Dongdatang Scenic Area

Dongdatang Scenic Area

Dongdatang Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Dongdatang Scenic Area

Dongdatang Scenic Area is located deep in the Tianshan Mountains, on the northern foothills of the Yilianhabirga Mountain Range, east of Shihezi. The scenic area is over 70 kilometers from both Shihezi City and Shawan County, and lies east across the mountains from the “Mongolian Temple” tourist area. The “Shuigou” (water ditch) is within this scenic area.

Dongdatang Scenic Area is divided into eastern, southern, and western zones, composed of three distinctly different landscapes, making it a comprehensive scenic destination that caters to various sightseeing needs.

The southern part of the scenic area is home to the famous Hundred-Mile Glacier, commonly known as “Xuelao Ba.” Here, towering mountains stretch endlessly, their peaks capped with snow that glitters brilliantly in the cold light. Rivers run through the mountains, with clear streams gurgling along.

The eastern section of the scenic area (Shuigou Zone) is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with dense spruce forests covering the high ridges, lush and verdant. Following rugged paths through the dense pine forests on both the northern and southern slopes, visitors can reach the mountaintop, where a rolling expanse of emerald-green grassland dotted with scattered spruces unfolds. A hundred-meter waterfall cascades down from the cliff edge, plunging into the deep pool at the bottom of the valley, sending up waves of spray, filling the air with mist, and creating a thunderous roar. Along the valley’s edge beneath the trees, jagged rocks jut out amid the swiftly flowing waters, with water droplets splashing like pearls. At the source of the mountaintop waterfall, a cool breeze blows, offering panoramic views of the undulating mountain ranges.

The western part of the scenic area lies among rolling low ridges and hills, where willows, birches, poplars, pines, and wildflower meadows intermingle, forming a unique subtropical forest zone and hilly grassland. Driving uphill from the valley floor, visitors enter a large natural temperate botanical garden in the mountains, which includes an autonomous region-level wildlife reserve. This protected area is home to 17 species of Class II protected animals, including red deer, goitered gazelles, argali, and brown bears. Visitors are sure to find the scenery here extraordinary and brimming with wild charm. Crossing over the mountains, a vast and open landscape suddenly comes into view: continuous mountain ranges, lush forests; and on the expansive hilly plains of the front range, winding roads are clearly visible, with villages dotted like emerald beads scattered across the land, all laid out in full view, offering a breathtaking panoramic sight.

The scenic area is fully equipped with tourist facilities. The Kazakh yurts are luxuriously furnished, and the dining and accommodation conditions are excellent, capable of serving over 600 people at the same time.