Things to do in Kuytun

Duku Highway

Duku Highwayis the common name for the Dushanzi to Kuqa section of National Highway 217. It starts in the north at Dushanzi and ends in the south at Kuqa, the site of the ancient Qiuci kingdom. It spans approx. 561 km and runs through the Tianshan Mountains, cutting the travel distance between northern and southern Xinjiang, which originally required a detour of over 1,000 km, by nearly half. Half of the highway is at an altitude of over 2,000 m, and it crosses four mountain passes covered in snow year-round. One-fifth of the route lies in the alpine permafrost zone, and one-third consists of cliffs and precipices. It took ten years to build this road before it was fully opened to traffic. More than 100 soldiers who built the road rest forever in the Tianshan Mountains, and the Martyrs' Cemetery in Qiao'erma was built to commemorate them. It can be said that every kilometer was hard-won.

Duku Highway Starting Point (Dushanzi)

Dushanzi, as the northern starting point of the Duku Highway, is located on the west side of Karamay City, Xinjiang, at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains and the southwestern edge of the Junggar Basin. This small town, which rose up because of oil, is not only a transportation hub connecting southern and northern Xinjiang, but also the gateway to the magical journey of the Duku Highway, "seeing four seasons in one day, and different weather in ten miles". Its unique geographical location, magnificent natural scenery and profound oil culture make it a pilgrimage site in the hearts of self-driving enthusiasts. Driving south from the starting point, you will soon reach the "Gate of Tianshan" viewing platform, which is a barrier to entering the Tianshan Mountains. You can overlook the snow-capped mountains and the Duku Highway, which is like a black dragon winding into the distance. The scenery is shocking. Dushanzi is not only the geographical starting point of the Duku Highway, but also the spiritual starting point for exploring the magnificent scenery and cultural history of Xinjiang. Starting from here, crossing snow-capped mountains, canyons, grasslands and lakes, every kilometer is writing the legend of the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains.

Kuytun Food and Leisure Street

Kuytun Food and Leisure Street, also known as Wusu Street, sees traffic flowing back and forth every day, with busy crowds bustling in and out of the shops. This short street is lined with restaurants, reflecting the prosperity of the small city. It is filled with restaurants and snack shops offering a wide variety of delicious dishes.

Emperor Anchor Heat Island Park

Located in Kuitun City, Xinjiang, Emperor Anchor Hot Island Park is a tourist and commercial complex integrating a large indoor water park, hot springs, a popular trampoline park, an indie playground, a real ice skating rink, a Venetian water city, specialty restaurants, a Korean sauna, and a resort hotel. It operates 24/7 year-round and can accommodate over 10,000 people simultaneously. The water park offers over ten water attractions, including a wave pool, a lazy river, an Amazon water castle, a super loudspeaker, a giant skateboard, and indoor and outdoor hot springs. This wide variety allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the fun and fully experience the joy of physical interaction, making it suitable for guests of all ages.

Mud volcano

Not far to the southwest of Dushanzi, there is a mud volcano, bare, and the name of Dushanzi comes from this mud volcano. There are magma vents in the shape of a circle or an ellipse on the top of the mud volcano, and the mud accumulates in a cone shape on the ground. Some volcanic craters erupted violently, accompanied by a thudding sound. Mud volcanoes are rare natural features. The mud volcanoes here are still erupting continuously.

No. 8 of Best Things to Do in Northern Xinjiang

Dushanzi Grand Canyon

Dushanzi Grand Canyon is located in Dushanzi District, Karamay City, Xinjiang, about 28 km south of the urban area, with accessible roads for vehicles. The canyon floor is 100–400m wide, while the canyon shoulders span 800–1,000m. With a height of up to 200m from base to shoulder and an elevation of 1,070m, this attraction features spectacular canyon terrain. After breaking through the Tianshan Mountains, the river carved out a spectacular canyon in the sloping plains southwest of Dushanzi. The terraces on both sides of the canyon are clearly visible, with at least nine distinct levels. The terrace surfaces feature desert grasslands dotted with wormwood and feather grass. Within Dushanzi, the Kuitun River flows through the Dushanzi Grand Canyon, which runs nearly north-south. The canyon walls are steep cliffs, while the river at the bottom alternately converges and diverges. The canyon shoulders are covered in desert grasslands. Standing at the canyon's edge, visitors are treated to a classic grand canyon panorama. The meltwater from Tianshan Mountain and rainwater carve out these unique canyon views by forming alluvial gullies through the local soil. The canyon begins at the mountain's base, creating distinct soil layers across the grassland, primarily in shades of gray and black. Though fed by abundant snowmelt, the water turns turbid as it carries sediment through these mineral-rich soils.

Duku Highway Museum

There are many exhibits in the Duku Highway Museum, including photos, sculptures, documents, audio and video, which reproduce the glorious history of the construction of the Duku Highway and the development process of Dushanzi.

West Park

West Park is a comprehensive park that combines natural scenery, cultural features, and leisure and entertainment.

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Karamay Lake Wetland

Located in Kuitun City, Xinjiang, Karamay Lake Wetland is a tourist destination featuring natural ecology and diverse biodiversity. The wetland is vast, with lakes, reed marshes and grasslands intertwined to form a rich ecosystem and a habitat for many birds. The natural environment here provides visitors with an ideal place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and get close to nature. The wetland is equipped with wooden plank roads and bird-watching platforms, allowing visitors to observe various water birds and wetland plants up close. Spring and autumn are ideal seasons for bird watching, with flocks of migratory birds stopping here, adding vitality to the wetland. Visitors can stroll on the plank roads in the early morning or evening and enjoy the peaceful natural atmosphere. Karamay Lake Wetland also offers recreational activities such as boating, which is suitable for families and friends to experience together. Visitors are advised to bring binoculars and cameras to capture the natural beauty and wildlife of the wetland. There are small dining facilities nearby that provide simple catering services for visitors to rest and resupply.