The Tekes Bagua City Scenic Area is located in Tekes County, Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a National Historical and Cultural City.
Tekes Bagua City is currently the only well-preserved, fully intact, and largest Bagua (Eight Trigrams) city in the world, renowned for its Bagua layout. The city features a radial circular design, with eight main streets radiating from the center and intersecting four ring roads, embodying the "Bagua" mystery and principles to form sixty-four hexagrams. This fully reflects the mathematical logic of 64 hexagrams and 386 lines in the Book of Changes. The streets are interconnected in a pattern resembling a Bagua divination basin, known as the "Tangible Zhouyi, Three-Dimensional Yijing." In 1996, traffic lights were removed, making it a city without traffic lights. The scenic area covers a planned area of approximately 8 km², with a core area of about 5 km².
Historical Culture
Tekes Bagua City has a long history and profound cultural heritage. In the early 2nd century BCE, the Wusun people migrated westward from Gansu to the Yili River Basin in Xinjiang, occupying the natural grasslands of the Tekes River Basin. They thrived here for over 500 years, becoming the most influential kingdom in the Western Regions— the Wusun Kingdom. Many large mound-style Wusun ancient tombs and castles remain, and the Wusun Road extended from Tekes to Chigu City, playing a crucial role in the formation and development of the Ancient Silk Road.
In the late Southern Song Dynasty, Qiu Chuji, one of the Seven True Immortals of the Quanzhen School, was invited by Genghis Khan to the Western Regions to discuss governance. En route, he was inspired by the powerful mountain energy and vital river veins in the Tekes Valley, designating this area as the feng shui core of the Bagua City and laying the foundation for its congenital Bagua layout.
In the 1930s, Qiu Zongjun, then Yili Garrison Reclamation Commissioner, oversaw the planning of Bagua City, using the Bagua theory from the Zhouyi for site selection. In summer 1939, County Magistrate Ban Jichun directed 20 ox-drawn plows to trace the eight radial streets based on the Bagua diagram. On October 22 of the same year, the new Tekes City (Bagua City) was officially completed.
Tekes is the westernmost hub for Taoist culture in China, a core area where Wusun and Yijing cultures intersect. Integrating Silk Road, grassland, and multi-ethnic cultures, it forms a rich and distinctive cultural heritage. In 2001, it was listed as a National Historical and Cultural City by the State Council.
Main Attractions
Bagua Observation Tower
Located at the city center, the Bagua Observation Tower was built in 1968. During the Cultural Revolution, it was inscribed with Mao Zedong's quotations, earning the name "Quotation Tower." After seismic reinforcement in 1993, it was renamed the Observation Tower. Standing over 50 meters tall with a reinforced concrete structure, it offers a 360° panoramic view of the Bagua layout— eight main streets, four ring roads, and 64 interconnected streets— making it the best spot to appreciate the city's planning wisdom.
Lijie Folk Culture Street
Lijie is a counterpart aid project from Nanjing's Jiangning District, developed as a folk culture exhibition area along the "Li Trigram" streets. Stretching 1.5 km, the street preserves traditional dwellings of Kazakh and Uyghur ethnic groups, with over 80 businesses including homestays, ethnic restaurants, and handicraft shops. Visitors can experience intangible cultural heritage like Kazakh embroidery and Uyghur hat-making, taste ethnic dishes like horse milk wine and lung noodle soup, and immerse in multi-ethnic culture.
Yijing Cultural Park
Covering 20,000 m², the Yijing Cultural Park integrates Yijing culture display, folk experiences, and cultural relic exhibitions. It features attractions like a bronze statue of King Wen of Zhou, Bagua Platform, and Dayi Stele Corridor, showcasing the fusion of Yijing and ethnic cultures through sculptures, murals, and artifacts. The museum houses over 400 relics from the Paleolithic era to the Republic of China, with precious gold and bronze artifacts from Wusun tombs, serving as a key window into Tekes' history.
