June, the first stop of the journey: Duku Highway, exploring Xinjiang along the Hero's Road!

✨ OMG, you guys! The self-drive along Duku Highway left me speechless with its beauty—this heartfelt guide with secret photo spots will make you want to hit the gas pedal right away! 🚗 Let’s go! Handing the navigation to the Tianshan Mountains on day one When I stuffed half a trunk with naan and chilled Wusu beer, I suddenly understood that "the romance of a road trip begins when you ditch the guidebooks." Just as I turned onto the northern section of Duku Highway, the car window was filled with the shadows of snow-capped mountains—the gritty wind of Dushanzi brushed against my face, as if saying, "Welcome to the real-life Middle-earth." The crunch of tires on gravel, paired with "Blue Lotus" blasting from the car stereo, made me realize the city neon lights in the rearview mirror had long become insignificant little dots. 🌪 First stop, mind-blowing: The "Earth's Crack" at Dushanzi Grand Canyon At 7 a.m., I waited by the canyon as morning mist clung to the ochre-red cliffs. Water droplets seeping from the cracks hit the rocks like a harp playing for the canyon. Highly recommend the "Sky Mirror" glass platform by the cliff—not the cheesy influencer kind, but the real deal that makes your legs wobble! (Pro tip: Wear khaki cargo pants and combat boots for an effortless "Interstellar" vibe in every shot.) P.S.: The Kazakh café owner by the cliff will teach you to dip naan in cream—way better than any trendy iced coffee for this wild landscape! 🐎 Second stop, total surrender: The "Cloud Pasture" of Nalati Grassland The afternoon sun turned the meadows into a vibrant green. Riding through wildflowers, the jingling of saddle bells mixed with the strumming of a herdsman’s dombra. An elder handed me a freshly baked boursak, its warm, buttery aroma blending with the breeze. As I nibbled by the yurt, I spotted a cloud "biting" a chunk off the distant snow-capped mountain. That night, the stargazing homestay had a crooked-tree swing—wrapped in a wool blanket, I gazed at the Milky Way and finally understood the word "healing." My phone is now full of recordings of the grassland’s wind, enough to replay for a month back in the city. 🌌 Third stop, magical encounter: The "Nine Suns" of Bayinbuluke To photograph the sunset over Kaidu River, I lugged a tripod to the viewpoint three hours early (totally froze but worth it!). When the sunset turned the river into liquid gold, the bends truly looked like nine suns placed in a row. A fellow traveler suddenly shouted, "Look, swans!"—dozens of white figures glided across the lake, their wings brushing the water softer than shutter clicks. The highlight? On the way down, I stumbled upon a nomadic herding scene—sheep scattered like cotton candy, trailing the horse caravan for half a kilometer. In that moment, I grasped what "vast horizons make life worthwhile" really means. 📝 Ultimate tips (straight from the heart): - Skip the influencer outfits! A windproof jacket + durable pants are king. My lace dress stayed buried in the trunk. - Pack a thermos! I traded hot milk tea with a granny selling wild strawberries—sweetness overload. - Ignore the "finish Duku in one day" nonsense! I took three days with stops and found the best views were by the roadside. Final thought: When I stepped out at Hashilegen Daban Pass, snowflakes freezing on my lashes, I finally understood why "Duku Highway is a flowing poem." The city-induced tension had long been washed away by glacial streams—freedom isn’t a Instagram grid, but the moment your tires crush gravel and you dare to yell "Screw KPIs!" into the wind. This summer, wanna form a convoy? I’ll bring spicy naan, you bring the stories, and let’s live each day under the Tianshan Mountains like frames from a road movie. 🚜✨