The Tangbula Scenic Area is located in the eastern part of Nilka County, Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a national 4A-level tourist scenic area. The scenic area is characterized by landscapes such as forests, grasslands, hot springs, snow-capped peaks, and rivers. The biological environment here is superior, and the vegetation is rich, with various trees such as the Schrenk spruce, populus davidiana, and Sorbus tianschanica. On the vast grassland, the Kashi River runs through the whole area, with a length of more than 100 kilometers, forming a unique river valley grassland scenery. The scenic area has architectural facilities such as the Tangbula Performing Arts Hall, parking lot, and folk style villas. During the Xinjiang International Tourism Festival in 2005, the tourist center was invested and constructed, improving the water supply and drainage project, power transmission and transformation project, road hardening, and scenic area lighting project. Currently, there is no exact public data on the area of the scenic area.
History and Culture
The history of the Tangbula Grassland is very long. As early as the Han Dynasty, nomadic ethnic groups carried out pastoral activities here. During the Tang Dynasty, this place was an important post on the desert road and a trading site on the Silk Road. During the Yuan Dynasty of the Mongolian period, it became the garrison of the Mongolian army, and many important military meetings and plans were held here. In the Qing Dynasty, it was the settlement of the local Mongolian people in Hulunbuir. Since the 20th century, with the continuous development of transportation, communication, and tourism, Tangbula has gradually become an important tourist destination. "Tangbula" is in Kazakh, meaning "seal, mark", and the name comes from several abrupt rocks on the east side of the Tangbula Gully on the north slope of the Awulale Mountains that are similar to "imperial seals, seals". In addition, the famous film "Safflower of the Tianshan Mountains" once filmed its exterior scenes here, making the Tangbula Grassland well-known far and wide.
Main Attractions
Qiaerma Martyrs Cemetery
The Qiaerma Martyrs Cemetery is located at the intersection of the Duku Highway and Provincial Highway S315 in Nilka County. In the cemetery stands a 20-meter-high monument. The 18 characters on the monument, "Eternal Glory to the Comrades Who Sacrificed Their Lives for the Duku Highway Project", are vigorous and powerful. On the base on the back of the monument are engraved the names of the martyrs who heroically sacrificed during the construction of the Tianshan Duku Highway. This is an important place to remember the martyrs and receive patriotic education.
Kuerke Summer Resort
The Kuerke Summer Resort is located 144 kilometers east of the Nilka County seat. In the scenic area, there are towering cliffs, deep valleys, and gurgling streams, full of the wild charm and fresh breath of nature. It integrates functions such as catering, entertainment, leisure, and vacation, and is a good place for tourists to escape the heat and relax.
Aketas Resort
The Aketas Resort is located 30 kilometers from the Tangbula Baili Scenic Area on Provincial Highway S315. In 2002, the Party committee and government of Nilka County invested more than 1.5 million yuan to build mountain climbing paths and pavilions in the scenic area, and erected a suspension bridge on the Kashi River, which greatly facilitates tourists' visits and provides convenient playing conditions for tourists.
Bulong Hot Spring
The Bulong Hot Spring is located 19 kilometers north of the Bulong Gully, 66 kilometers from the Tangbula Baili Scenic Area on Provincial Highway S315, with an altitude of 2,520 meters. The water temperature of the hot spring remains at 38℃ - 40℃ all year round. In 2006, it was constructed with an investment of 15 million yuan. It is a comprehensive hot spring integrating catering, accommodation, and hot spring bathing, with a daily reception capacity of more than 200 people. Tourists can enjoy the comfort and relaxation brought by the hot spring here.
Fairy Lake
The Fairy Lake is located deep in the Tangbula Grassland and is a alpine lake. The lake water is crystal clear, surrounded by mountains. The snow-capped peaks are reflected in the lake, and wildflowers are in full bloom by the lake, with lush spruces. Legend has it that fairies once danced here, hence the name. The scenery here is picturesque, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts and a good place for tourists to get close to nature and feel the tranquility.
Monkut Ancient Road
The Monkut Ancient Road is one of the 113 gullies in Tangbula, and the entrance to its scenic area can be seen halfway along the Tangbula Baili Gallery. Surrounding the ancient road are facilities like the Internet-famous Pine Forest Bridge, wooden plank roads, and viewing platforms. The one-way self-driving distance is approximately 20 kilometers. Here, there are landscapes such as the Millennium Wusun Ancient Road, snowy mountains and glaciers, and forest hot springs. Whether it's sunny or rainy, the scenery is extremely beautiful, and it is hailed as the "pinnacle" of the Yili Grassland.
Arslang Stone Forest
The Arslang Stone Forest was the first place of the hunting ground in the Qing Dynasty. The strange peaks and rocks formed by the weathering of the Tertiary conglomerate have unique landscapes such as the Camel Stone, Giant Lion Rock, and Celestial Horse Drinking Water. The uncanny workmanship of nature is fully displayed here, just like a natural park.
Tangbula Baili Gallery
The west starting point of the Tangbula Baili Gallery is the Black Bee Manor Ecological Hotel, and the east end is Qiaerma at the intersection of the Duku Highway and Provincial Highway S315, with a total length of about 100 kilometers. Along Provincial Highway 315, all the way along the Kashi River flowing from east to west, different landscapes such as grasslands, hot springs, snow-capped peaks, hills, wildflowers, rocks, and lakes are presented in turn, just like a continuous beautiful picture scroll.
Delicacies
Powder Soup
The powder soup is a delicious dish of the Hui people. The main ingredients are jelly pieces (mostly pea flour), with pieces of fat and lean mutton or beef rib meat. Add salt, ginger powder, pepper powder, onion, soy sauce, mature vinegar and other seasonings and stir-fry, then add the meat broth and simmer until the meat is tender. Also add ingredients such as cabbage, jelly pieces, spinach, red pepper, and soaked black fungus and cook. The powder soup has excellent color, aroma and taste, with a unique flavor.
