The Euphrates Poplar Secondary Forest along the Ili River The Euphrates Poplar Secondary Forest along the Ili River covers a total area of about 1,200 acres. The entire scenic area is terraced in distribution from north to south. The northernmost part consists of multi-ridged sandy land at the southern edge of the Takel Muhur Desert, the central part features the natural meadows of the Ili River Valley, and the southern end is the secondary forest of the Ili River Valley, predominantly composed of native Euphrates poplar trees. Every May, when the...
Ili Pallas's Tortoise Nature Reserve The Ili Pallas's Tortoise Nature Reserve in Huocheng County was established in 1983 with approval from the autonomous region. The four-clawed land turtle, a national first-class rare protected animal, is found only within approximately 150 square kilometers of desert hills about 150 kilometers north of Huocheng County. It is one of only three species of land turtles in the world. Locals call it the "desert turtle," and in Uyghur, it is known as "Tashpak." The four-clawed land turtle is a high-grade tonic that nourishes yin and yang. Its plastron, meat, and bones can all be used medicinally to treat various ailments, offering significant medicinal value. Its shell not only serves as a defense weapon but also plays an important role in protecting internal organs, preventing body fluid evaporation, and regulating body temperature. The number of tortoises in the reserve has now increased from over 500 in the past to more than 2,000.
Located in Xiatai Village, Zhaosu County. These are tomb statues of nomadic peoples such as the Turks. There are three in total: two stand in the grassland about 5 kilometers southwest of Akesu Village, aligned north-south and approximately 200 meters apart, both facing east. The facial outlines of human figures are carved in relief on rectangular stones. The northern one has a face width of 32 cm and a length of 48 cm…
Huocheng Ili River Valley National Wetland Park is located in the southern part of Huocheng County, stretching from the China-Kazakhstan border in the west to the flood control dike beneath the ancient city wall of Huiyuan in the east. It is bounded by the Ili River to the south and the southern edge of Tukai Desert to the north, situated between 80°31’30.29”–81°01’12.1” east longitude and 43°52’17.6…
The Silk Road Agricultural Mulberry Garden is located in Zhongxin Village, Langgan Township, 3 kilometers south of Huocheng County. It stretches 1.5 kilometers from east to west, 1.2 kilometers from north to south, covering an area of 1.8 square kilometers. Since its construction began in April 2015, the Huocheng County Party Committee and government have built an area featuring distinctive...
Located about 20 kilometers north of Xiatai Pass in Zhaosu County, along the Tekes River. Also known as Songbai Ancient City, it is said to be a relic from the Tang Dynasty. The city walls remain on the west, south, and north sides, while the east side faces the river and has no wall. There are two large platforms in the center, scattered with many glazed tiles, and three large red tiles have been unearthed here. To the west of this site, there are also two smaller platforms.
Located at the confluence of the east and west rivers within the Nanshan Pass of Xiatai Village, Zhaosu County. The stone measures 260 cm in length, 85 cm in height, and 117 cm in thickness, with an irregular triangular prism shape. Inscriptions are carved on both sides, featuring content from the Quran, and it is said to have been erected during the Qing Dynasty. …
Located on a mountainside 80 meters above the Akayazi River Valley in Zhaosu County. The rock measures 3.47 meters in length and 2.36 meters in width, facing south to north. It features a carved Buddha statue holding flowers in the right hand and a round object in the left, surrounded by carvings of goats, turtles, and floral patterns. Nearby, there are also inscriptions in Mongolian and Tibetan, demonstrating high craftsmanship, believed to be remnants from ethnic groups of the Yuan Dynasty...
Located at the AkYazi Pass in Zhaosu County, these are funerary remnants of Turkic nomadic peoples from the 7th and 8th centuries. There are two stone figures, approximately 700 meters apart from north to south. The northern one is a full-body bas-relief figure carved on a rectangular stone, standing 1.4 meters tall and 47 centimeters wide, with clearly defined eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Its left hand rests on a sword, while the right hand is bent across the chest, holding an object...
Located in the grasslands of Kepeilete East Mountain in Zhaosu County, this is a stone figure from the tomb of nomadic Turkic people during the Sui and Tang dynasties. It stands 70 centimeters tall and 20 centimeters wide, facing east, with simple carving techniques that faintly depict facial hair. There is no inscription, but behind it lies a square formation built from cobblestones, resembling a burial mound.
