Outing and looking for horses on the grassland. Where is this?

The answer is... Xinjiang!
From Hong Kong, take a direct flight (about 5-6 hours) to Urumqi, Xinjiang!
This time, we'll focus on exploring northern Xinjiang. 🌳 August was a beautiful month, and the weather was lush and green everywhere. 🌲🤩

🌈Top Five Itineraries🌟🌟🌟
1️⃣ #KanasNationalGeologicalPark
The most famous Kanas Lake is a renowned freshwater lake located in Hemuhanasi Mongol Township, Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Nestled in the Altai Mountains, it covers an area of 45.73 square kilometers, with an average depth of 120 meters and a maximum depth of 188.5 meters. Its water storage capacity is 5.38 billion cubic meters. The scenic area is vast, and in addition to Kanas Lake, there's Shenxian Bay, Moon Bay (the crescent-shaped bay I took in the cover photo is stunning), and Wolong Bay. Legend has it that the lake monster "Big Red Fish" has appeared here. You can take shuttle buses throughout the scenic area to fully explore! 😁 *Please note that after getting off the bus, you'll have to walk a bit to reach the lake. Travelers with limited mobility or those who are elderly can hire a small car, but it's more expensive! *Also, please note that the boarding and alighting locations are different, so be sure to check the direction before boarding.
🌸Recommended clothing colors: yellow or red

2️⃣ #HemuVillage
This ancient village is said to be "God's private reserve." Getting in and out of the village can take a while, but the village truly feels like a paradise. We recommend going up to the observation deck (which requires climbing a series of long wooden steps) to take in the entire village from above. The village offers restaurants, shops, a stream, woods, and the fascinating "hawk feeder"...deserve to explore! If time and budget permit, we recommend staying and experiencing it all. 🌸Recommended clothing colors: Yellow, Red

3️⃣ #SayramLake
This alpine lake in Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, is renowned for its magnificent natural scenery. It's the highest and largest alpine coldwater lake in Xinjiang and is also known as the "Last Tear of the Atlantic Ocean." We recommend renting a car to tour the lake, or taking a boat to the center. Personally, I think the most beautiful photo op is looking out at the lake from afar. The difference between taking a close-up shot and a distant one is truly breathtaking! Close-up shots reveal the clear water, while distant shots reveal the lake's vibrant colors – a truly breathtaking sight. Visiting in August means most flowers have withered, leaving only the silver grass. *Aside: Some say that after visiting Sayram Lake, #TianshanTianchi and #UlungurLake pale in comparison. In my opinion, #TianshanTianchi is also well worth a visit; its beauty is uniquely different from #SayramLake. If time permits, I recommend visiting both! 😁
🌸Recommended clothing colors: White (though many people wear white), pink, Klein blue

4️⃣ #NalatiGrassland
Located in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang, this subalpine meadow plant region, one of the world's four largest alpine grasslands, has an average altitude of approximately 2,200 meters. It is famous for its magnificent scenery, abundant wildflowers, herds of cattle and sheep, and rich Kazakh pastoralist culture. Visit in August when the grass is lush and green, offering breathtaking views of the intertwining landscape of snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and streams, and a poetic experience of "the wind blowing through the grass and revealing cattle and sheep." Tickets and shuttle buses are purchased separately. The shuttle bus has two routes: one that connects the aerial grasslands and the other that connects the Populus euphratica forest to the forest park. When boarding, walk to the front shuttle bus, as it will only depart when it's full. Plan one to two days for the visit, as the scenic area is vast and exploring and taking photos will take a considerable amount of time!
🌸Recommended clothing colors: Red, earth tones

5️⃣ #TurpanFlamingMountains
Located in Turpan City, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, this mountain is a fold and thrust zone running east-west in front of the Bogda Mountains. The mountain's main body is red, gently sloping in the north and steeper in the south. Its southern flank is riddled with gullies, resembling a flame. Many tour groups don't specifically visit this area because, frankly, it's not as large or rich as other scenic areas. Visiting in August, the high temperature was around 40°C (thankfully, it wasn't scorching). But, inspired by the novel "Journey to the West" (or perhaps a sentimental connection?), I still wanted to see this scene in person and imagine the "Three Borrowings of the Banana Fan" scene, haha! The scenic area offers special baked eggs in a sand pit, and you can also pay extra to take a shuttle bus. Outside, there's a small, air-conditioned shopping mall with many specialty goods (I didn't see them on Taobao) and delicious green grapes. 🌸Recommended clothing colors: white, green

Most people visiting Xinjiang hire a car or join a tour group, which I recommend, as the distances between attractions are quite long! If you don't want to wait for your group or want more time to get off the bus and take photos, opt for a small car! Also, after joining the tour group, I recommend reserving 1-2 days for independent travel in Urumqi, such as visiting the #InternationalGrandBazaar or exploring the city.

Also, it's worth noting that hotel ratings are for reference only; hotels advertised as 4-star may often only be 3-star. Have fun! Don't run into any dry toilets 😆 (I didn't!). Thanks for taking the time to watch! رەھەمت (pronounced: hothemat)!