Yizhao Highway
The Yizhao Highway is known as 'Little Duku' (open for only about 3 months each year). This Tianshan scenic road connects Yining to Zhaosu, stretching over 130 kilometers and crossing the Wusun Mountains at an altitude of over 3,100 meters. Along the way, it links snow-capped mountains, grasslands, canyons, forests, flower seas, and pastures together. In just over 130 kilometers, it traverses the Tianshan range, encapsulating the natural beauty of Ili. In my mind, it is one of Xinjiang's most beautiful highways. In the morning, departing from Yining.
The Yizhao Highway is known as 'Little Duku' (open for only about 3 months each year). This Tianshan scenic road connects Yining to Zhaosu, stretching over 130 kilometers and crossing the Wusun Mountains at an altitude of over 3,100 meters. Along the way, it links snow-capped mountains, grasslands, canyons, forests, flower seas, and pastures together. In just over 130 kilometers, it traverses the Tianshan range, encapsulating the natural beauty of Ili. In my mind, it is one of Xinjiang's most beautiful highways.
Departing from Yining in the morning and heading south, as we leave the city, the view gradually opens up, and the snow-capped peaks of the Tianshan Mountains appear right before your eyes.
After passing through Qapqal, we stop at the Camel Post Station, where you can see the full view of White Stone Peak in the distance. There is a viewing platform here to look back at the road we came from. Fortunately, we spotted a chameleon here.
At the mountain pass viewing platform, you can see the Ili River Valley and the winding mountain road.
The White Stone Peak viewing platform allows you to see White Stone Peak up close.
Angelit Daban (Wusun Mountain Daban, elevation 3177). Here there are continuous switchbacks, with mountain wall on one side and a cliff on the other.
Maheqin Grassland (Qapqal Alpine Grassland). You can see open alpine meadows, yurts, and cattle, horses, and sheep grazing scattered across the mountains.
Wild Wolf Valley is said to have wild wolves. It features pristine mountain forests and grasslands, with a viewing platform to enjoy the untouched natural scenery.
Zhaosu County town.
The Yizhao Highway ends here. To avoid aesthetic fatigue from returning the same way, we take a different route back to Yining. Departing from Zhaosu on National Highway 577, we pass through Tekes County town, also known as the Bagua City (Eight Trigrams City).
It is laid out according to the Later Heaven Bagua arrangement of the I Ching (Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, Dui). Eight main streets radiate outward from the central Taiji altar, and four ring roads form the 64 hexagrams. It is the only city in the country's main urban area without traffic lights. There is an internet-famous tree in the city center.
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