Archive for the ‘Yining Travel’ Category

Narat Grassland in Xinjiang

Sunday, June 13th, 2021
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Plan your Xinjiang Tour? Narat Grassland (also Nalati Grassland) is worth your 1-2 day exploration.  “Narat” ( Nalati ) in Monglian literally means “The place where sunshine first appears”. The “place” is now Narat Grassland in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture Xinjiang, China.

There is a story behind how the word “Narat” ( Nalati ) was coined. Gengkis Khan’s troop led by his second son Changatai (1185–1241) marched westward trying to cross the Ili Vlley in the hinterland of Tianshan Mountain.

In the mountains and Ili Valley in Tianshan, the weather was terrible and detrimental with big snow. Cold and tired, the soldiers were reluctant to go further.

Then suddenly they found a beautiful area, sunny, fertile at the present grassland where Narat Grassland is located. The soldiers shouted ” Narat, Narat” which means the sun is coming here! Later the term “Narat” (Nalati) was adopted by local Kazakhs.

Narat Grassland ( or Nalati Grassland ) is about 180km long from east to west along the river bed sandwiched by the mountains of Tianshan in three sides, the east section of Ili valley.

The famous Ili River zigzags through Ili Valley. Ili River is formed by its principal three tributaries – Kashi, Kunes, and Tekes. Kunes River is the upper reaches of Ili River, passing through the river bed of Narat Grassland.

Narat Grassland is a typical river bed grassland and the alpine meadows. Narat Grassland is located at the sea-level of 1800 meters. It is inhabited by Kazakh minority (but ironically, here in Narat Grassland, we, Han people are the minority).

Under the river bed grassland at Narat is the fertile black soil, which make the grass grow here. It is said the grass can be grown as high as 70-90 cm in September. In winter it is very cold on the river bed, reaching over – 40 degree below.

Kunes River cuts through Narat Grassland from east to west.

Kunes River cuts through Narat Grassland
Narat Grassland is a river bed grassland. See the cobblestones under the lush  grass.
Narat Grassland is a river bed grassland
The horse trace shows the black and fertile earth under the grass.
The horse trace shows the black and fertile earth under the grass
The most beautiful gully in Narat Grassland – Snow-capped peaks, Alpine trees, Alpine meadow and uplands
The most beautiful gully in Narat Grassland – Snow-capped peaks, Alpine trees, Alpine meadow and uplands
The river bed grassland in Narat 

The river bed grassland in Narat
Meadow and River bed grassland
Meadow and River bed grassland
Narat Grassland at Dusk

Narat Grassland at Dusk
Kazakh Yurt
Happy life
A paradise for cattle
Grazing

Further Readings


Top 10 Places in Xinjiang.
See Autumn Leaves in Xinjiang .
Sayram Lake .
Karamay Ghost Town .
Taklamakan Desert  .
Top 10 Attractions in Urumqi .

Any questions, just drop a  line.

Yining trip – My first trip to Ili Valley

Friday, July 1st, 2011
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Plan your Xinjiang tour? Yining, or Ghulja is the capital city of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang. The Ili Kazakj Autonomous Prefecture (Simplified as Ili or Yili) is located in the Ili Valley ( or Yili Valley), administers 1 city and 8 counties: the capital city of Yining and with 8 counties including the namesake Yining County, Xinyuan, Gongliu, Nileke, Teks, Zhaosu, Huocheng and Chaxian County.

The city of Yining is about 78 km east of Huoergousi Port, 700km west of Urumqi. The Ili River passes through the city of Yining from East to the west, the only river in China which flows from East to West. Yining City borders Keguqin Mountain in the north and Tianshan Mountains in the south.

Ili (Yilin) is a green plain, a fertile delta of Ili River which is formed by three principal tributaries – Kashi River, Kunes River, and Tekes River. Yining is situated on the north of the Ili Valley in the form of an open trumpet with its big mouth facing the west.

Ili Valley
Driving on the Ili Valley
Lavenders begin to blossom around the valley
Visit Kazanqi (an old residential region in Rain ) by riding horse carts
Uyghur Kids
Vegetable vendor

Narat Grassland ( or Nalati Grassland ) is about 180km long from east to west along the river bed sandwiched by the mountains of Tianshan in three sides, the east section of Ili valley.

Narat Grassland is a typical river bed grassland and the alpine meadows. Narat Grassland is located at the sea-level of 1800 meters. It is inhabited by Kazakh minority (but ironically, here in Narat Grassland, we, Han people are the minority).

Further Readings


Further Readings


Top 10 Places in Xinjiang.
See Autumn Leaves in Xinjiang .
Sayram Lake .
Karamay Ghost Town .
Taklamakan Desert  .
Top 10 Attractions in Urumqi .

Any questions, just drop a line.

Sayram Lake

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
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Plan your Xinjiang tour? Sayram Lake is located between the Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture and the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. The lake takes an area of 457 square kilometers. The fault basin is at the sea-level of 2,073 meters. The lake has a depth of 86 meters.

The lake is an amazing natural water resource and is circled by green grasslands. Nestled in the mountains, it’s tucked away and misty occasionally. The mixed view of the surrounding snow-capped peaks and the dragon spruce plants on the mountains is very photographic.

In July and August local Mongolian and Kazak herdsmen gather on the lake side to do their traditional ethnic activities which include horse racing, wrestling and lifting sheep while galloping on horse-back.

Further Readings


Top 10 Places in Xinjiang.
See Autumn Leaves in Xinjiang .
Sayram Lake .
Karamay Ghost Town .
Taklamakan Desert  .
Top 10 Attractions in Urumqi .

Any questions, just drop a  line.