The Kazanqi Folk Custom Tourist Area is located in the old urban area of Yining City, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a national 4A-level tourist scenic area. The scenic area is built relying on the three streets in the South City District of Yining. The total area is about 22.9 square kilometers, and 4.2 square kilometers have been developed so far. There are more than 300 ancient buildings since the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and more than 20,000 residential courtyards with local characteristics scattered in the scenic area. The architectural styles here are diverse, including ancient pure wooden residential houses, various brick and stone structure villas, Byzantine domes, Persian-style courtyards, Rococo-style reliefs, geometric patterns, etc.
History and Culture
According to historical records, in the 17th century, Uyghur people who went to Ili to open up wasteland from southern Xinjiang first settled here. After the baptism and changes of history, currently, multiple ethnic groups such as Uyghur, Han, Hui, Uzbek, Kazakh, Xibe, Manchu, Russian, Mongolian, Tatar, Tajik, and Kirgiz live here. Influenced by the long history, Kazanqi has formed unique local customs and has become a characteristic area where diverse ethnic cultures in Xinjiang gather. In 2015, Qianjin Street in the Kazanqi Folk Custom Tourist Area became one of the first batch of Chinese historical and cultural streets.
Main Attractions
Tudahong Bayi Courtyard
The Tudahong Bayi Courtyard was the residence of the merchant Tudahong in Yining City after he returned to China from Kyrgyzstan in 1929, covering an area of about 2,000 square meters. The overall appearance of the building is light blue, and its style integrates diverse cultures. It is the most complete and largest Tatar residential house currently preserved in China. There are two rows of houses in the courtyard, with green brick screens, tube-shaped fireplaces, crystal chandeliers, ethnic carpets, etc. setting each other off.
Hui Ethnic Mosque
The Hui Ethnic Mosque was first built in 1751 (the 16th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign). It is one of the earliest completed mosques in Ili and the largest Islamic mosque among the nine cities of Ili in the Qing Dynasty. The original area is about 6,000 square meters. Its architectural shape and layout were built by imitating the Huajue Lane Mosque in Xi'an, Shaanxi. It adopts typical traditional Chinese architecture and also has Arab Islamic style. There are the Mountain Gate and the Main Gate in the front, with double eight-character screen walls and gate towers on both sides. The main building of the temple, the Prayer Hall, is at the back for preaching and praying. The Prayer Hall is divided into the inner, outer, and middle halls, covering a total area of more than 600 square meters and can accommodate a thousand people for praying.
Delicacies
Roasted Mutton Skewers
Fresh mutton is selected, cut into small pieces, and skewered with iron skewers, then roasted over charcoal fire. During the roasting process, seasonings such as cumin and chili powder are sprinkled. Roast it until the skin is golden and crispy and the inside is tender and juicy, with a rich aroma.
Hand-Pulled Rice
It is mainly made of ingredients such as rice, mutton, carrots, and onions. The rice absorbs the aroma of mutton and the sweetness of carrots, with a rich taste and rich nutrition. It is usually accompanied by some side dishes and yogurt.
Nang (a kind of bread)
Nang is a traditional pasta in Xinjiang, with various types such as original flavor Nang, sesame Nang, scallion-flavored Nang, etc. It has a crispy and fragrant taste and can be preserved for a long time. It is one of the staple foods loved by the local people.
Admission Ticket
The Kazanqi Folk Custom Tourist Area is an open scenic area and does not charge admission fees.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open throughout the year, with opening hours of 24 hours a day.
Itinerary
Tourists can enter from the south gate of the scenic area. First, visit the Tudahong Bayi Courtyard to feel the architectural style integrating diverse cultures; then take a stroll along the streets to admire the colorful characteristic residential houses and various buildings; next, go to the Hui Ethnic Mosque to feel its simple and elegant atmosphere; then take the "Hadike" (horse-drawn carriage) to shuttle through the streets and alleys to experience the unique folk customs; finally, go to the folk home visit spots, taste local delicacies, interact with the residents, and have an in-depth understanding of the local way of life.
Transportation
- By Air: Tourists can first take a flight to Yining Airport, and then take a taxi from Yining Airport to the Kazanqi Folk Custom Tourist Area, with a driving time of about 20 minutes.
- By Train: After arriving at Yining Railway Station by train, tourists can choose to take a bus or a taxi to the scenic area. They can take the corresponding bus route and get off at the designated stop; the driving time by taxi is about 15 minutes.
- By Self-driving: Enter "Kazanqi Folk Custom Tourist Area" in the navigation software and drive according to the navigation route. There are multiple parking lots in and around the scenic area, such as the east side of the Tourist Center, the Pomegranate Flower Exhibition Hall, the Sainaimu Performance Square, etc., with a total of 1,430 planned parking spaces.
Must-visit Attractions
- Tudahong Bayi Courtyard: It is the most complete and largest Tatar residential house preserved in China, covering an area of about 2,000 square meters, with a unique architectural style that integrates diverse cultures.
- Hui Ethnic Mosque: It is one of the earliest completed mosques in Ili, built in 1751, with an original area of about 6,000 square meters, having traditional Chinese architecture and Arab Islamic style.
- Kazanqi Characteristic Residential Houses: There are more than 20,000 characteristic residential courtyards in the scenic area. The exterior walls and gates of the buildings are mostly blue and white, with bright yellow, green, and pink houses interlacing. The styles are diverse, just like an open-air Central Asian architectural museum.
Travel Suggestions
- You can choose to visit in the afternoon or evening to avoid the heat at noon and also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the setting sun shining on the characteristic buildings.
- When taking the "Hadike" horse-drawn carriage, pay attention to safety and follow the instructions of the coachman.
- When tasting local delicacies, you can choose appropriately according to your taste and appetite to avoid waste.
- If you are interested in ethnic cultures, you can visit more folk home visit spots, communicate with the local residents, and have an in-depth understanding of folk cultures.
Precautions
- Respect the local religious beliefs and folk customs and do not act inappropriately.
- Take good care of the environment of the scenic area. Do not spit or litter to keep the scenic area clean and tidy.
- When visiting in the scenic area, pay attention to your own safety, especially when walking on the streets, be careful of vehicles and pedestrians.
- If an emergency occurs, seek help from the staff of the scenic area in a convenient way or call the local emergency number.