Peak Tomur

Being the highest peak of the Tengritagh Mountains, Peak Tomur is 7435meters above sea level, and located in northwest of Onsu County, geographically an important key position. Since 1985, it has been officially opened to the foreign visitors. The Bedilik Pass was an important passageway for communication between the western world and China in ancient times. The Tomur Peak is well known for spectacular and marvelous nature landscape. It was described: the rough topography, steep ridges and peak, arduous and high glaciers and the thousand feet high precipitous crags aloft hanging over the heaven. A Chinese mountaineering expedition first reached the peak on July 25,1977 and the red metallic mark was set up at the peak. In 1980, the Tomur Peak Natural Reserve was set up, with an area of 1000 square kilometers. As an alpine forest synthetic natural reserve, the main objects under protection are forest, alpine medicinal plant, glacier, and a great number of wild animals such as ferrets, snow pheasants, deer and it is also an attraction for mountaineering tourism and scientific research and investigation. The Hantengri Peak, 6995 meters above sea level, faces the Tomur Peak at a distance, on which hundreds of glaciers are concentrated and interweaved, like grand jade dragons flying magnificently in the air, and which is the one of the four largest glaciers in Xinjiang.

TREKKING AND MOUNTAINEERING (Tomur Peak)
2005-7-7

1.The Tomur Peak is the highest peak in Tengritagh mountain chain. Located in Onsu County, Aksu Area and near the boarder between China and Kazakstan. The peak is in the center part of Tengritagh Mountain. Tomur Peak and its surrounding mountain area about 10,000 square acre had listed as “Tomur nature reserve” in the year 1980. In this nature reserve, there scattered 400 more rivers、200 more species of medicinal plants, gained its fame “Nature zoo” with its vast forest. In the other side, the No.4 glacier era moraine landscape clearly scattered , making a magnificent scene. Nearby, there are Hantengri Peak、Keqikar Peak and other famous Tengritagh peaks. At the foot of the peak, it is the summer pasture for Kazak、Kirgiz and Uyghur peoples, the folklore are strong here. Tourist with some experience on trekking and mountaineering can join this group. From Urumqi to Aksu, there is a flight everyday, from Onsu to Talak pasture is 90km. One day sightseeing on the way, then trekking 2 days (7-8 hours everyday) to the B.C.(3900m above sea level) of Tomur Peak.
2.If you stay in the B.C.for 3 days, you can see the ice mushroom、ice tower、moraine lake、 modern glacier, etc. Round trip from Aksu city need 10 days. If you need mountaineering, another 25-30 days should be added.
3.The best season: July—August.
4.Transportation: Four wheel drive, flight, horse
5.Public equipment: Cooking tent, sleeping tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, cooking utensil, stove, table, etc.
6.Personal equipment: Waterproof clothes, warmer clothes, medicine, jogging shoes, torch, thermos(water bottle), knife and other personal staff.
7.If you want mountaineering, personal mountaineering equipment should be prepared.

Islamic King Tombs

Located 2 km south of Qomul City, it is the tombs for the burial of Islamic kings of Qomul in the Qing Dynasty. Since the title of Islamic king was firstly granted by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty in 1697, 233 years had passed by 1930 when the title of Islamic King was granted to the last king by the government of Republic of China. During this period, nine kings were granted the title of Islamic King. The most outstanding one of the tombs is the tomb of Boxier, the seventh Islamic king. West of the gate of the tomb is a rectangle structure, 14 meters high, 15 meters wide and 79 meters deep. The surface of the structure is decorated with the ceramic tiles, on which blue flowers and propitious clouds were painted, and the dome is covered with green colored glaze (the former gourd-shaped green spire is not kept to this day). The inner wall of the dome-shaped tomb is adorned with the blue flowers pattern against the white bottom. There are cylinders standing at the every foursquare of arched door, ascending steps inside the western cylinders of main entrance, which reach the top of the tomb. Here the princes and son of Beshir were also buried, the eighth Islamic king, Mehmut and his princess. The southern of dome-shaped tomb, there were ever standing five wood-pavilions dome-shaped tombs arranging from east to west, which only two constructions remain today. To the east there are the dome-shaped tombs of the last Islamic king Samhusot and his wife, the others are the Islamic kings and their descants through the ages. To west there is a grand mosque, which can provide over 3000 persons at prayer and was built in the time of the fourth Islamic king (who was on the throne from1740-1766) as it is said. The magnificent and solemn architecture is the largest mosque in Qomul area.

