Santai Gou Primitive Forest Scenic Area

Santai Gou Primitive Forest Scenic Area

Santai Gou Primitive Forest Scenic Area

Santai Gou Primitive Forest Scenic Area is located south of Santai Town in Jimusaer County, deep within the Tianshan Mountains, 40 km from Santai Town. The scenic area covers a tourism area of 66.7 km², with tourism infrastructure spanning 15 km². The area is long and broad, boasting pristine natural scenery that is exceptionally serene. It is a typical Tianshan landscape characterized by snow-capped mountains, primitive forests, grasslands, and rich Kazakh ethnic culture. The climate is cool and the air is fresh, creating a fairy-tale-like environment.

The layered mountains are mostly covered with pristine fir trees and lush greenery. With high peaks and broad valleys, the crystal-clear glacial meltwater of the Tianshan Mountains flows through, while the grasslands are densely vegetated. Meandering mountain trails twist and turn all the way to the summit. The rugged, majestic, and spectacular mountain terrain is home to year-round snow-capped peaks that are clearly visible. Visitors ascending the mountains may spot wildlife such as snowcocks, red deer, wild boars, and argali sheep, and can also collect precious herbs and plants like Tianshan snow lotus, wild mushrooms, fritillaria, coptis, angelica, and codonopsis.

The valley of Santai Gou features flat terrain, with a massive "Flying Stone" of over ten thousand cubic meters standing majestically at the foot of Horseback Mountain. Behind it lies a poignant love story. Snow-white flocks of sheep graze on the vast grasslands, while an 80-kilowatt hydropower station is nestled midway up the mountainside. A grand aerial sand transport cableway stands impressively with remarkable presence. The generations of Kazakh herders who have lived here are known for their simplicity, musical talent, dancing skills, and warm hospitality. Their traditional lifestyle adds another beautiful dimension to the scenery.

With the continuous development of tourism, Hongqi Farm plans to develop additional tourist routes such as Kongjiagou and Qingjulügou, showing great potential. Once completed, it is expected to receive 180,000 to 200,000 visitors annually.

Here, snow meets mountain flowers, streams embrace the hills, and distant and nearby views complement each other, forming diverse and picturesque landscapes. It is a rare destination for tourism, leisure vacations, summer retreats, and convalescence.

The Legend of the Flying Stone

Legend has it that when the Queen Mother of the West was on her way to bathe in Yaochi (today’s Heavenly Lake), she passed by Datai Gou. From above, she gazed down upon the broad valley with murmuring streams, towering green pines, and vibrant green mountains dotted with colorful wildflowers. White clouds drifted like ribbons around the mountains, and gentle breezes revealed leisurely sheep grazing among the grass. Captivated by such beauty, the Queen Mother decided to stay and enjoy the area for two days. Sitting by a stream, sipping milk tea made with sweet stream water, she listened to the beautiful singing of a young Kazakh man. One of the fairies could not help but sing along with him. Their songs expressed admiration for a beautiful life, longing for love, and hopes for happiness. Moved by the earthly scenery and the young man’s simple nature and heartfelt voice, the fairy fell in love with the kind and handsome Kazakh man, and he, in turn, fell for the beautiful and gentle fairy. They happily wandered the forest trails, sharing their affection. When the Queen Mother decided to leave, the lovers were reluctant to part. The fairy begged to stay and live freely and happily with the young man, refusing to return to heaven. The Queen Mother, furious, ordered the fairy to leave with her, threatening severe punishment if she disobeyed. Helpless, the fairy turned herself into a large stone and stayed behind. Since then, the young man kept her company as the stone greeted each sunrise and sunset. It is said that on quiet nights, the stone transforms back into the beautiful fairy, laughing and singing with the young man. This love story is widely told among the local Kazakh people, and the stone has become a sacred rock where lovers make wishes and pray for happiness.