Barkol Grassland

Barkol Grassland

Guide: Barkol Grassland is located in the northeast of Xinjiang, home to eight scenic spots including "Tianshan Snow Pines," "Vast Sea Turtle City," "Moonlit Mirror Spring," and "Victorious Yue Platform." Introduction: At an altitude of 1,650 meters, Barkol Grassland features crystal-clear snow mountains, lush pine forests, and ever-changing misty landscapes. This view is known as "Tianshan Snow Pines." Legend has it that during the ancient times after the Yellow Emperor founded the nation, when emperors Tang Yao, Yu the Great, and King Mu of Zhou toured the "Land of the Queen Mother of the West," she gifted them a silk embroidery from the Central Plains during a banquet at the Jade Pool. Later, the Queen Mother transformed the embroidery into a "heavenly horse" pasture. To this day, Barkol Grassland is still known as the "Hometown of Heavenly Horses."

About 5 kilometers south of Barkol Ancient City stands a small mountain approximately 200 meters high, named Yuegong Platform. Backed by snow mountains and facing the grassland, the mountaintop is dotted with peculiar peaks and rocks, while springs and waterfalls cascade at its base. According to the "Xinjiang Atlas · Mountain Records": "Among all the mountains, Yuegong Platform is the most majestic, with eight arrays of mysterious gates in front and space to accommodate ten thousand horses on both sides..." Legend says that military drills and troop formations conducted here could lead to victory in battle. In the 7th and 9th years of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty, General Yue Zhongqi, titled Duke of Trust and Valor, led expeditions against the Dzungar people twice, passing through Barkol Grassland and setting up camp on this mountain to train his troops. Both campaigns were victorious, giving rise to the celebrated tale of "Victorious Yue Platform."

From the towering cliffs of Yuegong Platform, one can gaze over the vast grassland that resembles an endless sea, with the Han and Manchu ancient cities resembling giant ships sailing in a sea of green waves. Legend has it that two giant sea turtles lived in Barkol Lake. Upon seeing General Yue camping on the mountain without building walls, they shed their shells to form city fortifications. To express his gratitude, General Yue inscribed a plaque reading "Vast Sea Turtle City," which was hung above the city gate.

Adjacent to Yuegong Platform lies a valley with stunning scenery, where winding mountain gorges and paths open up unexpectedly into a vast space. Towering cliffs, emerald curtains of vegetation, exotic flowers, and fragrant medicinal herbs fill the air. Even in the harsh winter blanketed in snow, the valley remains vibrant with green grass, blooming flowers, and pine trees that create a spring-like ambiance. Legend says a black dragon resides in Heigou Valley, traveling back and forth to the Dragon Palace and bringing treasures from the East Sea.

Jianshanzi is located on the southern shore of Barkol Lake. While the grassland is still shrouded in the gray morning mist, the mountaintop is already bathed in bright red hues—this sight is called "Dawn at Jianshan." On the summit boulder, the poetic line "The Sun God shines with favor, illuminating the peak of Jianshan" is engraved. Legend claims it was inscribed by the disciples of Tang Sanzang during their journey to the West to retrieve Buddhist scriptures.

"Moonlit Mirror Spring" is situated west of Barkol Lake. A clear, mirror-like mountain spring reflects the moon like a silver plate. Legend has it that long ago, an ugly shepherdess sat by the spring one quiet night, gazing at the moon in the water and weeping, "Moon maiden, why are you so beautiful, while I am so ugly?" As she spoke, the spring water suddenly splashed onto her face, and from then on, she became extraordinarily beautiful. Since then, young women getting married in the grasslands would visit the spring under the full moon to pray for beauty.

During the mid-Qing Dynasty, education flourished in Barkol, but few scholars achieved success in the imperial examinations. Legend says an old man with white hair claimed that scholarly essence lay hidden in Binggou Valley and that a pagoda needed to be built to retain it. Thus, a six-story pagoda was constructed amidst dense pine forests in Binggou Valley and named "Binggou Pagoda." Soon after, more scholars from Barkol succeeded in the examinations and earned honors. To this day, Barkol continues to produce many talented individuals.

Barkol Grassland also features the "Ancient Camp in the Sand Hills," another local attraction located 48 kilometers east of the ancient city within a cluster of sand dunes. Legend has it that during a battle between Eastern Han General Sima Maokai, leading 500 soldiers, and the Xiongnu Chanyu Huyan, a sudden sandstorm buried 48 military camps overnight. The soldiers trapped beneath the sand dunes expressed their loyalty to the nation by beating weapons and singing.

Hami, Xinjiang