Border Trade Port Scenic Area The Border Trade Port Scenic Area is located within Wuqia County and is one of the few counties in China that hosts two national first-class ports. Based on the locations of the two ports, it is divided into two scenic zones: the Torgart Port Zone and the Irkeshtam Port Zone. It is primarily focused on foreign trade, while also offering cultural tourism and opportunities to enjoy natural scenery...
Ancient Sea Relic Shell Mountain, also known as Eagle Beak Mountain. As you climb from the foot of the mountain, you’ll find countless rocks of all sizes embedded with shells—large as coins, small as thumbnails—whose outlines and textures are clearly visible. Hundreds of millions of these shells, fused together with saline and alkaline silt, form layered, ever-varying strata…
Wuqia Colorful Mountains These two colorful mountains are known as the Ancient Sea Shipwreck and the Monk’s Hat Mountain respectively. Legend has it that the Ancient Sea Shipwreck is the legendary “Noah’s Ark.” The other, Monk’s Hat Mountain, is said to be where the monk Xuanzang’s hat fell during his journey to the West to retrieve Buddhist scriptures along the southern route of the Silk Road in the Pamir Plateau. Due to the high altitude, strong winds, and unpredictable climate of the Pamirs, his hat was blown off and landed here, eventually transforming into a magnificent multicolored mountain. According to experts, this mountain formed during the Tertiary period and is a Yardang landform composed of layers of red sandstone and gypsum.
The Thousand-Year-Old Populus Euphratica Forest in Wuqia The Thousand-Year-Old Populus Euphratica Forest in Wuqia is one of only three remaining primeval Afghan poplar forests in the world. Known as the "living fossil trees," these trees are rare and endangered wildlife species and are listed as a second-class nationally protected plant. The forest stretches 17 kilometers in length and 0.5–0.8 kilometers in width, with the tallest trees reaching up to 30 meters and diameters of 9.1 meters…
Convergence Landform of the Tianshan and Kunlun Mountains The Tianshan and Kunlun mountain ranges converge on the Pamir Plateau, where their meeting point features distinct geographical characteristics. Here, the Tianshan Mountains appear in a camel-colored hue, stretching from east to west and separating the Junggar and Tarim basins. As one of Asia’s major mountain systems, it has an average elevation of over 4,000 meters. The Kunlun Mountains, in this area, display a dark bluish tone, originating from the Pamir Plateau to the west, with an average elevation exceeding 5,500 meters. At this location, visitors can gaze upon both mountain ranges and stand where their territories meet, appreciating the unique grandeur of these world-class ranges. It offers a chance to experience the “Museum of Ten Thousand Mountains” and witness the dramatic forces of tectonic upheaval—a world-class natural wonder.
The Last Ray of Sunshine in China is located in Simuhana Village, Jigen Township, Wuqia County. It is the place in China where the sun rises latest and sets latest. Just two kilometers from the Irkeshtam Port on the China-Kyrgyzstan border, it has a time difference of nearly four hours compared to the southeastern coastal regions. At 9:30 a.m. in winter, the thick…
Yangchang Kirgiz Folk Custom Garden is located 4 km south of Wuqia County and 99 km from Kashgar, a major city in southern Xinjiang. With vast grassland and forested areas and a moderate climate—its annual average temperature is 6.7°C, and even the hottest July averages only 19.9°C—coupled with improving living standards and increasing leisure time in recent years, it has become a renowned Apricot Blossom Village nearby. It is an ideal destination for locals to take a break, escape the summer heat, and engage in cultural exchanges. When night falls, the area comes alive with the melodious sounds of the komuz played by Kirgiz folk artists and the deep, ancient tones of pastoral songs, offering visitors a colorful and unique taste of local customs and rich grassland culture. The Yangchang Kirgiz Folk Custom Garden boasts a distinctive ecological environment and natural landscape, combining the rugged charm of the frontier with the delicate beauty of the Jiangnan region, fully showcasing the unparalleled splendor of nature. The surrounding mountains rise majestically, with peaks of diverse shapes and unique character. It serves as a multifunctional tourist destination for summer leisure, outdoor exploration, ethnic culture experiences, scientific research, landscape photography, and enjoying the splendors of nature.
Locally known as the Tuokuzi Wujila Grottoes. Located on the cliffs along the Qakmak River in Takuqi Village, Atushi Township, about 20 kilometers west of Atushi City, the three caves stand side by side, approximately 20 meters above the ground. Each cave entrance is over two meters high and more than one meter wide, rectangular in shape like a door frame. The interiors of the caves are divided into front and rear…
Xiao'er Lake Xiao'er Lake Salt Lake has a water surface area of 50 square kilometers, divided into upper and lower salt lakes. The upper salt lake mainly consists of mirabilite, with occasional patches of green vegetation visible on the lake. Sparse populus euphratica trees grow along the lakeshore, and there are magical willow trees whose roots gush out springs with sweet-tasting water. The salt lake covers a relatively large area, with an average water depth of 1.2 meters. This attraction features...
