Friends who have been to Shata in the past 25 years! Be sure to read this before you go!

Shata Ancient Trail is a steep ancient path connecting the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains
👉It was once the route taken by Xuanzang on his journey west
It combines glaciers, forests, grasslands, and hot springs
Rated as "China's Most Beautiful Ancient Trail" and a national 4A-level scenic area
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You can drive into the Shata Ancient Trail scenic area, with a self-driving ticket costing 150 RMB per person
The shuttle bus only stops at the Hot Spring Hotel, Transfer Bridge, and General Bridge
But if you drive yourself, you can stop by the roadside freely to take photos
The rivers in Shata are glacier meltwater
They appear light blue under the sunlight
Super beautiful~
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📸 Recommended self-driving photo spots:
1️⃣ Valley grassland near the Howling Dog
Here you’ll find herds of cattle and sheep and flowing streams, very dreamy!
2️⃣ Liusha Waterfall
A white stone valley with light blue water flowing through it, and you can also capture snow-capped mountains 🏔️ in the background—truly stunning
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📸 Regular photo spots:
1️⃣ Transfer Bridge to General Bridge, 1.5 km
It’s recommended to hike this section, enjoying the view of snow mountains from the grassland—super breathtaking!
2️⃣ General Bridge to Flower Terrace, 4 km
Legend says this is the most beautiful part of Shata, but this year the wooden plank road is under repair, with mud and dust everywhere. If you go in like I did, better ride a horse…
3️⃣ Muzart Glacier
A giant glacier 30 km long, with spectacular ice crevices and ice caves (requires a professional guide, do not approach alone). Suitable for professional hikers with plenty of time~
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❤️ Tips:
✅ The weather in Shata is generally clear in the morning. It’s recommended to stay overnight in Zhaosu and go early in the morning! The snow mountains are clearly visible!
✅ Highly recommend taking the Yizhao Highway to Shata; the scenery along the way is also breathtaking!
✅ Many roads in the scenic area are under repair, and the core scenic spots require hiking, so prepare for hiking in advance!
✅ The only supply point along the way is at General Bridge, so please bring your own snacks!

Post by Noah Hartley | Jun 8, 2025

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