Tianma Tourism and Culture Park is located in Zhaosu Karkanter Grassland, Xiata Township, Zhaosu County, Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a national 4A-level scenic area. The total area of the scenic area is 50,000 mu, approximately 33 square kilometers. The total investment of the project is about 61 million yuan, and the total construction area is 43,000 square meters. Here is currently the best and most standardized international standardized grassland ecological racecourse in Xinjiang, with facilities such as the Western Region Racecourse Grandstand, access control, tourist service center, landscape gate, ecological parking lot, Tianma Museum and other infrastructure. With the theme of "Pastoral Zhaosu, Hometown of Tianma", the scenic area fully excavates and showcases the Zhaosu grassland culture, Tianma culture and folk culture. It is a popular destination for tourists inside and outside Xinjiang for grassland sightseeing, folk experience and horseback riding.
Historical Culture
Zhaosu belonged to the Wusun Kingdom in the Han Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Wusun Kingdom presented Wusun horses, and Emperor Wu bestowed the name "Tianma"; later, someone presented the Ferghana horse from Dayuan in the Western Regions, so he renamed the Wusun horse as "Xiji Horse" and called the Ferghana horse "Tianma". In 2003, Zhaosu County was named the "Hometown of Chinese Tianma" by the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China. "Tianma" and "Xiji Horse" are the ancestors of the Yili Kazakh horse. The grassland stone statues, grassland tumuli and rock paintings on the Zhaosu grassland are regarded as the three wonders of the Zhaosu grassland and the best narrators of the history of this grassland.
Main Attractions
Western Region Racecourse
The Western Region Racecourse is the best and most standardized international standardized grassland ecological racecourse in Xinjiang, which can accommodate a large number of spectators to watch competitions and performances. Here, you can enjoy wonderful equestrian competitions, speed horse racing performance competitions, etc., and feel the speed and passion of the horses.
Tianma Museum
The Tianma Museum covers an area of about 3,000 square meters, centrally displaying the scientific research achievements of the development of horses and the horse industry, and recommending to tourists experiences such as leisure horseback riding, outdoor exploration, and intangible cultural heritage. Through rich exhibits and materials in the museum, tourists can have an in-depth understanding of the history and inheritance of horse culture.
Grassland Yurts
In the grassland yurts, tourists can experience the folk customs of the Kazakh ethnic group, feel the rich ethnic cultural atmosphere, and learn about the lifestyle and traditional customs of the Kazakh ethnic group.
Famous Horse Garden
The Famous Horse Garden provides displays of world-famous horses. You can see the famous "Tianma", the precious "Ferghana horse", as well as ancient heavy horses in the world and horse breeds known as "living works of art" by the world.
Delicacies
Kazakh Baked Cake
The Kazakh baked cake is baked with traditional techniques, with a fragrant smell and a crispy taste. It is one of the traditional delicacies of the Kazakh ethnic group.
Flavored Steamed Buns
The flavored steamed buns have a rich filling, with multiple choices such as mutton and beef. They have thin skins and large fillings, and taste delicious.
Spicy Pots and Blood Sausages
The spicy pots are made by hollowing out peppers and filling them with minced meat and other ingredients; the blood sausages are made by filling casings with animal blood and other ingredients, which have a unique flavor. There are also special Zhaosu dishes like Stewed Steamed Buns with Native Chicken around. The steamed buns absorb the freshness of the chicken soup and are very delicious.
Admission Tickets
Package ticket (admission ticket + shuttle bus): 70 yuan per person
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area, "智游昭苏", to get the latest information or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are from 09:00 to 19:00
Itinerary for Visiting
The shuttle bus route is from the starting point of the tourist service center → Tianma Rest → Grassland Snow Mountain Viewing Platform → Tianma Grandstand → Flower Sea → Famous Horse Garden. Tourists can also choose to ride horses to visit each attraction according to their own interests, and there are horse teams at each stop.
Transportation
- Self-driving: You can drive there through navigation software. The Yizhao Highway from Yili has beautiful scenery, but the opening time of the Yizhao Highway is limited, usually only open for three or four months a year.
- Public transportation: First, take a long-distance bus or train from cities such as Urumqi to Zhaosu County, and then transfer to local transportation to the scenic area.
Must-visit Attractions
- Western Region Racecourse: The top racecourse in Xinjiang, where you can watch wonderful equestrian performances and competitions and feel the passion and speed on horseback.
- Tianma Museum: An important place to understand Tianma culture and the development of the horse industry. The rich exhibits and materials can increase your knowledge.
- Famous Horse Garden: You can have a close look at various world-famous horses, which is a rare opportunity.
Suggestions for Visiting
- Learn about the performance time in advance and arrange your itinerary reasonably to watch the wonderful equestrian performances and famous horse displays.
- Prepare sunscreen products and warm clothes. The ultraviolet rays on the grassland are strong, and the temperature difference between day and night is relatively large.
- If you choose to ride a horse, follow the coach's instructions and pay attention to safety.
- You can bring some dry food and water, as there are relatively few dining places in the scenic area.
Notes
- Comply with the regulations of the scenic area and do not touch the exhibits and animals casually.
- Keep the environment clean during the performance viewing and visiting process, and do not litter.
- Wear safety equipment when riding a horse, and do not make dangerous movements on horseback.
- There are many mosquitoes in the scenic area in summer, so pay attention to mosquito prevention measures.