Complete Travel Guide to the Ili River Valley
How to plan the Ili River Valley: the movement routes in and out of Yining, going around Sayram Lake, the culture of Kazanqi, choosing between Kalajun and Nalati, and the differences between the June Light Festival and the September Golden Grass.
Traffic Flow Principles
The smoothest way to go in and out of Yining Airport: spend one to two days in the city (Kazanchi + Liuxing Street), one day around Sayram Lake (round trip), one and a half days in Tekesi—Kalajun, and one day in Nalati. You can complete it all in eight days; if you only have five days, just skip Kalajun.
Sayram Lake
The lake-ringing road is over seventy kilometers, and you can drive yourself or hire a car to complete it; Dianjiangtai and Xihai Grassland are the main photo spots. Staying by the lake is the only way to catch both sunrise and sunset, and even in summer the night temperature around the lake is only around ten degrees Celsius.
Choosing Grasslands
Kalajun stands out for its "three-dimensional grasslands" and the Kok-su Canyon, while Nalati excels in its mature aerial grassland facilities; take elders there, and choose Kalajun for photography. The peak of wildflowers is in June, and September sees the golden transition.
Seasons and Pitfalls to Avoid
June is the double peak for lavender and wildflowers; July and August are crowded due to summer holiday but pleasantly cool; before May, snow remains on the mountains and lakes, and the grasslands are not fully green. During the peak season, yurt accommodations should be booked at least two weeks in advance.