Tarim River

( photoes by Orkesh Jappar)
Called “wild horses without bridles”, the Tarim River is 2179 km long, the longest inland river in China. It is formed by the convergence of the Aksu River, originating from Tianshan Mountains, Yarkant River and Hotan River originating from the Karakorum Mountains. Covering a basin area of 19.8 square kilometers, it empties into the Taitma Lake at the end. The river discharge varies with seasons to a great extent. In hot summer, because of melted glaciers and snow, In the flooding season of torrid summer, along with the old snow and glacier begin to melt away, the discharge of river increases sharply, the river rushes forcibly with roaring waves like uncontrollable wild horses on the waste desert and grassland. The newly built concrete bridge over the river, with an 800-m span and 1600m long, plays an important role in the economic development and communication on both sides of the river.The Tarim River originates from the conflux of the Aksu River of Tianshan Mountain, the Yerqiang River of Kunlun Mountains and Hetian River. It covers an area of 19.8 square kilometers and ends at the Taitema Lake. It is the largest inland river in China, running 2,179 kilometers, and it is also the fifth largest river in the world. It runs from the west to the east through the northern part of the Tarim Basin. Most of its upper reaches flow through desert. Its water comes from the thaw on the ice mountain, full of sand and runs very rapidly. So it is called a reinless wild horse. Since the river course is of much sand, the Tarim River changes its way frequently, resulting in alleviation in the middle part. It meanders forward with many branches, where grow thick bulrushes and float grasses, making a fantastic maze on the water.
There is a 1,600-meter concrete bridge across the river, which has as many as 80 holes. There are many irrigation facilities in the region. Along the banks, prosperous poplar forest makes a natural green corridor, which is the production base of cotton, grains, mulberry, and fruit in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, reputed as the a land flowing with milk and honey north of the Great Wall. In addition, drifting in the Tarim River has always been appealing to adventure seekers.

