I've just returned from Nalat, and I sincerely recommend visiting in May or June!

Nalat: A Complete Guide to a Three-Dimensional Scroll Painting Deep in the Tianshan Mountains The moment your plane lands at Nalat Airport, the emerald grasslands and spruce trees spreading outside the porthole will instantly make you understand Genghis Khan's exclamation "Narat" during his westward expedition. This place, recognized by Chinese National Geography as one of "China's Six Most Beautiful Grasslands," hides a magical space-time woven with snow-capped mountains, forests, canyons, and Kazakh pastoral songs. As a traveler who has just completed an "In-Depth Ili River Valley Tour," I will use a three-day, two-night immersive experience to guide you in unlocking the ultimate way to explore this "Three-Dimensional Grassland Museum." 1. Scenic Routes That Fold Space and Time: Magical Moments Away From the Crowds 1. Aerial Grassland Snow Lotus Valley Loop (A Must for Photography Enthusiasts) Route: Visitor Center → Tianjie Platform (40-minute drive) → Nomadic Family (20 minutes) → Snow Lotus Valley Special Line (requires transfer) Core Experience: Tianjie Platform: Wait here at 7:00 AM to capture the "Yin and Yang Dividing Dusk and Dawn" spectacle of snow-capped mountains and meadows in the morning mist with a telephoto lens. The prayer flag array on the left side of the platform is a natural frame for shooting cultural blockbusters. Nomadic Family Internet-Famous Bridge: Avoid the tour group peak after 10:00 AM and use a slow shutter speed to capture the moment when a Kazakh girl rides a horse across the bridge, with the aerial grassland covered in dandelions as the background. Hidden Spot in Snow Lotus Valley: Hike 1.5 km along the snow line to the "Glacier Eye," where you can simultaneously photograph the reflection of Kabanbay Peak and wild snow lotus. Crampons are required (available for rent in the scenic area). 2. Panlong Valley Road Wolta Jiaota Secret Realm (Exclusive to Adventurers) Route: Visitor Center → Entrance of Panlong Valley Road (self-driving/sightseeing bus) → Wolta Jiaota Viewing Platform (5 km hike) Hardcore Data: The valley road is 12 km long and contains 27 180-degree hairpin bends, with an altitude drop of 800m. It is recommended to rent a four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle (the scenic area provides guided services for CNY 800/vehicle). The 5 km wooden boardwalk in Wolta Jiaota hides mysteries: the third viewing platform allows you to capture the magical scene of "Pine Forest Waterfall Piercing Through the Clouds." You need to use a CPL filter to eliminate water surface reflections when the sun shines directly at 12:00 noon. 2. Magical Spots With a 100% Success Rate: Even Phone Users Can Take National Geographic-Level Blockbusters 1. Tawsani: Four-Dimensional Space-Time Folding Point Shooting Time: 1 hour before sunset. Use a wide-angle lens to shoot from north to south, which can capture four landforms at the same time: snow-capped mountains, forests, meadows, and streams. The "radial blur" filter in PS can be used in post-production to enhance the sense of spatial depth. Hidden Play: Take silhouette photos at the megalithic array on the south bank of the stream and use natural stone frames to form a "picture within a picture" effect. 2. Wusun Ancient Ruins: Birthplace of Wasteland Aesthetics Golden Moment: When the rain has just stopped, carry a polarizing filter to photograph the collision between dry poplar trees and newly green grass. Raise the drone to a height of 200m to capture the space-time dialogue between the ancient road and National Highway 218. Safety Tips: Marmots often appear in this area. Feeding is prohibited. It is recommended to bring bear spray (available in scenic area stores). 3. A Pastoral Epic on the Tip of Your Tongue: 24 Hours From Snow Mountain to Yurt 1. Nomadic Family Food Matrix Must-Order Set Meal: Snow Water Stewed Air-Dried Horse Meat (CNY 128/portion) + Baursaki with Honey (CNY 15/portion) + Horse Milk Wine (CNY 30/pot). Note that horse milk wine has a very strong after-effect, so it is recommended to pair it with plum juice to relieve the alcohol. Hidden Menu: Recite the Kazakh proverb "The wisdom of Aksakal is in milk tea" to the yurt owner to receive a "Grassland Blind Box" worth CNY 88 (may be milk curd, horse sausage, or Dombra performance). 2. Yitigense Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop Immersive Experience: The "Grassland Lifestyle Expert" course from 14:00–16:00 allows you to make wolf phalanx necklaces (CNY 280/person) or felt embroidered coasters (CNY 120/person) by hand. You can take the finished products away and be awarded an intangible cultural heritage certificate. Avoid the Pitfalls: Refuse the "free photo with Hada" promotion, as these services usually charge high frame fees afterward. 4. Alternative Rainy Day Plans: Open the Grassland Metaverse Indoors 1. Nalat International Ski Resort (Off-Season Carnival) Black Technology Play: Rent a VR ski simulator (CNY 80/20 mins) and experience winter snow tracks in a blizzard effect. The system will generate a "Grassland Skiing Rank Certificate" based on your movements and scores. Parent-Child Surprise: The "Snow Monster Ale" theme park in the ski equipment hall allows you to use a 3D printing pen to create exclusive snow monster dolls (CNY 198/piece). 2. Kazakh Folk Museum In-Depth Play: Participate in the "Transfer Memory" special exhibition at 10:00/16:00, which uses holographic projection to reproduce the epic of the Kazakh people's seasonal migration. Interactive devices can simulate the perspective of a shepherd driving cattle and sheep. Cultural and Creative Treasure Hunt: The "Grassland Flavor" series of fragrances in the museum store mixes artemisia, snow lotus, and mare's milk into a unique scent. The "Nomadic Dawn" model (CNY 168/bottle) is recommended. 5. Accommodation Red and Black List: From Luxury Tents to Cloud Hotels 1. Nianhua Bay Nalat Luxury Camping Site Red List Reason: The tent is equipped with floor heating and a starry sky skylight. The Milky Way and snow-capped mountains can be seen in the same frame at 3:00 AM. Includes "Grassland Awakening Service": Kazakh teenagers ride horses to deliver freshly squeezed warm mare's milk. Black List Warning: Some tents will be removed during the off-season (November–March). You need to confirm in advance whether they are on the operating list. 2. Senjing Treehouse Hotel Survival Guide: The treehouse is suspended above the spruce forest. It is recommended to bring a windproof jacket (night temperatures can be as low as -5℃). The balcony's star-gazing telescope has a preset M31 Andromeda galaxy coordinate and can be used for free. 6. Exclusive to Hardcore Players: Unlock the B-Side of Nalat 1. Gongnais River Valley Stream Tracing Equipment List: Stream tracing shoes (Decathlon MH500 series, CNY 299/pair) Waterproof backpack (OSPREY Talon 22, CNY 799/piece) Target Species: Rainbow trout (artificial bait lure can be used, limited to 3 fish per day) Blue sheep (limited to distant viewing, it is forbidden to use lenses with a focal length exceeding 400mm) 2. Light Hiking on Wusun Ancient Road Safety Instructions: You need to report to the scenic area 7 days in advance and sign the "Letter of Life and Death." A satellite phone is mandatory (available for rent in the scenic area, CNY 300/day). Fantastic Moment: Wait for the "Sunlight on the Golden Mountain" by Heaven Lake. When the first ray of sunlight illuminates the Muzart Glacier, the glacier cracks will refract colorful halos.