Aizihan Fig OrchardThe Aizihan Fig Orchard is located in Aizihan Village, Songtak Township, just one kilometer from the city center. The Uyghur name for figs is "Anjir," also known as the "ginseng fruit." Originally native to West Asia, they were introduced to China during the Tang Dynasty via the Silk Road, where they were called "Ayi" or "Fuzhen," and commonly referred to as "figs" by the public. The fig tree is a shrub or...
Suleyman's Mausoleum Suleyman's Mausoleum is located in Maxisiti Village, Songtak Township, two kilometers southwest of Artux City. Its full name is "Suleyman·Satuk·Bughra Khan Mausoleum." It is an ancient...
Halajun Bagusugeti Ancient Willow Grove The Bagusugeti Ancient Willow Grove is located northwest of Halajun Township in Artux City, about 130 kilometers from Artux. It is a nearly thousand-year-old ancient willow forest that has become a widely renowned tourist destination. Covering an area of 120 acres, the grove features willows in a myriad of peculiar shapes — some stand tall and proud, like...
Ahu Reservoir Ahu Reservoir is located in Ahu Township, Artux City, at the mountain outlet of the upper reaches of the Bugu River. It is a medium-sized river-blocking reservoir primarily designed for flood control, while also serving multiple purposes including irrigation, power generation, aquaculture, and tourism. Covering an area of 8 square kilometers, it offers activities such as fishing and swimming, along with dining rich in ethnic and local characteristics…
Within the territory of Artux, there are 134 large and small peaks scattered throughout, with 22 peaks exceeding an altitude of 4,000 meters. The most famous among them is Kalateke Mountain. As a branch of the southern Tianshan mountain range, Kalateke Mountain runs in a northeast–southwest direction. It connects to the west with Maidantag and extends eastward into the territories of Wushi and Keping counties, …
Artux Grand Canyon is located in Tugumaiti Township, Artux City, about 38 kilometers from the city center. Originally named "Jiayipaqimu" in Uyghur, the name breaks down as follows: "Jiayi" means a place where people live, and "Paqimu" was the name of a highly respected Uyghur woman in those days. She was a devoted follower of Sutuq Bughrakhan, the third king of the Karakhanid Dynasty...
The Halajun Stone Forest is located in the northern part of the Artux Halajun Basin. Entering the Kalatieke Mountain range, there is a long canyon. Over the years, wind and rain have eroded the marble cliffs on both sides of the canyon. Nature’s masterful craftsmanship has sculpted the rocks into a myriad of bizarre stone formations. The craggy peaks interlock, with towering strange rocks and rugged, unusual stones. As you enter the valley…
The Boguzi River originates from the southern foothills of Sandale Mountain, which stands at an elevation of 4,525 meters on the southern range of the Tianshan Mountains. From its source to the mountain pass, the river stretches 102 kilometers in length. Its full course flows through the northern mountains of Artux City, enters the Tugumaiti region, passes through the Ahe wide valley, and then splits—one branch flows southeast into the Toklak Reservoir before gushing out through the Qipan Shuimo Mountain Pass, flowing…
Qishi Grand View Garden in Artux City is a courtyard-style agritainment tourism site, rated as a four-star agritainment destination. Located 7 kilometers from Artux City, the garden was researched, excavated, organized, and designed by local architects. Its architectural style incorporates traditional Uyghur residential elements alongside modern popular features. From layout and brick carvings to eaves woodwork...
Nierkule Salt Lake is located in Ang’ez Village, Kalajun Township, Artux City, 32 kilometers from Ang’ez Village. The lake covers a water surface area of 50 square kilometers and is divided into Upper and Lower Salt Lakes: the Upper Salt Lake mainly consists of mirabilite, with occasional small patches of green vegetation visible in the lake, and sparse populus euphratica trees growing along the shore. There is a magical willow tree whose roots emit…
The Atushi Sunshine Oasis Ecological Park is located in Azake Township, Atushi City, 7 kilometers from the downtown area. It is a AAA-level tourist attraction and a four-star agritainment destination. The Sunshine Oasis Ecological Park covers an area of 15 hectares. From 2013 to 2015, Atushi City developed and constructed the Muna’ge Grape Science and Technology Demonstration Garden. The current...