Nalati Travel Guide: Venturing into the Sky Grasslands Deep in the Tianshan Mountains

📍 Geographic Coordinates🪴
▪️ Location🌳: Xinyuan County, Ili, Xinjiang (3-hour drive from Yining)
▪️ 🌱Altitude🌴: 1,800-3,000 meters
▪️ Titles🐚:
✅ One of the world's four major alpine grasslands
✅ The setting of the story "The Shepherd of Koktokay"
✅ One of China's six most beautiful grasslands

🪾📅 Best Travel Seasons🍃
- 🍀Flower Sea Season (May-June)🐁: Wild lilies and golden lotuses bloom in succession
- 🍀Midsummer (July-August)🌿: Lush green grasslands, spectacular nomadic migrations
- Autumn (September-October)🎋: Golden birch forests, prime photography time
⚠️ Avoid: Grass not yet green before April; heavy snow blocks the mountains after November

🚗 Transportation Guide⚡️
☄️Self-Driving Routes (Recommended)
- ✨From Yining🌪️: G218 → Dunna Expressway (lavender fields along the way)
- From Urumqi❄️: Lianhuo Expressway → Northern Section of Duku Highway (classic combo route)

🫧No-Car Options🌤️
- Yining Bus Station → Xinyuan County bus (6 daily trips) → Shuttle to the scenic area
⚠️ Note⛅️:
- The Duku Highway section opens only in June each year
- Shuttle buses required within the scenic area

🎫 Scenic Area Info🫧
| Area | Ticket | Must-Visit Spots |
|------|------|------|
| 🌊Sky Grasslands🎽 | ¥95 | Nomadic Homes + Snow Lotus Valley |
| 🍏Valley Grasslands💞 | ¥75 | Tawusani + Ancient Wusun Ruins |
| 🩷Panlong Valley Path📨 | ¥40 | Off-road adventure through hidden trails |
💡 Discount🛍️: Self-driving cars ¥300/vehicle (max 5 seats, advance booking required)

📸 Top 5 Must-Do Experiences🧴
1️⃣ Horseback Riding Through Kalajun🚿
- 🛀Classic Route🌁: Nomadic Homes → Forest Tundra (2 hours/¥200)
- Hidden Gem: Herding sheep back at dusk on horseback
2️⃣ Snow Lotus Valley Hike
- Challenging: Search for wild snow lotuses at 3,000m (July-August)
- Easy Version🌇: Short walk from the shuttle's final stop
3️⃣ Kazakh Homestay⛪️
- Sip Milk Tea: Enjoy baoersake + butter in a yurt
- 🏩Cultural Experience🏖️: Learn to play the dombra (¥50/hour)
4️⃣ Grassland Stargazing Camping
- Recommended Spot🚊: Tianjietai Viewing Platform (tent rentals available)
- Phenomenon🚄: Summer Milky Way clearly visible
5️⃣ Duku Highway Photo Op🧩
- 🚗Combo Route⛳️: Nalati → Bayinbuluke (78km stunning stretch)

🏡 Accommodation Recommendations🥢
- 🍷In Scenic Area🥂: Jinling Mountain Villa (snow mountain views)
- 🫘Unique Stays🧋: Grassland Tribe Yurts (nightly dombra performances)
- 🥂Budget-Friendly🍵: Nalati Town (food hub, ~¥150/night per person)

🍢 Grassland Food Guide🌰
✅ 🧁Must-Try Trio🍱:
- Hand-Grabbed Lamb (perfect with onions)
- Horse Meat Naren (Kazakh traditional noodles)
- Kvass (honey-fermented drink)

✅ 🥞Hidden Delicacies🥕:
- Freshly Squeezed Nomadic Milk (must be boiled)
- Wild Strawberry Jam with Naan (summer only)

⚠️ Survival Guide🌽
1. 🍆Extreme Temperature Swings🌽: T-shirt by day, down jacket at night (even in July!)
2. 🥒Sun Protection Essential🍇: UV index often exceeds level 8
3. 🍋Cultural Taboos☂️:
- Don’t step on dining cloths
- Decline toast with a reason

📱 Essential Apps💨
- ☂️Maps🍎: OruxMaps (offline navigation)
- Weather: Li Jing Weather (predicts Milky Way/sunrises)

✨ Nomad Proverb:
"If you meet a fox at dawn, a marmot at noon, and homebound sheep at dusk—Nalati will lend you its luck."

🗓️ Recommended Itinerary:
D1 Sky Grasslands + Kazakh Homestay
D2 Panlong Valley Drive + Valley Grasslands Sunset
D3 Duku Highway to Bayinbuluke 🥦