Baghrash Lake

Baghrash Lake, called “West Sea” in ancient time, is located in Bostan County that is in Yanqi Basin, and is the largest inland fresh water lake in China. The lake covers an area of 1000 km2, and it is 17 m deep at the deepest point. The lake communicates with Kaidu River at one end and with Konchi River at the other end. The lake can be divided into the big lake and the small lake. The big lake has broad water area. In the west of the big lake are many small lakes communicating with one another. In summer, various aquatic sports can be conducted here, and in winter, the lake is a natural ground for ice-sports. Baghrash Lake is one the four major production places of reed in China. There is about 600,000 mu of reed here and 400,000 tons of dry reed is produced annually, which is quality raw material for paper. As one of the fishery bases of Xinjiang, Baghrash Lake is rich in fishes of 24 kinds such as carp, cyprinoid, herring, grass carp and silver carp. Here, you can also have a taste of food made of fishes.
Baghrash lake the ideal place , more near to nature ! you can find here the birds you have never seen in your life , you can see the fresh water here you have never seen in china . the beautiful scene of Baghrash Lake attracts thousands of people each year .may be this summer or next or in any time in your future Baghrash lake is your choice ,we believe that ,and we are waiting for you !
there is some information about Yanqi Kingdom and Korla
The Kingdom of Yanqi 焉耆 (Karashahr).
1. Yanqi 焉耆 [Yen-ch’i] has long been confidently identified with the region of modern Karashahr (‘Black City’). The Buddhist Sanskrit name was Agni-. For detailed discussions of the derivation of the name and its likely associations, see Bailey (1985), pp. 1-2; 137-138, and Pulleyblank (1963), pp. 99; 123.
“The whole of this district round Kara-shahr and Korla is, from a geographical and political point of view, both interesting and important ; for whilst all other parts of Chinese Turkestan can only be reached either by climbing high and difficult passes – the lowest of which has the same elevation as Mont Blanc – or traversing extensive and dangerous waterless deserts of sand-hills, here we find the one and only convenient approach to the land through the valleys of several rivers in the neighbourhood of Ili, where plentiful water abounds in the mountain streams on all sides, and where a rich vegetation makes life possible for wandering tribes. Such Kalmuck tribes still come from the north-west to Tal. They are Torgut nomads who pitch their yurts round about Kara-shahr and live a hard life with their herds…. Just as these Mongols wander about here at the present day, so the nomadic tribes of an earlier period must have used this district as their entrance and exit gate. The Tochari (Yue-chi), on their way from China, undoubtedly at that time passed through this gate to get into the Ili valley….” von Le Coq (1928), pp. 145-146.
The Hanshu mentions that it “adjoins Wu-sun on the north.” CICA, p. 177, n. 588, p. 178. This was of particular concern to the Chinese as Stein makes plain in the following passage:
“These observations on the present conditions of Kara-shahr will make it clear that, while the territory has been favoured by nature in various ways, its geographical position must at all times have exposed it to a very serious drawback. I mean its close vicinity to, and its easy access from, mountain tracts which, as far back as history takes us, have always had a particular attraction for nomads. It is unnecessary here to explain in detail how the famous grazing uplands of Yulduz have been cherished haunts for all the great nomad nations, from the Wu-sun and Huns downwards, which held sway along the T’ien-shan, that natural spina, as it were, in the cycle of Central-Asian migrations. Situated as Kara-shahr is at the very mouth of the big valley leading down from Yulduz, it must have been like a gate specially inviting those who had their favourite summer camps on those grassy plateaus and necessarily looked to the oases on the south as their richest grounds for raids and exactions. Whenever Chinese power was firmly established from Turfan to Kashgar or beyond, the gate might be kept safely closed. The same is likely to have been possible during periods while internal feuds or conflict with nomad aggressors weakened the tribes in the north. But the danger must always have been close at hand, and from time to time Kara-shahr was bound to suffer from its onset. The oases further west would then be exposed, too, to plunder and heavy exactions of tribute. But the additional risk of prolonged occupation would be reserved for Kara-shahr, which alone could offer grazing grounds adequate for the maintenance of large nomad hosts.” Stein (1921), p. 1180.
