South
Mountain Grassland
 West
White Poplar Gully, 75 kilometers (46 miles)
south of Urumqi, in the Southern Mountain
(Southern Mountains generally refers to
the area at the northern foot of Karawuquntag
Mountain, a spur of the Tianshan Mountains).
Traveling through this narrow verdant gully
is a unique experience for sightseers who
love natural scenery like snowcapped peaks,
dragon-spruce trees and wild flowers.
2,100 meters above sea level,
the valley has an annual precipitation of
500 to 600 millimeters. Screened by snow-capped
peaks and dotted with tall and straight
dragon spruce trees, it is an ideal place
to have an excursion. The Kazakh usually
spend summer here between May and October
and graze their herds Visitors can take
a horseback tour guided by local Kazakh.
In a traditional yurt, hospital host will
welcome you with fragrant milk tea, mare's
milk, cheese and roasted lamb. The horse-racing
and traditional Kazakh dancing are amazing.
More spectacular landscape comes
at the far end of the valley - a 2-meter-wide
waterfall cascades 40 meters down, roaring
with mist. It makes you feel refreshed and
relaxed.
How to get there: Transport
to this area can be a problem. There are
some buses from the north end of Renmin
Park off Guangming Lu.
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