Nanshan Pasture in Urumqi County, Xinjiang

Nanshan Pasture in Urumqi County, Xinjiang

Nanshan Pasture in Urumqi County, Xinjiang

Nanshan Pasture is located in the mountainous area at the northern foot of the Kalawucheng Mountain, a branch of the Northern Tianshan Mountains. About 70 kilometers from downtown Urumqi, this pastoral region features undulating mountains, lush spruce forests covering the foothills, and high-quality grasslands stretching along the terrain between forested areas. In summer, the green meadows spread out like silk, dense spruces and wildflowers blanket the land. Deep in the valley lies a small 20-meter-high waterfall, with clear streams winding through the rugged high mountains. Sheep and horse herds dot the green grasslands. During the Tang Dynasty, it was a renowned hunting and grazing ground, and remains an ideal destination for summer retreats, recuperation, and sightseeing.

In the pasture and dense woods, you can enjoy picturesque scenery, rent a horse from local Kazakh herders to gallop across the vast grasslands, or wander through the deep forests. You can also watch traditional Kazakh sports such as horse racing and…

…sheep snatching and "girl-chasing." At the innermost part of the valley, there is a natural cliff where a waterfall with a drop of over 40 meters and a width of about 2 meters cascades down like a white silk ribbon. The water plunges into a pool, sending up a fine mist and sometimes even forming a rainbow — a truly unique sight. Travelers wishing to experience the beauty of the grassland at night can stay overnight here.

Riding a swift horse from a local Kazakh herder and galloping across the wide meadow offers a special kind of thrill. If everything here makes you want to linger, remember that mountain nights get cold — be sure to dress warmly. The night scenery is also quite enchanting.

The (Urumqi)–Ku (Korla) Highway runs straight through the Urumqi River basin. Traveling south along this highway is the most convenient and ideal route for visiting Nanshan. Along the way, as you move upward from lower altitudes, you can take in the diverse and splendid landscapes known in geography as the Tianshan vertical zones.