“Some distance before the town of Yanqi, soda-whitened marshes, tall grasses and grazing cattle indicate the proximity of the vast Baghrash Lake. Though today Yanqi is only the country seat of the Yanqi Hui Autonomous County, where one of the main industries is the making of reed screens for fencing and roofing, historically it was the very important oasis of Kara-shahr (Black Town), which in AD 11 revolted against Han domination by murdering the Chinese protector-general. The revolt was ruthlessly stamped out by the Han-Dynasty general Ban Chao, who sacked the town, decapitating 5,000 inhabitants and carrying away 15,000 captives and 300,000 head of livestock.” Bonavia (1988), p. 147.
“Yen-ch’i 焉耆, GSR 200a and 5521 : *ian/*iän or gian/jiän - g’ɛr/g’ji, traditionally identified with Karashahr. Huang Wen-pi (1958), p. 7, suggests that “the old walled town of Ha-la-mu-teng” 哈拉木登, a few li South of the modern settlement of that name and North of the Haidu River might have been the administrative centre of Yen-ch’i; the site is located on Huang’s map nr. 2 at circa 86o 5’ E and 42° 16’ N. – For different ancient misspellings of this name see Chavannes (1905), p. 564, note 2. Wang Ching-ju (1944), p. 91, believes that in Han-times Yen-ch’i was pronounced *ārgi, leading to a later *arśi; it is to be noted that the Αoρσoι mentioned by Strabo are usually identified with the people of Yen-ts’ai....” CICA: 177, n. 588.
2. The capital at this period was called Nanhe 南河 or ‘South River,’ presumably inferring that it was on or near the Konche Darya or ‘Peacock River’ which flows south out of Lake Baghrash past Korla and across the desert to Lop Nor. The account of the Hanshu gives the name of the capital as Yuanqu, but it is not clear whether this is the same town.
3. This distance of 800 li or 333 km between Karashahr and Lukchun is just about exactly what I measure on modern maps.
4. The lake is the Bagragh or Baghrash Kol (or Bositeng Hu in Pinyin). It is the largest lake in Central Asia covering an area of about 1,000 square kilometres. The Hanshu (CICA, p. 178) notes that “there is an abundance of fish.” Stein (1921), p. 1179 says:
“It is nowhere of great depth, but holds fresh water for the greatest portion of its area and abounds in fish. Its water is supplied mainly by the Khaidu-gol [Konche Darya], a considerable river which drains the Yulduz plateaus and the high T’ien-shan ranges around them. The volume of this is increased above Kara-shahr by an affluent from the north which drains distant snowy mountains between Kara-shahr and Urumchi.” “Twenty-four kilometres (15 miles) east of Yanqi lies the largest lake in Central Asia, Baghrash Kol (Bositeng Hu in Chinese), with a surface area of 1,000 square kilometres (400 square miles). It is fed by the Kaidu River and is a source of the Konche Darya (or Peacock River), which flows right across the northern wastes of the Taklamakan Desert to Lop Nor. During the summer months Mongol fishermen construct makeshift shelters along the shore and fish the waters from boats, but it is a poor living.... There are 16 small lakes in the vicinity, one of which is a breathtaking mass of pink and white water lilies in the summer. A number of ancient Silk Road ruins are scattered around the area, including the earth-rammed walls of a city dating from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). Within are large grassy mounds yet to be excavated.” Bonavia (1988), p. 150.
“The prosperous town of Korla lies on the Baghrach Kol, a large lake, through which the Kaidu river pursues its course. The water of the lake is of fabulous transparency, and enlivened by endless numbers of large fish, most of them belonging apparently to the barbel family. There are, however, shad as well – ugly creatures as long as a man and with enormous mouths. Herr Bartus, as an old sailor, could not resist throwing his line in here…. He had flung into the water a pound of meat on a gigantic hook and strong line, and an antediluvian monster had swallowed the bait. With great effort he dragged it out of the water, to the intense delight of the entire population, who were watching the visitors’ doings. It weighed about fifty pounds, had a smooth skin – brown spotted with white – and was something like our eel-pout. In spite of my warning – for some of the fish here are dangerous eating – Herr Bartus persisted in having some of it for dinner and found it excellent…. There are only two districts in the whole country where fish are often eaten, viz. round about Maralbashi, where the River Tarim brings down enormous quantities, which are enjoyed by the Dolans living there ; and, secondly, in the neighbourhood of Lake Lop-nor, where the whole population, apparently differing in many respects from the other Turks, live chiefly on fish, either fresh or dried. It is remarkable that both the Dolans and the dwellers round Lop-nor are looked upon as people of another race by the Turks. The lake at Korla is the playground, too, of innumerable flocks of water-birds, and is the breeding-place of swans, whose plumage is in much demand by the Chinese as an edging for valuable robes. Geese and ducks of different kinds frequent the shores and surface of water in great quantities, and we always saw numbers flying in their hook-shaped flocks across the sky. Herons of every kind are also to be found there, but we could never inspect them closely as they always took to timid flight at the approach of men on horseback.” von Le Coq (1928), pp. 109-110.
