Xinyuan County is located in the northwest of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, at the eastern end of the Ili River Valley, and within the Gongnaisi River Valley. Xinjiang's Ili region boasts picturesque mountains and clear waters, lush grasslands and forests, and azure skies and pristine waters. In particular, Xinyuan County features 8.34 million mu of high-quality natural grassland and is known as the “Pearl of the Grasslands.” It is home to one of the world’s four major subalpine meadows, including the 5A-level natural scenic area Nalati Grassland, renowned as the “Grassland in the Sky”; the world’s second-largest and Asia’s largest primeval wild fruit forest; and the largest surviving primeval apricot forest from the Middle Ages. It has been hailed by experts from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences as a natural repository of nectariferous plants. Ili produces 40% of Xinjiang’s comb honey, making it the top-producing region in the country. Xinyuan County lies within Xinjiang’s black bee zone.
The Xinjiang yak is a dual-purpose breed used for meat, milk, labor, wool, and down. It thrives in the harsh natural conditions of alpine grasslands, showing strong adaptability, tolerance to coarse feed, and ease of management. Adult bulls have a carcass weight of 255 kg and a dressing percentage of 52.42%; two-year-old cows have a carcass weight of 153 kg and a dressing percentage of 47.96%. Their lactation yield exceeds 30…
Nalati Black Bee Honey is a specialty of Xinyuan County, Yili, Xinjiang. The black bee is a unique and superior breed on the Xinjiang Rural Informatization Service website and one of the world's four most renowned bee species. Black bees are large in size, robust in constitution, and strong in physical ability. They have greater disease resistance than any other bee variety. They are also highly cold-resistant, able to safely survive harsh winters with temperatures below minus 30 degrees Celsius and can still forage in the wild even at 8 degrees Celsius. With a high flight altitude and wide foraging radius, they can collect nectar from unpolluted flowers deep in the Tianshan Mountains at altitudes between 1,800 and 2,500 meters. As a result, Nalati Black Bee Honey is characterized by high sugar content and rich nutritional components such as minerals, organic acids, proteins, vitamins, and enzymes.
According to research by experts both in China and abroad, the wild apples of Ili are the ancestors of modern cultivated apples. As one of the world’s rare habitats for wild apples and a region once renowned across Xinjiang as the “Hometown of Apples,” historical records indicate that during the early years of the People’s Republic of China, 98 varieties and strains of apples were cultivated over the long term in the Ili River Valley. As remnants of the tertiary-era ancient...
"Kalabula," in Mongolian, means either "a lake area abundant with willows by the river" (another interpretation is "a black male camel"). The name originates from the willow-lined reed lakes to the north. Yelü Chucai recorded in his work "The Western Expedition Record": "There were eight or nine dependent towns and cities, abundant with grapes, peaches, pears, and other fruits." This indicates that during the height of prosperity of Alimali City (present-day Ili)…
Yili Liquor refers to baijiu (Chinese white spirit) produced in regions of the Ili River Valley such as Xiaoerbulake Town in Xinyuan County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The Ili River Valley boasts lush water and grasslands, abundant resources, and is known as the “Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall” and the “Granary of Xinjiang,” providing excellent natural conditions for baijiu production. Brands like Yilite, Yilite Laojiao…
Tian Shan Black Plum, with its sweet and sour taste and unique flavor, also helps nourish and protect your hair. It is the dried nearly ripe fruit of the Prunus mume plant from the Rosaceae family, harvested when the fruit is nearly ripe in spring and summer. The flesh is soft, oval-shaped, and contains one pale yellow pit. High-quality Tian Shan Black Plum is prized for being large, heavy, thick-fleshed, and intact. …
In addition to being eaten alone, they are often mixed with pilaf to create what is called "pilaf buns," which are one of the finer dishes in Uyghur cuisine. The Uyghurs also have a uniquely flavored thin-skinned bun called "KawamanTa" (gourd bun), whose filling is made from gourds (a type of long-necked gourd with khaki skin, slightly sweet in taste, and favored by the Uyghurs as a vegetable...
