Ili (Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture) is located in the northwestern part of Xinjiang, with Yining City as its capital. It is known as "Jiangnan Beyond the Great Wall" and "Wet Island amid the Vast Desert", boasting stunning grasslands, lakes, flower seas and rich ethnic customs. Below is a concise yet comprehensive overview covering scenic spots, local cuisine, fruits and travel routes.
I. Brief Introduction to Ili
Location: Northwestern Xinjiang, west of the Tianshan Mountains, bordering Kazakhstan.
Climate: More humid and cooler than other regions of Xinjiang, with lush grasslands, dense forests and numerous rivers.
Best Travel Period:
- June to September for grasslands and blooming flowers
- Late September to early October for golden autumn forests
- April for apricot blossoms and May for wild fruit blossoms
II. Top Must-see Attractions
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Sairam Lake (The Last Tear of the Atlantic)
A high-altitude blue lake ringed by snow-capped mountains, at its most beautiful from June to August with wildflowers blooming everywhere.
Things to do: Drive or charter a car around the lake, ride horses along the shore, and watch sunrise and sunset.
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Narat Grassland (Grassland in the Sky, AAAA-level Scenic Area)
Alpine meadows mixed with forests and river valleys, looking like a vast green carpet in summer.
Recommended routes: Air Grassland, River Valley Grassland and Panlong Ancient Road.
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Kalajun & Qiongkushtai
Kalajun: Undulating grasslands shaped like human curves with an extremely wide field of vision.
Qiongkushtai: A primitive village surrounded by forests and grasslands, ideal for hiking and horse riding.
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Lavender Fields in Huocheng (Mid-June to Early July)
China’s largest lavender plantation with sprawling purple flower seas. Princess Jieyou Lavender Garden is the most famous site.
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Guozigou Bridge & Ili River Sunset
Guozigou Valley: Praised as the No.1 Scenery of the Tianshan Mountains. The combination of canyons, grand bridge and forests creates spectacular views for self-driving tourists.
Ili River Bridge: A perfect spot to enjoy sunset, where local people often play musical instruments and sing.
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Tekes Bagua City, Xiata Ancient Road & Zhaosu Grassland
Bagua City: The whole city is laid out strictly according to the Eight Trigrams, which looks fantastic in aerial photos.
Xiata Ancient Road: Features glaciers, snow-capped peaks and ancient trails. You can hike to get close to the Muzart Glacier.
Zhaosu: Vast grasslands, rape flower blossoms (in July) and the culture of heavenly horses.
III. Local Specialties (Different from the flavours of Aksu in southern Xinjiang)
1. Meat Dishes & Staples
Narin: Horse or mutton served with noodles, a pastoral delicacy unique to Ili.
Boiled mutton and horse meat: Simply stewed to keep the original taste, a staple food for Kazakh people.
Thin-crust baked samsas: Crispy wrappers filled with juicy meat. Do not miss them on Six-star Street and Han People’s Street.
Red willow lamb kebabs: Tender lamb skewered on red willow twigs with herbal aroma, widely available on Shihu Street Night Market.
2. Special Snacks
Xibe flatbread with bone soup: The most popular breakfast on Stalin Street in Yining.
Sheep lung with batter and rice-stuffed sheep intestines: A classic local snack favoured by residents; newcomers may need to try cautiously.
Salty milk tea: Daily drink for Kazakh and Uyghur people, best paired with nang bread and meat.
Coregonus peled: A specialty from Sairam Lake, delicious as sashimi or dumpling filling.
3. Food Streets in Yining
Six-star Street: A trendy ethnic block featuring accordion performances, baked buns and handmade ice cream.
Han People’s Street Night Market: Packed with locals full of authentic street food atmosphere, serving barbecues, mutton intestines and sheep lung snacks.
Silk Road Light Night Market & Shihu Street: Affordable night markets popular among local residents.
IV. Seasonal Fruits (Northern Xinjiang Varieties, Different from those in Aksu)
Ili Apples (June–September): Crisp, sweet and sour. Starking apples from Huocheng and Qapqal are well-known.
Dried hanging apricots & small white apricots (July): Sweeter and softer than Kuqa apricots with strong honey fragrance.
Flat peaches (July–August): Thin skin, thick flesh and pure sweetness without sourness.
White mulberries (June): Extremely sweet and available for picking along roadsides.
Blackcurrants & raspberries (August): Sweet and sour, rich in anthocyanins.
Lavender honey: A local souvenir with strong floral fragrance.
V. Ili vs Aksu (Key Differences)
Ili (Northern Xinjiang): Scenery dominated by grasslands, lakes and flower seas with cool humid weather. Main fruits include apricots, apples and flat peaches. Special dishes feature horse meat, narin noodles and Xibe ethnic food.
Aksu (Southern Xinjiang): Landscapes consist of deserts and poplar forests with dry and warm climate. Fruits are mostly purely sweet, such as crisp-sugar heart apples, walnuts and jujubes. Cuisine focuses on Uyghur barbecue, lamb pilaf and baked buns.
VI. Leisurely 5-day Classic Itinerary
Day 1 (Yining): Six-star Street → Han People’s Street → Sunset over the Ili River
Day 2: Yining → Sairam Lake → Guozigou Valley → Huocheng (lavender fields)
Day 3: Huocheng → Zhaosu → Xiata Ancient Road
Day 4: Zhaosu → Tekes (Bagua City) → Kalajun Grassland
Day 5: Kalajun → Narat Grassland → Return journey
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