5. fu xiaowei 副校尉 [fu hsiao-wei] = Vice Commandant. fu: “Vice: common designation, especially from the T'ang on, of officials who were the principal assistants or deputies to the head of an agency. Most commonly occurs as a prefix....” + xiaowei: “Commandant, normally prefixed with functionally descriptive or laudatory terms. (1) HAN–SUNG: title of functioning military officers in a wide range of ranks....” Hucker Nos. 2032, 2456.
6. Weixu 危須 [Wei-hsü] = modern Hoxud (Heshuo) or Chokkur. Stein (1921), Vol III, pp. 1230 ff.; (1928), Vol. II, pp. 777 ff) places Weixu at Korla. However, the Hanshu (CICA, p. 178) states that Weixu is 500 li (208 km) from the seat of the Protector General at Wulei whereas Weili or Korla is only 300 li or 125 km from Wulei. It also says it is 100 li (42 km) from Yanqi (Karashahr). It must, therefore, have been located past Karashahr, on the route to Turfan, rather than in the direction of Korla. This identification finds support from the Shuijingju [Shui-ching chu] which indicates that the Yulduz river used to have another branch, a northern one, flowing into the northwest corner of Lake Bosten, to the west of Weixu. This old course of the river is now indicated by the network of irrigation channels, to the west of the present town of Hoxud, that service this region, the water being used up before it can flow into the lake.
“The Shui-ching chu 2.30ff., says that the Tun-hung [Yulduz] river’s ... eastern tributary flows southeast and then divides into two [although the present-day does not]; coming from Yen-ch’i (i.e. Karashahr), it is led West of Wei-hsü and then flows southeast to end in the Tun-hung Marsh.... The latter is identified with Bostang Lake or Bagrash Kul and the former with the Hai-tu or Yulduz. Hsü Sung locates Wei-hsü to the Southeast of Bostang Lake; Chavannes (1905), p. 552, note 6, seems to accept this localization, criticizing Wylie for following the Hsi-yü t’ung-wen chih (see note 585 above) and placing Wei-hsü at Chagan-tungi, Northeast of Karashahr.” CICA: p. 177, n. 587.
7. Weili 尉梨 = Korla. See note 20.16 above.
8. Shanguo 山國 [Shan-kuo], literally ‘Mountain Kingdom’, in the western Kuruk mountains). Chavannes (1905), p. 552, n. 7, points out that this kingdom is the same as the kingdom of Shan 山國 in the Hanshu and undoubtedly also with the kingdom Shangwangguo 山王國 of the Weilue and of Moshan kingdom 墨山國 or ‘(Black) Ink Mountain Kingdom’ in the Shui ching. He says that it must have been located between Lake Bagrach and Lop Nor and that Grenard’s proposal to locate it at Kyzyl sanghyr, 130 km southeast of Korla, is “very plausible.” The Shuijing [Shui-ching] places Weili, which I have identified as Korla above, 240 li (100 km) to the west of Moshan or ‘(Black) Ink Mountain(s).’ Stein (1928), Vol. II, p. 724. The Hanshu places Shanguo only 160 li (67 km) southeast of Yanqi (Karashahr) so it must be located near the extreme western end of the Kuruk-tāgh, although its exact position remains to be determined. Stein (1921), p. 334 says it “can only roughly be located in the Western Kuruk-tāgh,” although he does consider the possibility that it might have been located at Singer (= Xindi or Kyzyl sanghyr); but this is much further than 67 km to the southeast of Karashahr. See also: ibid. p. 420; (1928), pp. 724-725; CICA: pp. 85, n. 85, and 182, n. 615.
9. xiyu zhangshi = Aide of the Western Regions. See note 21.10 above. According to Ban Yong’s biography, he was given this title in the second yanguang year (123 CE) and was sent with 500 soldiers to establish a military colony at Lukchun. In the first month of the “following year” (3 February-3 March, 124 CE), he arrived in Loulan and rewarded the king of Shanshan with three new ribbons for his submission. Then the kings of Gumo (Aksu) and Wensu (Uch Turfan) presented themselves with their hands tied behind their backs to make submission. He then put the soldiers of these kingdoms numbering 10,000 infantry and cavalry on campaign and before the court of the king of Nearer Jushi put the Yili King of the Xiongnu to flight in the Yihe Valley and won over more than 5,000 men of Nearer Jushi to his cause, and communications between Nearer Jushi and China were reopened. Then he established a military colony at Lukchun. In the following year (125 CE) Ban Yong, with more than 6,000 cavalry from the commanderies of Dunhuang, Zhangye (Gansu), and Jiujuan (Suzhou), as well as soldiers from Shanshan, Shule (Kashgar) and Nearer Jushi (Turfan) defeated the king of Further Jushi (near Jimasa) and beheaded him as well as a Xiongnu envoy and sent their heads to the capital. He also captured more than 8,000 of he enemy and 50,000 horses and cattle. In 126 CE, Ban Yong received the submission of all the “Six Kingdoms of Jushi.” In 127 CE he subdued Karashahr and then Kucha also submitted (thus opening the route all the way to Kashgar and, therefore, opening communications once again to the countries further west such as Ferghana, Kangju and the Da Yuezhi). See Chavannes (1906), pp. 252-253.

