from the Yining Public Security Bureau. As the terrain of the canyon is extremely complex and challenging, ordinary tourists are advised not to enter rashly.

Starting from Zhaosu County, heading towards Xiata Ancient Road, there are vast grasslands on both sides and snow-capped mountains in front. Such an open scenery will make people instantly forget all the troubles of city life.

The Xiate Ancient Road crosses the Tianshan Mountains from north to south, connecting northern Xinjiang directly to southern Xinjiang. It is the most dangerous ancient pass on the ancient Silk Road and is also known as the "Xuanzang Road" in the outdoor community.

We hiked 10 kilometers (due to time constraints, we walked in and took a tour bus out), accompanied by snow-capped spruce all the way, passed through the woods, walked across the river beach, encountered wild flowers, dead trees, and horses, and headed towards the Muzart Glacier.

Every second I am looking forward to what I will see next, and there is no other language in my heart except admiration.

Xiata brings us infinite mystery. The Xiata Scenic Area we know is nothing more than the first stop of the Long March, the entrance to the base camp of Tomur Peak, the highest peak of Tianshan Mountain.

The ticket to Xiata Scenic Area is 40 yuan, the round-trip sightseeing bus is 60 yuan, the round-trip sightseeing bus to the core scenic area is 50 yuan, and the one-hour horseback riding is 80 yuan. There are some small scenic spots before arriving at the core scenic area. After entering the core scenic area, you can choose to continue riding or hiking. According to your physical strength and time, you can decide how far you want to go. The deeper you go, the closer you are to the main peak of Tianshan Mountain. According to my judgment, if you want to see the snow-capped mountains more intuitively, it takes at least 7 hours to go back and forth. The main problem is that after passing through a forest, there is a grassland. It goes on and on, which makes people doubtful and it is difficult to make up their minds to keep going down. After leaving the scenic area, the partners generally did not give a high evaluation of Xiata Scenic Area. Because the climate in the canyon is changeable and full of wind and sand, it is easy to be blinded. The hiking distance is long and the scenery is relatively single. For me, I especially like its historical weight, grafting myself into ancient times, and imagining the complex feelings of the Wusun people who love and hate it.

I have experienced its yellow sand, felt its wind and snow, rode a horse, and lost my sunglasses while running. This is the real Xinjiang, full of memories. Whether bitter or happy, they will be engraved in my heart!

In ancient times, Xiata was a transportation post from Yili to Aksu and a shortcut connecting southern and northern Xinjiang. However, because it crossed the two climate zones north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, it also became a steep pass on the ancient Silk Road.

After June, you can take the Yizhao Highway from Yining to Xiata, which is a beautiful highway. Zhaosu has rape flowers and the Tianma Festival in July. The Xiata Scenic Area has a snow-capped mountain standing there, which is very shocking. It is a highlight, that is where the Xiat Ancient Road is located. China's outdoor hiking route No. 4

Very cost-effective scenic spot, the snow-capped mountains are super beautiful, it's the first time to be so close to the snow-capped mountains

The more beautiful scenery is in the depths. There are many marmots on the grassland in front. They are very cute, but you can't get close. The scenic area car arrives at the end of the hot spring hotel. Go inside through the forestry protection station and you can walk all the way to the foot of the glacier. However, there is a section of the border management area there. The scenery is absolutely beautiful.

We chose to take the scenic area's shuttle bus to easily complete the viewing of the Xiata Ancient Road. The bus will stop several times from the entrance of the scenic area to the hiking area, giving everyone the opportunity to appreciate several scenic spots that can be named.

Between the towering mountains and verdant pines and cypresses, the Xiata River flows rapidly, with rolling waves and milky white spray, and the sacred turtle stone lies quietly. The quicksand waterfall is like a beautiful woman wearing a puffy gauze skirt, and her slender waist. The Xiata River rushes out from the mountains and ridges, cutting through the flat grassland with lush grass and crisscrossing paths. The blue sky, white clouds, green mountains and green water are refreshing.

It was sunny when we entered the scenic area at noon, but it suddenly became dark, making the snow-capped peaks in the distance look particularly crystal clear. For a moment, it felt like the peaks were about to be swallowed up.

Xiata Ancient Road is the famous abandoned ancient pass. Because it was recorded and described by Xuanzang, it is also called Tang Monk Ancient Road. It is the most steep and dangerous section of the ancient Silk Road.

The Xiata Ancient Trail has a complex terrain. The high mountains, rapids and glaciers make crossing the Xiata Canyon a very risky adventure attempt. There are no supplies throughout the entire journey. It requires navigation and an experienced leader, and the hike must take at least 6 days with heavy equipment.

With the completion of the highway between southern and northern Xinjiang, this ancient road has long been deserted. Now, together with the Langta C line and the Wusun Ancient Road, it has become the most famous, most difficult, and also the most popular hiking route in Xinjiang.

Autumn is the only season suitable for crossing the Xiata Ancient Road. Around the National Day, the amount of water in the glacier gradually decreases, the weather is relatively stable, and the safety factor increases. However, the most beautiful season here is midsummer. Although it is impossible to cross the entire route, you can only hike to the Muzart Glacier and then return the same way, but the blooming flowers in the valleys and grasslands are like a fairyland, especially in a place called "Garden of the Gods of Khan Yalaq", where colorful flower carpets stretch endlessly. On the edge of the main Tianshan Mountains with towering peaks, the Xiata River, which rushes out from the mountains and ridges, cuts through the flat grassland and merges into the Tekes River in the vast smoke. The vast plain is as open as a whetstone, with lush grass and charming flowers. A flat gravel road extends all the way to the border.

The next day, we entered the scenic area and took a bus over the mountains to the hot spring hotel. Then we could choose to walk, ride a horse, or ride a motorcycle to cross the ancient road. After walking a few kilometers, we took a motorcycle. It was too bumpy!!! Fortunately, the Kirgiz guys were good at driving, but we still had to walk after reaching the end!!! Really, since we were here, what else could we do? We just packed our bags and went! Thinking back, I felt that this trip was worth it!

In order to take pictures of the golden mountain in the sun, we slept on the grass and waited for the sunset, but unfortunately we miscalculated and the golden mountain did not shine. The Kirgiz guy came up to pick us up again. Anyway, he was free and could earn 100 yuan for a trip.