Far West China

Yili (Ili) Xinjiang | Top 5 Places to Visit

April 10 | 21 Comments

Whether you call it “Yili“, “Ili“, “Yining” or even the historical name “Ghulja“, one thing is for sure: it’s definitely worth traveling to this unique part of Xinjiang, China. In fact, if you’re planning to head out this way, I’d like to provide some suggestions on 5 places you should put on your itinerary while you’re here.

Most people tend to focus most of their attention on places like Turpan or Kashgar, but they fail to realize that there is just as much ethnic diversity and history in a lesser-known place like Yili.

While traveling around Yili recently I met a number of friendly Uyghur, Kazakh and even Mongol people. I also spent some time exploring the ancient capital of the Xinjiang region which is about 30km west of Yining city.

Overall, I came away with an overwhelming impression that Yili is truly an under-appreciated travel gem among international tourists.

The key, however, is to explore it while avoiding the Chinese tourism crowd. This is where I’d like to help: not only would I like to introduce you to my five favorite destinations throughout Yili, but I’d like to share with you how you can experience them without the tourist trappings that come with Chinese tourists.

SPECIAL NOTE: The travel advice and tips you’ll read here are just a portion of the Yili chapter of my best-selling Xinjiang Travel Guide.

If you plan to be traveling to Xinjiang anytime in the future, grab a copy of this comprehensive guide so you can save both time and money while seeing one of the most fascinating regions in China.

Travel Kuqa Video

To begin, check out the video I produced while traveling to Yili, subscribe the FarWestChina YouTube channel and then read on!

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Note on the Names: It’s possible that there might be confusion with the names in this region. To set things straight: the name of the region is “Yili” or “Ili” (in Chinese 伊犁) whereas the primary city in Yili is called “Yining” (伊宁). Historically the city was also known as “Ghulja”, which is the local name still used by many of the Uyghur and Kazakh of the area.

Top 5 Yili Travel Destinations

Now that you’ve had a chance to see the video, check out the list of my top 5 recommended travel destinations for Yili, Xinjiang.

#1 Sayram Lake | Yili, Xinjiang

Sayram Lake (aka Sailimu Hu or 赛里木湖) is one of the first places people associate with the Yili region, even though it’s technically part of the Bortala prefecture. Still, it’s only an hour and a half from Yining by bus or taxi so I’ll lump the two together.

It’s both the largest and highest alpine lake in all of Xinjiang, but that doesn’t matter to travelers as much as the amazing views (I consider it one of the best lake views in Xinjiang). Sayram Lake is surrounded by grasslands, guarded by the snow-capped TianShan and covered by an endless blue sky.

As an added bonus, the road which passes through the Fruit Valley (果子沟) between Yining and Sayram Lake boasts one of the most incredible bridges in all of China. The entire road is a feast of visual beauty.

FWC Exclusive Travel Tip: There is a lot of this lake that is getting developed for tourism but thankfully the lake is so big that it’s still possible to get away.

You’ll have to pay the entrance fee to the lake (70 RMB/person) which will give you access to seemingly limitless shoreline to set up tent or stay in a secluded yurt.

#2 The Yili Grasslands

The next place that should certainly make it onto your Yili travel itinerary is one of the many lively and verdant grasslands that sit high among the beautiful Tianshan range of mountain peaks.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Narat Grasslands or the Bayinbulak Grasslands, both of which are popular tourist destinations and are mentioned in most major guide books. These are both great places to visit, but most people don’t realize that there are a numerous grasslands surrounding Yili that are both beautiful and in many cases more remote and quiet.

Stay in a yurt, hike, ride a horse, participate a local ethnic festival…there’s plenty to do!

FWC Exclusive Traveler Tip: Both Narat and Bayinbulak are absolutely gorgeous places to visit, but if you want to get away from the tourism, it’s best to book one of the lesser-known grasslands. Talk with a local travel agent about arranging a trip to an alternate, more secluded place. It is possible and you’ll love it!

#3 Yining Baytullah Mosque

The Baytullah Mosque (aka Baitula or 拜吐拉清真寺) is hard to miss in the center of Yining. It’s not much of a place to stop and spend time, however it’s certainly interesting to pass by and take a picture.

What fascinates me most is the juxtaposition of the old and new architecture here. The old building you see in the foreground is a Hui mosque while the larger and newer building in the back is a Uyghur structure.

FWC Travel Tip: Come on Fridays or during holidays to see the prayers.

#4 Yining Kazanqi Street Market

The Kazanqi Handicraft Market (喀赞其) in central Yining is an interesting – albeit touristy – place to stop in the city.

Aside from the old Hui mosque you can see in the background of the picture above, the Kazanqi market is a pleasant place for an afternoon stroll in Yining. There are plenty of souvenirs to buy (leather shoes, animal skins, horse riding gear, etc.) in addition to the variety of snacks and fruits to buy.

FWC Exclusive Travel Tip: Make sure to visit in the late afternoon or later. Yining can get extremely hot during the summer months!

#5 Yili River Bridge

Finally, the last destination on this list is the Yili River Bridge (伊犁河大桥). Before this bridge was built, there was only a single, two-lane bridge that crossed the Yili River. Now, at over 2 kilometers in length, the Yili River Bridge is one of China’s largest.

If you have an evening to spend in Yining, don’t forget to take a stroll along the river walk near the Yining bridge. It’s here where locals relax, eat and enjoy the cool of the evening and the view of the bridge.

Conclusion | Travel Yili (Ili)

Of course, there is plenty more to see and do around Yili and I have no hesitation in recommending a few days around the area if you can afford the time. There’s plenty of interesting history, Kazakh culture and more to keep you busy.

If you want to learn more about this an many other places around Xinjiang, you should grab a copy of the FarWestChina Xinjiang Travel Guide, the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide available on this part of the world.

Better yet, download a free planning chapter from the guide to give it a try before you buy. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

• About the Author

About Josh Summers

Josh is the author of Xinjiang | A Traveler's Guide to Far West China, the most highly-reviewed and comprehensive travel guide on China's western region of Xinjiang. He lived, studied and run a business in Xinjiang, China for more than 10 years, earning recognition for his work from CCTV, BBC, Lonely Planet and many others.