伊犁哈萨克自治州

Why this place

Ili is the fertile river valley in western Xinjiang, and it is green where the rest of the region is desert — apples, orchards, and high grassland rising to the Tian Shan. The Sayram and Nalati grasslands are the best grazing country in China, and Kazakh herders still summer there.

What to see

• Nalati grassland — high summer pasture with Kazakh yurts and horsemen
• The Yili River valley and the Khorgas border crossing to Kazakhstan
• The Tekes and Kalajun grasslands, and the Bayinbuluke high meadow
• The Huiyuan ancient city and the Qing-era frontier administration
• The Ili Valley's fruit orchards and the lavender fields near Huocheng in June

What to eat

• Ili apples and the local grapes; the valley is Xinjiang's orchard
• Kazakh food: boiled mutton, kumiss, milk tea and naan
• Uyghur 'dapanji' and the local hand-pulled noodles

How to plan

Four or five days: Yining one day, Nalati two, Sayram one, plus travel.

Best time

June–September for grassland; June for lavender; September–October for fruit

Practical tips

• Ili is close to the Kazakhstan border and has its own airport — it is much easier to reach than the map suggests