Nalati is an area of high mountain meadows, spruce forest and river valley in Xinyuan county at the eastern head of the Ili valley in northern Xinjiang, on the northern slope of the Tianshan. It is one of the best-known summer pastures of Kazakh herders, whose yurts and flocks move up to the high meadows each year, and lies near the northern end of the Duku Highway across the Tianshan.
Key facts
Overview
The Ili valley is the wettest part of Xinjiang, open to moist air from the west, and at its eastern end, in the Kunes River valley, the mountains of the Tianshan are covered in grass and forest rather than rock and sand. Nalati occupies the slopes and terraces above the river, from riverside valleys up to the “sky meadow” on a high plateau of grassland at the edge of the forest.
A popular story explains the name: soldiers of a Mongol army crossing the Tianshan from the south in cold and fog came out onto these meadows as the sun broke through and cried “nalat”, “sunshine”. Whatever its origin, the name has come to stand for the summer grasslands of Ili.
How the landscape formed
The grassland lies on uplifted terraces and slopes between the Kunes River and the ridges of the eastern Tianshan. Because moisture-laden westerly winds are funnelled up the Ili valley, rainfall here is much higher than elsewhere in Xinjiang, and deep, dark soils support dense meadow grasses and wild flowers. North-facing slopes hold stands of Schrenk's spruce; the ridge tops are alpine meadow.
Highlights
Sky meadow
空中草原
The high plateau of grassland reached by road from the valley, the main viewing area.
Valley grassland
河谷草原
The meadows along the Kunes River below the forested slopes.
Kunes River
巩乃斯河
A tributary of the Ili that flows west through the valley.
Duku Highway
独库公路
The mountain road from Dushanzi to Kuqa across the Tianshan, meeting the Ili valley road near Nalati.
Plants and wildlife
The meadows are among the richest grasslands in Xinjiang, with a high diversity of grasses and flowering herbs. Heavy grazing and tourism pressure have been an issue, and parts of the grassland are rested or fenced to allow recovery.
Plants
Schrenk's spruce
雪岭云杉
Forms the forest belt on shaded slopes.
Wild tulips
野郁金香
Several wild tulip species flower in the Ili region in spring.
Wildlife
Ili horse
伊犁马
The horse breed of the Ili valley, bred by Kazakh herders.
Golden eagle
金雕
Hunts over the grasslands and is traditionally trained by some Kazakh falconers.
Culture and legend
Nalati is Kazakh herding country. Families move with their sheep, horses and cattle between winter quarters in the valley and summer pastures in the mountains, living in felt yurts. Kazakh culture here includes horsemanship games such as kokpar (goat-dragging), the improvised sung contests of aitys, and the two-stringed dombra. The wider Ili valley is ethnically mixed, with Uyghur, Han, Hui, Mongol and Xibe communities as well.
Kazakh yurt
哈萨克族毡房
The round felt tent of the herders, set up on the summer pastures.
Aitys
阿依特斯
Improvised poetic duels sung by Kazakh akyns to the dombra.
Kokpar
叼羊
A mounted contest in which riders compete for a goat carcass.
History
1983
Duku Highway completed
After about a decade of construction by army engineers, many of whom died in the work, the road across the Tianshan links the Ili valley with Kuqa in the south.
Through the seasons
Spring
Snow melts from the valley in April and May; wild flowers begin in late May.
Summer
June to August is the season of flowers, green meadows and herders on the high pastures; afternoon showers are common.
Autumn
Herders descend in September; the spruce stands out dark against golden grass.
Winter
Deep snow and cold; the high pastures are empty and the Duku Highway closed.
Routes and ways in
Sky meadow and valley
Scenic-area roads lead from the entrance to the high plateau and along the river valley, with short walks and horse rides from the viewpoints.
Duku Highway
The mountain road south over the Tianshan to Bayanbulak and Kuqa, open only in summer and early autumn because of snow.
Practical notes
- Weather in the mountains changes quickly; carry rain gear and a warm layer.
- Ask before photographing herding families or entering a yurt.
- The Duku Highway is closed from autumn to late spring; check its status before planning a crossing.
- Yining is the regional centre, with the county town of Xinyuan closer to the grassland.
Cities to start from
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Xinjiang — Encyclopaedia Britannica (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture — Wikipedia (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region People's Government — Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
More mountains and nature in Xinjiang
- LakeKanas Lake喀纳斯湖A glacial lake in the Altai forests at China's northern tip
- Mountain · 7,546 mMuztagh Ata慕士塔格峰The “Father of Ice Mountains” above Karakul Lake
- LakeSayram Lake赛里木湖The largest alpine lake of the Tianshan, on the road to Ili
- DesertTaklimakan Desert塔克拉玛干沙漠The sand sea of the Tarim Basin, ringed by Silk Road oases
- Lake · 5,445 mTianchi and Bogda Peak天山天池A mountain lake beneath the glaciers of the eastern Tianshan
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