My 29 days Free & Easy Visit to Northern Xinjiang (Urumqi, Fuyun, Beitun, Altay, Burqin, Jiadengyu, Karamay, Kutuin, Yining, Nalati & Tekes Baqua City), China Aug 9 > Sept 6 2026 D-23 (Nalati)

Narati River Valley Prairie, Xinjiang

Sky Grassland, Narati, Xinjiang

D-23 Monday Aug 31 2026 (Narati Prairie or Grassland, Xinjiang) - devoted a full day visiting the Narati River Valley Prairie & Sky Prairie located 3km from our hotel. In the evening, I made a solo evening visit to downtown Narati nearby my hotel to get a feel of the nightlife. Not to forget today is Malaysia's National Independence Day, Wishing all my fellow Malaysians a Happy Merdeka Day ! 

I enjoyed listening to this Mainland Chinese moving song "The Shepherd of Koktokay" written & originally sung by the artist Wang Qi, now a massive hit ! 

The chorus capture the deep pain of the shepherd waiting alone: 

• Sweetheart, I am waiting for you in Koktokay
• They say you married and moved to Yili
• Is it because the Nalati Grassland there is more beautiful ?
• Or because the apricot blossoms there made sweeter honey for you ?
• Outside my tent I hear the camel bells ring again
• But I know deep down, it isn't you ..... 

I am glad that for this free & easy trip to North & West Xinjiang, I showed up in Koktokay, Yili (Yining) & Nalati Grassland so that I could gain an appreciation & better understanding of this lovely song, famous for telling a beautiful but sad story set in the real LIFE, beautiful region of Koktokay in Xinjiang ! Indeed the beautiful grassland of Koktokay, Narati & the county town of Yining captivated my heart when I paid a purposeful visit to these 3 most visited places in Xinjiang -  my most memorable trip ! So when you are in Xinjiang, think of the " The Shepherd of Koktokay" song, camel, honey, Narati, Yili, tents, sheep & shepherd, apricots ...... you will be in high spirit & a beautiful day awaiting you ..... but watch the weather as northern Xinjiang in early Autumn (Sept) could drop to -4C in Jiadengyi (near Kanas Geopark) ! As for my travel buddy, a first timer to Xinjiang, this Xinjiang visit was a "gifted" one as my travel itinerary includes Koktokay, Narati & Yili when I crafted the first draft travel plan (budget-friendly) right from the start ! 

Public Transport: Narati internal shuttle bus (CNY12 + 20, free admission for senior bove 70+) & 1 Didi ride (CNY11.19)

1) My early morning walk & breakfast (CNY12, porridge & steamed buns) in a local restaurant nearby the hotel in Narati prior to my visit to Narati Grassland Scenic Area.  

2) Arriving in Nalati Scenic Area & Tourist Centre, Xinjiang - thanks to the hotel owner who gave us a lift to the Narati Tourist Centre (3km) 

3) Nalati Scenic Area & Tourist Centre, Xinjiang - free admission for senior above 70+, shuttle bus to 2 scenic areas CNY12 + 20 (50% discount). 

4) Boarding a hop in & hop off shuttle bus (CNY12 round trip, senior) to the scenic Narati River Valley Grassland. 

Narati Prairie or Grassland is a world famous sub-alpine meadow located in the Xinyuan County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, know for its breath-taking landscape where endless rolling green fields meet majestic snow-capped mountains, it is widely considered the crown jewel of Xinjiang grassland scenery.   

5) First stopover, Narati River Valley Prairie - just enjoy & admire the greeneries & the surrounding, herds of horses, sheep & cows grazing freely across the open plains, stunning scenery, vast fields of wild grasses, colorful seasonal wild flowers, pine forests & winding river valleys etc.  

6) 2nd Stopover (Wusun Relics) - Nalati River Valley Grassland.  

7) Wusun Relics, Narati River Valley Prairie, Xinjiang - an ancient historical site located in the heart of the Narati Prairie, Xinjiang, they represent the deep history of the Wusun people, a semi-nomadic group that lived in the area more than 2,000 years ago during the Han dynasty. 

8) Monument of a Chinese Princess & King Wusun & traditional performances 

9) Horse, sheep & cattle grazing across open grasslands. 

10) 3rd Stopover, Naliwu Folk Custom Experience Park, Nalati River Valley Grassland

11) Ancient rock painting in Prairie, Nalati River Valley Grassland. 

12) Naliwu Folk Custom Experience Park, Nalati River Valley Grassland - experiencing local Kazath culture, dining in traditional yurts, trying horse riding & tasting local foods like roasted lamb & salty milk tea. 

13) Shuttle bus stop to Panlong Road, Narati River Valley Prairie - pay to enter. 

14) Walkabout in Naliwu Folk Custom Experience Park, Nalati River Valley Grassland

15) Boarding a shuttle bus for my 4th stopover (Daygras) prior to exiting the Narati River Valley Prairie. 

16) 4th Stopover (Dayglas), Narati River Valley Prairie - met up with my travel buddy at this stopover prior to returning to the Narati Visitor Centre to commence our 2nd leg of visit to Sky Prairie. 

17) The start of our Shuttle bus ride (CNY20, round trip) from Narati Tourist Centre > Sky Prairie, Narati - an uphill drive to a mountain plateau to visit the Sky Prairie. 

18) Sky Prairie, Narati, Xinjiang - the Sky Prairie sits at a high altitude on a mountain plateau, it often looks like s meadow floating among the clouds, cool & pleasant weather, a great place for tourists & family to spend their day & evening here !  

19) Exiting the Narati Visitor Centre & e-hailed a DIDI back to or hotel for a well earned rest ! My dream of visiting Narati Grassland has finally been fulfilled today ! 

20) Fried rice (CNY15) dinner in a local restaurant in nearby my hotel in Narati. 

21) My sole evening walk nearby the hotel in downtown Narati - just a leisure walk & enjoying the cool early autumn weather ! Good Night !