Ili

A vast emerald tapestry unfurling across the Tianshan Mountains, Nalati Grassland is China’s “Last Shangri-La”—a 900-square-kilometer expanse of wildflowers, snow-capped peaks, and nomadic culture. Revered as the “Sun’s First Kissed Land,” it’s a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve where Kazakh eagle hunters and yurt-dwelling herders coexist with marmots, golden eagles, and endangered Przewalski’s horses.

Dubbed the “Pearl of the Tianshan Mountains,” Sayram Lake is China’s highest alpine lake (2,073 meters) and a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. Shimmering turquoise waters stretch 458 km², surrounded by snow-capped peaks, wildflower meadows, and Kazakh nomadic herds. Revered as a “Holy Sea” since ancient Silk Road times, it’s a sanctuary for swans, eagles, and the endangered Tianshan snow lotus.