Milk Tea
Milk tea is a common drink in the Yili area. It is made by boiling brick tea and adding fresh milk or goat milk, and then adding an appropriate amount of salt. It has a rich taste and is rich in nutrition. It is an essential part of the daily life of the local ethnic minorities. Drinking a cup of milk tea can make you feel the strong ethnic customs.
Mutton Pilaf
Mutton pilaf is made by cutting mutton into small pieces, stir-frying with ingredients such as carrots and onions, and then adding rice and an appropriate amount of water and simmering. The cooked pilaf has distinct rice grains, tender and juicy mutton, and sweet carrots. It is rich in nutrition and has a fragrant smell. It is one of the local characteristic delicacies.
Spicy Pot and Blood Sausage
The spicy pot is made by hollowing out the chili peppers and filling them with minced meat and other ingredients and cooking them; the blood sausage is made by filling sheep blood and some seasonings into the sausage casing and cooking it. These two dishes have a strong ethnic flavor and a unique taste, which are characteristic delicacies around the Tangbula Scenic Area and are worth a try.
Naren
Naren is a traditional delicacy loved by ethnic minorities such as the Kazakhs. It is usually made by cooking hand-pulled mutton together with noodles or dough slices. After cooking, put the meat on the noodles or dough slices, pour on the delicious meat broth, and sprinkle with seasonings such as onions. It has a delicious taste and is a dish for entertaining guests locally.
Admission Tickets
Most areas of the Tangbula Scenic Area are open for free. Some attractions charge separately. For example, the entrance ticket to the Fairy Lake is 10 yuan per person, and the self-driving fee for the Monkut Ancient Road is 200 yuan per vehicle. Please refer to the actual ticket information of the scenic area.
Opening Hours
The Tangbula Scenic Area is open all day. However, the opening hours of some attractions may be adjusted according to the actual situation. Tourists are advised to learn about the relevant information in advance before visiting.
Tour Routes
The following is a recommended tour route: First, arrive at the tourist service center of the scenic area, where you can learn about the basic situation and tour precautions of the scenic area. Then take a sightseeing bus to the Fairy Lake and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the grassland and groups of cattle and sheep along the way. After arriving at the Fairy Lake, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake, snow-capped mountains, etc., which is a good place for taking photos. Then go to the Jiuquwan, which is named for the winding mountain road. Standing at a high place, you can overlook the magnificent scenery of the entire grassland. Then follow the route to admire the Baili Flower Sea on the grassland, especially the blooming thyme, with the fragrance of flowers spreading. Finally, go to the Fairy Cave, which has beautiful legends and mysterious cave landscapes. After the tour, return to the tourist service center along the original route. If tourists love hiking, they can choose the hiking routes in the scenic area to deeply experience the scenery of the grassland and the living habits of wild animals.
Transportation
- Chartered Car: Tourists can book chartered car services at local hotels, travel agencies or through the Internet in Yining City or surrounding cities. The price of the chartered car will vary according to the vehicle model and itinerary.
- Shuttle Bus: The passenger station in Nilka County has multiple shuttle buses traveling between Yining City and Nilka County every day, with a journey of about 3 - 4 hours. When purchasing tickets at the passenger station, tourists can ask whether the bus passes through the Tangbula Scenic Area, so that they can directly go to the entrance of the scenic area after getting off the bus.
Must-visit Attractions
- Tangbula Baili Gallery: With a length of about 100 kilometers, the Kashi River runs through it, integrating various landscapes such as grasslands, hot springs, and snow-capped peaks. The scenery is picturesque, and it is one of the core landscapes of the scenic area.
- Fairy Lake: An alpine lake located deep in the grassland, with clear and green lake water and beautiful surrounding scenery. It is like a fairyland and is an excellent location for photography and hiking.
- Monkut Ancient Road: It has landscapes such as the Millennium Wusun Ancient Road, snow-capped mountains and glaciers, and forest hot springs. Whether by self-driving or hiking, you can experience its unique charm, and it is known as the "ceiling" of the Yili Grassland.
Tour Suggestions
- The toilets at the Tangbula Viewing Platform are dry toilets, and tourists can prepare mentally in advance.
- The one-way self-driving length of the Monkut Ancient Road is about 20 km, and a commitment letter needs to be signed when entering the ancient road. Tourists should abide by the relevant regulations.
- Unmanned aerial vehicles are allowed for photography in the Fairy Lake Scenic Area, and you can enjoy different beautiful scenery from an aerial perspective.
- There are restaurants in the Bee Town, but the catering conditions are relatively average. Tourists can bring some food to meet different dietary needs.
- It is recommended to go to the Fairy Lake on a sunny day. The light is better in the morning or at around six or seven o'clock in the afternoon, which is very suitable for taking photos and recording the beautiful scenery.
- If there are no herdsmen in the Fairy Lake Scenic Area, there may be no place to sell water and food. Tourists should bring water and food to replenish their physical strength in a timely manner.
Notes
- The road conditions in some areas of the scenic area may be poor, and self-driving tourists should pay attention to driving safety and drive carefully.
- The weather on the grassland changes unpredictably, and the ultraviolet rays are strong. Tourists should carry rain gear and sun protection products and take protective measures.
- When visiting the scenic area, tourists should take care of the environment and not litter to keep the scenic area clean.
- If choosing to hike, tourists should wear appropriate shoes and clothes, pay attention to their own safety, and do not deviate from the designated route to avoid accidents.
- The Tangbula Scenic Area is a place where multiple ethnic groups live together. Tourists should respect the local ethnic customs and religious beliefs and visit in a civilized manner.