Things to do in Awat

I didn't expect to get a surprise. It was free. The scenic area is still worth visiting. There was a city opening ceremony and performances. There was a large poplar forest. It was a pity that I came a little early and it was not yet yellow.

It is very lively at night. Resting is the night life of the Uyghur people.

Kalajun Scenic Area, located in Tekes County, Ili Prefecture, Xinjiang, is a national 5A-level scenic area and a member of the Tianshan World Natural Heritage Site. Its name means vast and boundless. The scenic area is divided into two main sections: East and West Kalajun and the Koksu Grand Canyon. East Kalajun is dominated by alpine meadows, with undulating meadows resembling gentle turquoise waves, set against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Wildflowers bloom across the slopes, and cattle and sheep graze freely, offering expansive and open views. West Kalajun stretches far and wide, its terrain extending towards the horizon. The Koksu Grand Canyon is most famous for its "human-shaped grassland," where light and shadow fall on the undulating grassy slopes, outlining graceful curves. Crocodile Bay boasts clear blue waters and a rugged canyon, making it a unique and distinctive area. The entire scenic area is vast and can only be traversed by shuttle bus, with distinctly different scenery at different points. It remains relatively untouched by commercialization, retaining its pristine mountain atmosphere. The light and shadow at dawn and dusk are breathtaking, perfect for photography. The temperature difference between day and night is significant; even in the height of summer, a thick coat is essential. If you come to Yili, you must visit Kalajun to experience the unique scenery where grasslands and canyons blend together.

I originally planned to go to Wensu Grand Canyon, but it was closed due to weather, so I went to Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon instead. Luckily, the weather was great; with the blue sky, the canyon's colors were particularly bright, and the contrasts were even more striking, making it perfect for taking photos in bright colors. The temperature difference inside the canyon is significant, depending on whether you get sun exposure. I recommend bringing a scarf this season; it's warm and can also be used as a photo prop. Although the scenic area isn't very large, walking around and taking photos will still take about two hours. If you don't want to walk, you can take the park shuttle bus or choose to ride a camel.

We drove ourselves to the Grand Canyon. The off-road vehicle cost 100 yuan per vehicle. Our companions either got free tickets or half-price tickets. Even though we paid full price, it was only 36 yuan, which was a very reasonable price. The scenery in the scenic area was beautiful. I recommend it.

The palace itself is a replica, and the exhibition hall introducing Kucha culture inside is rather basic; it's better to visit the Kucha Museum. There's another exhibition hall about the last prince's deeds in the People's Republic of China, which is worth a look. The entire visit takes less than an hour, so you can skip it. You can stroll around the commercial street near the entrance; there are naan shops frequented by locals.

We came to Zhaosu Wetland specifically to see the "Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River" performance. It was a cloudy day when we arrived, so we hadn't had high expectations. After driving in, we headed to the viewing platform, found a good spot, and waited for over 20 minutes before finally witnessing the spectacular sight of the Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River. Although the performance was short, seeing it in person was still quite breathtaking and very impressive. Afterwards, we drove around the Rainbow Bridge for a long loop. The roads were nearly empty, the scenery was beautiful, and it was a very pleasant drive.

The grasslands of Xiata in August are very beautiful with snow-capped mountains and cattle and sheep. To visit the scenic area, you need to take a bus to the hot spring hotel and then transfer to an electric car to the transfer bridge and the general platform. After that, if you want to go to the flower platform, you need to hike about five kilometers to get a closer look at the snow-capped mountains. It is worth it.