Kalajun Grassland

　　Kalajun Grassland is located in Tekes County within the Ili River Valley of Xinjiang. It serves as the transitional zone from the Western Tianshan Mountains to the Ili River Valley. The grassland lies on the southern side of the Kalajun Mountain range in Tekes County, approximately 30 kilometers as the crow flies from the county seat, with access via a simple road. It sits at an altitude of 1,600 to 2,000 meters. The name "Kalajun" comes from the Kazakh language, meaning "dark wilderness," but due to the presence of flowers in five different colors, it has been designated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as the "World's Alpine Meadow of Five-Colored Flowers."

　　In addition to being a typical high-altitude alpine five-flower meadow natural grassland, Kalajun Grassland stretches 89 kilometers from east to west and 32 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 2,848 square kilometers. Each spring and summer, hundreds of types of pasture grass bloom in sequence at different times, and flowers of varying colors, shapes, and fragrances are set off even more vividly against the lush green meadows. Groves of primeval spruce trees, tall and verdant, weave through the colorful flower-filled grasslands. At dawn or dusk, and after the rain when the clouds and mist roll in, you will truly feel the “extraordinary beauty of the land.” The rolling mountains are covered with dense snow-capped spruce forests, vast and majestic. The mountaintops form a unified, gently southward-sloping plateau-like landform, resembling a floating meadow. The grass is rich and the blossoms abundant, while the slopes are gentle and stretch boundlessly, like a beautiful green carpet that extends all the way to snow-capped mountain peaks, creating a sight that is both breathtaking and soothing. In this endless expanse of natural grassland, one can breathe in the freshness of the grass and the fragrance of wildflowers, experiencing firsthand a true earthly paradise and a serene haven.

　　With its unique scenery, abundant grass, and lush forests, it is a typical example of a mountainous meadow-type grassland. The terrain of Kalajun Grassland is gently undulating with wide-open views. From May to September, the grassland is covered in emerald green, and during the peak summer months, ample rainfall and sunshine allow various wildflowers to bloom like scattered stars across the hills.

　　Visiting Kalajun Grassland in the summer is like stepping into an ocean of flowers, instantly dispelling the summer heat. The blue sky, white clouds, snow-capped mountains, grasslands, yurts with wisps of cooking smoke, and flocks of sheep like pearls; to the right are pine trees, herds of cattle, flowers, and green meadows; to the left are canyons, lush virgin forests, and the murmuring sound of flowing rivers. Looking further back, the landscapes of mountains, grasslands, forests, yurts, and sheep all blend together seamlessly. Truly, every slope offers a unique view, every valley presents a different scene, each spot is picturesque, and each view leads to yet another—everywhere is a poem, every corner a painting, a feast for the eyes and a delight to the soul.