Naan is one of the most essential traditional breads among the Uyghur people in Turpan. “A day without vegetables is fine, but a day without naan is not”—this saying best illustrates its importance. There are many varieties of naan, around 50 in total, mainly including meat naan, oil naan, flat naan, pocket naan, and sesame naan. The “Aikman naan” is the largest, with a diameter of…
Lamb tripe: sweet in flavor, warm in nature, enters the spleen and stomach meridians. It has the effects of strengthening the spleen, nourishing deficiency, benefiting qi and invigorating the stomach, consolidating the exterior and restraining sweating. It is used to treat symptoms such as debility due to overstrain, loss of appetite, diabetes, night sweats, and frequent urination. Preparation: 1. Blanch the lamb tripe in boiling water until cooked, remove, and slice thinly; 2. …
Xinjiang Fritillaria is a precious medicinal herb that ranks alongside Sichuan Fritillaria and Zhejiang Fritillaria. It includes several varieties such as Ili Fritillaria, Fergana Fritillaria, and Sand Fritillaria, collectively known as Xinjiang Fritillaria. Except for Sand Fritillaria, which thrives on sandy riverbanks, the other three types mostly grow in mountain meadows and under shrubs. Ili Fritillaria is mainly produced in Yining and Huocheng; Fergana...
The geographical scope of Gongliu apples: Gongliu County is located in the northwest of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, southeast of Yining City, along the upper reaches of the Ili River and the lower basin of the Tekes River. It borders Hejing County and Xinyuan County to the east, Qapqal County to the west, Tekes County to the south, and faces Nileke County and Yining County across the river to the north. Gongliu...
Gongliu Tree-Dried Apricots are a specialty of Gongliu County in Yili, Xinjiang. Known as the “King of King” among both fresh and dried fruits, Gongliu Tree-Dried Apricots feature bright-colored fresh apricots that are firm, large, fragrant, and sweet, while the dried ones are sweet, soft, and have crispy, delicious kernels. They are believed to promote blood circulation, replenish energy, relieve cough, and moisten lungs. To support the development of the tree-dried apricot industry...
The unique inverted temperature belt climate, high-quality chernozem soil, and abundant geothermal resources in Mohur Township, Gongliu County are highly suitable for the growth of Fritillaria. Artificial cultivation of Tianshan Yibei Fritillaria in Mohur Township has a history of over 50 years. Through years of planting and cultivation, locals have accumulated extensive experience in seed selection, cultivation, land preparation, field management, and harvesting…
The wild walnuts of Gongliu County are a green health food bestowed upon humanity by nature. With their crisp, fragrant, and sweet kernels, they offer various benefits such as improving brain function, nourishing skin, darkening hair, replenishing energy, enriching blood, warming lungs, and moistening intestines. They are especially unique in promoting the development of infants’ brains, livers, hearts, and kidneys, as well as enhancing women’s beauty. These effects are documented in the "Compendium of Materia Medica" and the "Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica." As a result, Gongliu’s wild walnuts are hailed as the “Exquisite Fruits of Tianshan and Longevity Fruits of the Human World,” which is also the reason why tourists flock here...
The Desert King Nut possesses key characteristics of common nuts: enhancing brain memory. Moreover, the kernels are especially fragrant and crispy. The Desert King Nut is as hard as a walnut, with a tough shell, plump, white, and aromatic kernels that are rich in oil. It tastes exceptionally delicious, leaving a lingering aftertaste, making it one of the most popular types of nuts, known as the “king of nuts…”
Sea buckthorn is a wild plant that grows in alpine regions at elevations above 1,200 meters. Scientific studies have confirmed its extremely high nutritional value. Sea buckthorn berries are rich in vitamins A, B, C, and D — essential nutrients for the human body — especially vitamin C, which is found in notably high levels, earning it the title of the “King of Vitamin C.” It also contains over 20 types of trace elements…
Rice from the 73rd Regiment of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The 73rd Regiment is part of the Fourth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in Xinjiang. It comprises seven agricultural companies, including Companies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The geographical coordinates are between 82°04′44″E and 82°08′1…
Xinjiang geese, commonly known as Ili flying geese, Tacheng flying geese, gray geese, grass geese, or wild geese, are China’s only domesticated breed of graylag goose. Goose meat is highly nutritious, with higher levels of protein and niacin than chicken, duck, or beef; it also contains more unsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, and lysine than chicken. Goose liver paté, blood, and gizzard all have...
The Ili White Pig is a dual-purpose breed for meat and lard. It is known for its sturdy build, ability to thrive on coarse feed, and strong resistance to severe cold. Most pigs of this breed have white, dense, and glossy coats. The average body weight is 215.85 kilograms, while sows average 158.87 kilograms. The ratio of head length to width is around 2:1, and the ratio of body length to head length is approximately 4:1…