Ili, Xinjiang: Nalati and Gongnaisi Grasslands with Snow Mountains

The Ili River valley is home to some of the best high-mountain grassland scenery in western China. Nalati and Gongnaisi are the two most famous alpine meadows.

Nalati

“Nalati” means “the place where the sun rises” in Mongolian. At about 1,800 meters elevation, it’s a classic high-mountain valley grassland — meadows stretching from your feet to the distant Tien Shan snowline. Wildflowers (golden lotus, wild tulips) cover everything in June, deepest green in July-August, turning gold in September.

The scenic area is divided into Air Grassland, River Valley Grassland, and Snow Spruce Forest. The Air Grassland needs a 30-minute shuttle bus ride to the top. Once there you can ride horses or hike. The snow spruce is endemic to western China — straight trunks, can grow over 60 meters tall.

Gongnaisi

Gongnaisi is north of Nalati, more remote and less visited. The Gongnaisi Forest Farm is one of China’s four great forest farms — spruce forest lines both sides of the road. Wildflowers in spring and summer, golden birch in autumn, plus Kazakh herders and their sheep grazing on the meadows — the whole scene like an oil painting.

Gongnaisi’s other highlight is Banchan Gou — a small temple in the valley where a Panchen Lama once resided. A 2-hour hike takes you to the untouched original spruce forest.

In Ili

The best season is May to October. Summer is most pleasant but also the most crowded; late September autumn colors are the most beautiful.

Stay in Xinyuan County or Nalati Town. Local Kazakh-run yurts offer accommodation; the hosts cook hand-pulled lamb and milk tea, giving you a real high-mountain grassland experience.