Kezhou Glacier Park is located in Aoyitake Town, Akto County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It covers an area of more than 50 square kilometers, including about 40 square kilometers of primeval forests and alpine meadows. As a national 4A-level tourist attraction, it is known as the "First Natural Ecological Landscape in the Western Regions" by geological experts. At an altitude of more than 2,800 meters, it is the lowest-altitude glacier in China, integrating snow-capped mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, forests, and grasslands, with an average annual temperature of 7.8°C. The park is home to the Qikelazi Glacier, the lowest-altitude modern glacier in China, as well as colorful red rock landforms and lush valley forests, boasting unique natural landscapes. Main buildings in the scenic area include the tourist service center and theme post office, providing services and rest places for visitors.
History and Culture
The history of Glacier Park can be traced back to the ancient Xinjiang trade routes thousands of years ago, when people used glaciers as transportation or shelters. In recent years, with the improvement of environmental protection awareness, the local government has carried out large-scale ecological restoration work on the park to protect this precious natural resource. From 2019 to 2024, the scenic area has continued to develop, undergone transformation and upgrading, developed infrastructure such as homestays and catering, established a theme post office, and issued tender announcements for the construction project to create a 5A-level scenic area, gradually improving the service and quality of the scenic area.
Main Attractions
Qikelazi Glacier
As one of the core landscapes of the park, it is the lowest-altitude modern glacier in China, at an altitude of about 2,800 meters. The huge glacier is like a silver dragon pouring down from the snow-capped mountains. In summer, if lucky, visitors can witness the avalanche spectacle, with snow and mist soaring in the roar, creating an extremely shocking scene.
Snow Mountain Waterfall
It is like a silver dragon falling from the sky into a deep pool, looking particularly magnificent against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
Red Rock
The Red Rock mountain has a sharp edge and no vegetation. Under the sunlight, it is as red as flames, even more vivid than the Flaming Mountains in Turpan, hence known as the "Southern Xinjiang Flaming Mountains."
Theme Post Office
Located in the tourist service center of the scenic area, it sells glacier-themed commemorative envelopes, postcards, stamp albums, and developed glacier culture derivative products. It provides supporting services with scenic postmarks and commemorative postmarks, as well as rest and tea services to meet the personalized needs of visitors.
Food
Yak Beef Pilaf
It is made by braising yak beef with ingredients such as carrots and onions together with rice, featuring rich meat aroma, distinct rice grains, and rich nutrition.
Roast Whole Lamb
Selected high-quality local sheep are marinated with special seasonings and then roasted in a special oven. The skin is golden and crispy, the inside is tender and juicy, and the aroma is tangy.
Katma (Melaleuca Cake)
A characteristic food of the Kirgiz people, made by stacking multiple layers of thin pancakes, with a soft taste and sweet flavor.
Yogurt Curd Noodle Soup
Crush the yogurt curd and cook it with noodles, then add appropriate seasonings. It has a unique flavor, with a sour and fragrant taste that appetizes the appetite.
Ticket
The ticket price is 51 yuan per person (including the sightseeing bus). As of June 12, 2025, no official WeChat public account has been found.
Opening Hours
10:00 - 20:00, stop admission at 19:00 (subject to the announcement of the scenic area on the day).
Tour Route
After entering the scenic area, you need to take a shuttle bus that goes directly to the starting point of the trail without stopping. Walking along a 3-kilometer uphill path, you can reach the viewing platform where you can overlook the full panorama of the glacier. This is also the terminal of the tour. After that, you can go down the mountain along the road on the other side. The whole journey takes about 3 hours if you take your time.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Drive southwest along National Highway 314 from Kashgar, and arrive at the park entrance in about 2 hours. Enter "Kezhou Glacier Park" for navigation. Travel 30 kilometers from Aoyita Glacier Gate to reach the scenic area. Take an interval bus in the scenic area for 10 minutes to the destination, and then walk to the viewing platform for another 20 minutes.
- Chartered car/Carpooling: The carpooling fee in Kashgar urban area is about 150 yuan per person, and the round trip including waiting time is about 6 hours.
Must-visit Attractions
- Qikelazi Glacier: The lowest-altitude modern glacier in China, where you can feel the magnificence of the glacier up close and have the opportunity to see the avalanche spectacle in summer.
- Viewing Platform: Located at the end of the walking path, it overlooks the entire view of snow-capped mountains and glaciers, where the black glacier and white snow-capped mountains contrast with each other, making it very photogenic.
- Red Rock: A colorful red mountain body with interwoven gray-green, ochre, and gray-black rock layers, a popular photography spot for photographers.
Travel Tips
- May to August is the golden season for visiting, but there are many rainy days during this period. Check the weather and road conditions in advance before traveling.
- The temperature in the scenic area is low. Even in midsummer, the temperature is only between 10-20°C. Be sure to bring warm clothes, such as a hard shell jacket or a thin down jacket.
- Check the weather forecast in advance. Only on sunny days can you clearly see the glaciers and snow-capped mountains, while overcast days with many clouds will affect the viewing and photography effects.
- There is no restaurant in the scenic area, only a small grocery store. It is recommended to bring your own dry food and water to replenish energy on the way.
Notes
- Maintain a safe distance when watching avalanches, which mostly occur in the afternoon.
- Some sections of the walking path in the scenic area are slippery. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes.
- There is no signal on the mountain, so remember to bring cash.