Bayanbulak Travel Guide | Chasing the Nine Suns on the Cloud Grassland

Bayanbulak | Go See the Nine Suns Together

Hand one full day over to wind and light on Xinjiang’s cloud grassland

If you can only choose one grassland in Xinjiang, Bayanbulak deserves a top spot.

It’s not a place that overwhelms you at first glance.
Instead, the longer you stay, the deeper it gets under your skin.

No trees.
Endless alpine meadow.
Snow mountains encircling vast wetlands.
The Kaidu River looping again and again across the plain—
until sunset breaks into multiple reflections, turning one sun into many.

Bayanbulak is recognized by Chinese National Geography as one of China’s most beautiful wetlands,
and it’s often where travelers realize that
emptiness itself can be powerful.

Bayanbulak

🎫 Tickets & Shuttle Buses | Know This First

Private vehicles are not allowed inside the core scenic area.

Standard Ticket Package

• Entrance ticket: 65 RMB / person

• Shuttle bus (round trip): 62 RMB / person

• Total: 127 RMB / person

Discounts

• Seniors 65+: free entrance, shuttle 31 RMB

• Children under 1.3 m: free entrance, shuttle half price

• Active-duty soldiers & licensed guides: free

• Veterans: half-price entrance ticket

⚠️ Important Reminder
The last shuttle bus departs at 7:00 PM.
If you plan to watch sunset at Nine Bends, calculate your return time carefully.

Bayanbulak

🚩 Top 5 Must-Do Experiences

① Nine Bends of the Kaidu River | Waiting for Sunset

This is the reason most people come.

On clear, windless summer evenings, the setting sun reflects across different curves of the river, forming 5–9 glowing light spots—known as the legendary “Nine Suns.”

• Best months: June–August

• Sunset time: approx. 9:30–9:50 PM

• Arrive at least 2 hours early

• Best viewing spot: middle-left section of the platform

📸 Photography Tips

• Use wide-angle for landscapes, telephoto for sun reflections

• White dresses, straw hats, bright scarves photograph beautifully

• It gets cold and windy—dress for warmth, not just photos

Honest truth:
Seeing all nine suns is luck—but feeling awe is guaranteed.

② Swan Lake | The Quiet Heart of the Grassland

Swan Lake is the ecological core of Bayanbulak.

• Best season: May–June

• Watch cygnets learning to fly

• Large flocks of red-billed gulls

You can feed birds with naan or whole-grain bread near the boardwalk.
Reeds, reflections, snow peaks—perfect for nature photography.

⚠️ Please note

• Wetlands are protected—do not step off trails

• No chasing or disturbing birds

③ Horse Riding | Understand the Scale of the Grassland

• Price: around 80 RMB / person

• Routes lead toward the outer grassland near Nine Bends

• Riding gives you a true sense of space and distance

No experience needed. Local herders guide the horses safely.

④ Grass Sliding | A Little Adrenaline

• Price: about 98 RMB per ride

• Slide length: approx. 300 meters

• Ticket sales stop at 9:30 PM

A fun way to pass time before sunset.

⑤ Eastern Return Culture | The Soul of Bayanbulak

If you visit during July–August, you may catch the Naadam Festival:

• Mongolian wrestling

• Horse shows

• Morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) concerts

• Roast lamb, milk wine, bonfires

This is Bayanbulak at its warmest and most human.

Bayanbulak

📌 Hidden Experiences

• Morning mushroom picking (with herders only)

• Staying in a yurt to watch the Milky Way

• Helicopter sightseeing (approx. 680 RMB / person)

🍽️ What to Eat

• Black-headed lamb kebabs: 3–5 RMB each

• Wild mushroom chicken stew (after rain)

• Salty milk tea with naan for warmth

Bayanbulak

🏡 Accommodation Recommendation

Boya Lijing Hotel (Bayanbulak)

• 2 minutes from scenic area entrance

• One of the best hotels on the grassland

• EV charging stations, laundry facilities

• Ideal for self-drive travelers and families

⚠️ Before You Go

• Day–night temperature difference can reach 15–20°C

• Bring insect repellent

• Drones are strictly prohibited

• Don’t obsess over seeing all nine suns—enjoy the moment