The winds of Ili are so captivating, they make me never want to leave!

Relaxing in Ili, even the cattle and horses envy me

🌟 **Xinjiang Ili Travel Guide | The Four Seasons Scroll of China's Western Paradise** 🌟

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### 🏞️ **Must-Visit Attractions**
1. **Sayram Lake**
- 💧 **Highlights**: Known as "the last teardrop of the Atlantic Ocean," the lake's water is as blue as a gemstone, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, with wildflowers covering the fields in summer and spectacular blue ice in winter.
- 📍Address: Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture | 💰Entrance fee: ¥70 + ¥60 for shuttle bus | ⏰Best time: June-July (flower sea), winter (blue ice).

2. **Huocheng Lavender Fields**
- 🌸 **Highlights**: China's "Provence," with thousands of acres of purple lavender blooming from mid-June to early July, fragrant and perfect for photos and strolls.
- 📍Address: Sangong Township, Huocheng County | 💰Entrance fee: Free (some farms charge fees) | ⏰Blooming season: Mid-June to early July.

3. **Nalati Grassland**
- 🌿 **Highlights**: "China's most beautiful aerial grassland," covered with wildflowers in summer valleys, offering horseback riding, camping, and Kazakh nomadic lifestyle experiences.
- 📍Address: Xinyuan County | 💰Entrance fee: ¥95 + shuttle bus | ⏰Best time: May-August.

4. **Kalajun Grassland**
- 🌄 **Highlights**: "Five-flower meadow" on the mountain ridge, summer wildflowers are abundant, with beautiful grassland contours, a paradise for photographers.
- 📍Address: Tekes County | 💰Entrance fee: ¥70 + ¥75 for shuttle bus | ⏰Time: May-September.

5. **Xata Ancient Road**
- 🏔️ **Highlights**: A holy land for hiking enthusiasts, featuring snow mountains, glaciers, and grasslands intertwined, with the magnificent and steep Muzart Glacier.
- 📍Address: Zhaosu County | 💰Entrance fee: ¥40 + shuttle bus | ⏰Recommendation: May-October (professional guide required).

6. **Apricot Blossom Valley (Seasonal)**
- 🌸 **Highlights**: In mid-April, 30,000 acres of wild apricot blossoms bloom, creating a fairyland where snow mountains meet pink flower seas.
- 📍Address: Nalati Town/Yining County | 💰Entrance fee: ¥30 | ⏰Blooming period: April 10-25.

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### 🍖 **Must-Try Delicacies**
1. **Grilled Lamb Skewers**
- 🍢 **Recommendation**: Traditional Kazakh flavor, with alternating lean and fat meat, rich charcoal aroma, more authentic when paired with naan bread.

2. **Hand-Pulled Lamb**
- 🥩 **Specialty**: Tender lamb simmered in clear water, preserving its original flavor, served with onions to cut through the richness.

3. **Thin-Skinned Dumplings (Pitiman)**
- 🥟 **Must-try**: Thin skin with generous filling, a perfect combination of lamb and onion, bursting with juice at first bite.

4. **Kazakh Naren**
- 🍜 **Experience**: Horse/lamb meat with wide noodles, a traditional staple food of nomadic people, uniquely flavored when paired with milk tea.

5. **Ili Horse Sausage/Horse Meat**
- 🐎 **Flavor**: Made with smoking techniques, firm texture, salty and savory, can be eaten with onions.

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### 🚗 **Classic Route Recommendations**
**📅 3-Day Highlights Tour**
- **Day 1**: Yining → Kazanqi Folk Village (Blue Town) → Six Star Street → Ili River sunset.
- **Day 2**: Yining → Nalati Grassland (Aerial Grassland/Valley Grassland) → Overnight in Xinyuan County.
- **Day 3**: Nalati → Northern section of Duku Highway → Dushanzi Grand Canyon → Return to Urumqi.

**📅 5-Day In-Depth Tour**
- **Day 1**: Urumqi → Sayram Lake (lake tour + Trip Moments) → Guozigou Bridge → Qingshuihe.
- **Day 2**: Huocheng Lavender Farm → Kalajun Grassland → Tekes Bagua City (Ferris wheel overview).
- **Day 3**: Xata Ancient Road hiking → Zhaosu rapeseed fields (summer only).
- **Day 4**: Nalati Grassland (VIP private car tour) → Bayinbuluk (Kaidu River's Nine Curves at sunset).
- **Day 5**: Duku Highway → Return to Urumqi.

**📅 7-Day Loop Tour**
- Covering Ili River Valley + Duku Highway + surrounding hidden gems, ideal for photography and in-depth experiences.

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### 🌍 **Transportation and Accommodation Tips**
- ✈️ **Transportation**: Direct flights to Yining Airport or transfer via Urumqi; within Ili, chartered car/self-driving recommended (suggested routes: Yizhao Highway, Duku Highway).
- 🏨 **Accommodation**:
- Yining City: Guesthouses near Kazanqi (experience ethnic culture).
- Near scenic spots: Sayram Lake Eco Park, Kalajun Grassland Mongolian yurts (stargazing camping).

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### ❄️ **Seasonal Experiences**
- **Spring (April)**: Wild apricot blossoms in Apricot Valley, melting blue ice at Sayram Lake.
- **Summer (June-August)**: Lavender fields, Zhaosu rapeseed flowers, grassland wildflower season.
- **Autumn (September-October)**: Combined tour with Kanas, golden poplar forests.
- **Winter (December-February)**: Sayram Lake blue ice, horseback riding on snowy plains.

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### 💡 **Travel Tips**
- 🌞 **Sun protection**: Strong UV rays, bring high SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun hats.
- 👗 **Clothing**: Light clothes + windproof jacket in summer, thick down jacket + anti-slip boots in winter.
- 🧳 **Cultural respect**: Avoid photographing nomads in Kazakh areas without permission, no pork in halal restaurants.
- 🚗 **Road conditions**: Duku Highway/Yizhao Highway only open in summer, check opening times in advance.
- 📱 **Reservations**: Book popular attraction tickets online in advance (such as Nalati, Kalajun).

Use this guide to start your journey to Ili! 🌄 Whether it's flower seas, grasslands, snow mountains, or food and culture, there's always a view here that will make you never want to leave~