The Xiaohongnaihai Stone Figure Tomb is located in the grasslands 5 kilometers south of Zhaosu County. In front of the tomb stands a stone figure carved from granite, depicting a typical warrior. On the lower right side of the waist is an inscription in Sogdian script. The statue has a solemn expression and is vividly lifelike. Due to years of wind and rain erosion, the stone figure has...
Located southwest of Xiatai in Zhaosu County, approximately 42.2 km from Xiatai Village. The city walls are still standing, forming a square shape with a perimeter of about 1,430 meters, and there is a moat around the city. No structures remain inside the city, but red pottery shards are scattered across the ground. The construction date is yet to be determined. …
Located about 35 kilometers south of Semtash in Zhaosu County. There are three sites in total: one features a carved depiction of the seated Sakyamuni Buddha, with four languages—Tibetan, Uyghur, Mongolian, and Xibe—on the right side, as well as carvings of goats and others; another site has lotus petal patterns carved; the third site includes carvings of a fish and two characters, but they have become blurred. …
Located in Qidaohe'er, Ahesu County, Zhaosu, these are tombs of Turkic nomadic peoples from the 7th or 8th century. There are two stone figures standing facing east, arranged in a north-south line about 500 meters apart. Both are carved on the upper part of rectangular stone slabs, featuring outlines of faces along with the shapes of eyes, ears, mouths, and noses. The northern stone figure is 1.3 meters tall and 30 centimeters wide, with relatively distinct eyes, ears, mouth, and nose...
On the eastern bank of the Sumubai River in the western part of Zhaosu County, on Gedeng Mountain, in February of the 20th year of the Qianlong reign (1775), the Qing Dynasty ordered Bandi and Yongchang to lead troops on two separate routes to suppress the rebellion of Dawachi, leader of the Dzungar tribe. After the Qing army arrived in Ili, Dawachi fled to Gedeng Mountain. On the night of May 14, 22 Qing soldiers launched a surprise attack on Dawachi’s camp. Dawachi’s forces were thrown into chaos and scattered, with over 6,500 cavalry surrendering. After the battle, this stone stele was erected on Gedeng Mountain. The stele bears an imperial inscription composed by Emperor Qianlong, recounting the events, and is inscribed in four languages: Manchu, Chinese, Mongolian, and Tibetan. It remains preserved to this day.
The Zhaojun Heavenly Horses Cultural Park project is located on the Kalkant Grassland in Zhaojun, approximately 20 kilometers southwest of the county town. It is built upon the foundation of the former Western Region Horse Racing Ground. The planned area extends east to the Dakalagande River, south to the Tekes River, and connects to Provincial Highway S212 on the west and north sides. Covering a total area of 50,000 mu, about 33 square kil…
The Tablet Commemorating the Pacification of the Dzungar is located on Gedeng Mountain, 60 kilometers southwest of Zhaosu County in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The two sides of the tablet’s base are carved with an image of a rising sun emerging from endless blue waves. The body of the tablet bears inscriptions in four languages vertically engraved in intaglio on both sides: the front features Manchu and Chinese, while the back has Mongolian and Tibetan. The Chinese inscription...
Shengyou Temple is located northwest of Zhousu County in Yili, by the Hongnaha River at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. The temple is shaded by ancient trees and towering pines and firs, creating an otherworldly atmosphere as you step inside. Looking along the central axis, eight buildings are arranged in a well-spaced, symmetrical layout. In addition to the screen wall, mountain gate, front hall, main hall, and rear hall, which are aligned along the central axis,...
The Ancient City Ruins of Xiate are located within the territory of Xiate Township, Zhaosu County, at an altitude of 1,750 meters. These ruins are the remains of a city built during the Tang Dynasty, situated on the banks of the Xiate River about 20 kilometers from where the river flows out. The ancient city lies to the north of the Tekes River, to the east of the Xiate River, and gazes westward toward Kazakhstan. It is surrounded by the vast Xiate grasslands. The entire structure consists of the city itself…
Tianshan Aheyazi National Wetland Park in Xinjiang is located within the state-owned forest area of the mountainous region in southern Zhaosu County, situated in the high-altitude river valley of the upper reaches of the Tekes River, the largest tributary of the Ili River. It features a typical “wetland–forest” composite ecosystem. The planned total area of the wetland park is 1,772.1 hectares, consisting of permanent rivers, forested swamps, and…