Food
Hand-Pulled Mutton
Made with free-range Altay big-tailed sheep from Tekes grasslands, this dish uses rib or leg meat stewed with simple seasonings like salt and onions. Tender and odorless, it is served with garlic paste or chili sauce and fresh-baked naan, a classic Kazakh hospitality dish.
Lamb Chop Jiupianzi
Lamb chops are stewed until tender with carrots and potatoes, then hand-torn noodles are added. The rich broth, flavorful lamb, and slippery noodles make it a warm winter dish popular in street restaurants and homes.
Nang Pit Barbecued Meat
Also known as "Gangzi Meat," marinated lamb chunks are skewered on red willow sticks and roasted in a brick nang pit. The high heat creates a crispy exterior and tender interior, infused with red willow aroma. Served with sesame nang, it's a staple at night markets and bazaars.
Tickets
The core area of Tekes Bagua City is free to visit. Charges apply for select attractions:
- Bagua Observation Tower: ¥20/person
- Yijing Cultural Park: ¥30/person
- Lijie folk experiences: Some intangible heritage projects cost ¥10-50 per activity
Opening Hours
The city area is open 24/7.
Main attractions' hours:
- Bagua Observation Tower: 09:30-20:30 (summer), 10:00-19:00 (winter)
- Yijing Cultural Park: 10:00-18:00 (closed Mondays)
- Lijie Street: Open all day (shops operate 11:00-23:00)
Itinerary
One-Day Essence Tour
09:30 Arrive at Bagua Observation Tower for a panoramic view
11:00 Walk to Yijing Cultural Park for exhibitions
13:30 Lunch at Lijie Street: Hand-pulled mutton and lamb chop jiupianzi
15:30 Explore Lijie: Experience handicrafts and shop for souvenirs
18:00 Visit Central Square for sunset views
20:00 Dinner at night market: Nang pit barbecue and baked buns
Transportation
- Air: Nearest airport is Yining Airport (ILY), 110 km away (2.5-hour drive). Take a chartered car or airport bus to Yining City, then transfer to a bus to Tekes.
- Road:
- Yining Bus Station: Regular buses 08:00-20:00, ¥35, 3 hours
- Urumqi Nianzigou Bus Station: Overnight sleeper buses at 16:00, ¥180, 8 hours
- Self-driving: Take G3016 Qingyi Expressway and S220 Provincial Road, 700 km total (note mountain road speed limits) - Train: Arrive at Yining or Xinyuan Station, then transfer to a long-distance bus to Tekes.
Must-See Attractions
- Bagua Observation Tower: The city's landmark and only panoramic view point. Best visited in the morning for clear lighting.
- Lijie Street: A window into multi-ethnic culture. Recommended for evening visits to enjoy illuminated night scenes.
- Yijing Cultural Park: Core site to understand the city's cultural roots. Join a guided tour to learn about Yijing-Wusun cultural fusion.
Travel Tips
- Best seasons: June-August (grassland flowers), September-October (autumn photography). Avoid winter (-15°C average from December-February).
- Dress code: Layered clothing for large temperature variations; bring a thin jacket in summer and a down coat in autumn. Wear comfortable sneakers.
- Cultural prep: Study basic Bagua knowledge beforehand to better appreciate the city's layout.
- Photography: Capture panoramas from the Observation Tower and ethnic portraits among Lijie's colorful residences.
Notes
- Time difference: 2 hours behind Beijing time. Local meals are typically at 14:00-15:30 (lunch) and 20:00-22:00 (dinner).
- Religious respect: Remove shoes and cover heads (for women) when entering mosques; observe local customs in ethnic areas.
- Traffic safety: Some roads lack traffic lights—watch for vehicles while walking.
- Protection: Bring mosquito repellent and sunscreen for grassland areas in summer.
- Self-driving: S220 Provincial Road has winding mountain sections. Fuel up in advance and download offline maps.