Narat Grass

Located at the important line of communications connecting Southern and Northern Xinjiang, the west part of Narat Grassland connects to Kunes County Town, and leads onto Ghulja City and the No.312 National Highway. Along the ancient road, the east part of Narat Grassland is connected to the road leading to Balghuntay Town. Another road, the Maytagh—Kuca Road which stretches across the Tengritagh Mountains is also jointed by way of Narat Grassland. As one of the four largest grasslands over the world, Narat Grassland boasts sub-alpine poad belt, and it has been a famous pasture land ever since the ancient times, and there are wide river valley, high mountains, the crisscrossed deep gores, the flourishing forest, open grassland combined with local Kazak folk customs form the tourism and sightseeing resort integrated with tour, sightseeing, scientific investigation, entertainment, passing the summer holidays and tourism shopping.


I am very happy that my sister's house is in Narat , I think Narat is the most beautiful place I have everseen , It is the most beautiful and famous Grassland in china , also in the world .


In this year’s tourism peak season, its daily tourists reception is 5,800 men/times. A batch of scenes, such as the diversiform-leaved poplar folklore garden, and Ili Grassland Tribe and as well as some traditional tourist items, like horserace and goat snatching, has become the spotlights to attract tourists.-by xjtv


Touring the Grasslands is for travellers who want an alternative holiday, a place where the vistas are of stunning blue skies and wide empty spaces, not city skyscrapers and traffic jams. Visitors inevitably ponder on how the rugged land bred the warriors who created the largest empire of all time.


also if you have time ,it is the best idea to come and visit with your own eye ok ! thank you for reading , by xanbore

Karez

Karez Well is a kind of underground water works invented and built by laboring people of various ethnic groups in our country to adapt to the natural environment in dry region. In Xinjiang, Karez Wells are mainly in Hami, Turpan and Mori, but they are most in Turpan Basin, where there are altogether 1100-odd Karez wells and have the total length of over 5000 km. Some people hold the view that Karez Wells of Xinjiang, the Great Wall and Canal constitute three Ancient Chinese Works. Why Karez Wells were built in great number in Turpan Basin can be attributed to the local natural geographical conditions. To the north of Turpan Basin is Bogda Mountain and to its west Kalawucheng Mountain. In summer, large amounts of snowbroth and rainwater flow into Turpan Basin and infiltrate into the ground, and constitute underground current, thus making an adequate water source under ground for Karez Wells. Earth in Turpan Basin is solid and good for building well and underground channel. In Turpan it is very dry and hot in summer, and land here has a high evaporation rate. In wind season, the strong wind here can blow sands into every corner here. After wind, a lot of farmland and water channels are buried by sands. But Karez Wells can supply waters through underground channels and is independent of the effect of season and wind and sand. In addition, Karez Wells have a very low evaporation rate and a stable supply of water, and can irrigate farmland all the year round. The word “Karez” means well. Karez Well is composed of four parts: vertical hole, underground channel, aboveground channel and water storage dam. It is built this way: first, to find water source in a place where there is underground water current, second, dig out vertical wells with certain distance in between, then, to build underground channel connecting these wells and thus water will flow through the underground channel. The outlet of underground channel is connected to the aboveground channel and thus underground water can flow out and irrigate farmland through the aboveground channel.

Grape Valley

The Grape Valley is situated in a canyon, west side of Fire Mountain and 15 km northeast of the seat of Turpan County. It is 8 km long and 500 m wide. On either side of the valley are thick trees and mulberry trees, apricot trees, peach trees, pear trees, poplar trees, willow trees, elm trees and locust trees are arranged in order. Waters from springs flow into channels irrigating 210-odd hectare grape garden. Here a modern grape wine plant has been established producing various kinds of grape wine and grape cans. White grape wine produced here boasts a nice taste and is popular with both Chinese and foreign guests. Deep inside the valley a grape park was built, where there are waterside villas. After experiencing the fierce heat of Flaming Mountains, taking a rest here and tasting some grapes will give a nice kind of feeling.