If you only have one full day in Nalati, please—really—do your homework in advance.
The area is huge, routes are confusing, and the traffic rules are strict. Without a plan, most people end up stuck in traffic, taking the wrong bus, or wasting time walking back and forth in the wrong sections.
This guide is the “real experience + no-nonsense” version based on an actual visit. I’ve organized the overly complicated official routes into clear, practical steps you can follow directly.
Whether you drive yourself or take the shuttle buses, use this guide and you’ll easily complete all three signature areas:
🍃 Aerial Grassland
🍃 River Valley Grassland
🍃 Panlong Valley Road
Nalati Grassland
📍 Understanding Nalati’s Three Main Areas
Nalati Scenic Area can be divided into three major routes:
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🍃 Aerial Grassland – the most iconic part of Nalati; stunning but crowded
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🍃 River Valley Grassland – peaceful meadows, forests, rivers
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🍃 Panlong Valley Road – a winding mountain road with grand views, perfect for self-driving
A perfect one-day loop looks like this:
Aerial Grassland → Visitor Center (lunch) → River Valley Grassland → Transfer → Panlong Valley Road → Exit via East Gate or West Gate
This is the smoothest, least time-wasting order.
🕘 One-Day Recommended Schedule (Self-Drive or Shuttle Bus)
1️⃣ 9:00 — Start with the Aerial Grassland
This is where crowds form earliest. After 10:00, both shuttle buses and private cars start queuing on the mountain road.
👉 Very important:
You must enter from Tayasu Checkpoint, and cars are not allowed to go up after 4:00 PM.
Once you arrive at the Aerial Grassland, take the shuttle all the way to Youmurenjia (Nomad Family), the final stop.
From here:
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Walk a few minutes to reach the famous Internet-famous Bridge
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If you hate crowds, follow the river upstream — same scenery, almost no people
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Self-drivers can park much closer to the photo spots
The combination of streams, open meadows, and distant mountains is perfect for photos.
2️⃣ 11:00 — Optional: Snow Lotus Valley (Weather-dependent)
From the Youmurenjia parking lot, you can buy an extra round-trip shuttle ticket (about ¥60) to Snow Lotus Valley.
Self-driving cars are NOT allowed up here.
✔ If visibility is good:
You’ll get incredibly close views of snowy peaks.
✘ If visibility is poor:
Don’t go — you’ll only see fog and nothing else.
Decide on the spot based on the weather.
3️⃣ 13:00 — Return to the Visitor Center for Lunch
By this time you’ll be tired and hungry. The Visitor Center (West Gate area) has restaurants — slightly pricey, but convenient.
You can also bring simple snacks if you want, but make sure to carry enough water. The air is dry at higher altitude.
4️⃣ 14:00 — Head Toward River Valley Grassland & Panlong Valley Road
From the Visitor Center, follow the signs or shuttle line toward Panlong Valley Road. You’ll first pass two spots:
Nalati Grassland
📍 Tawusake Grassland
Wide meadows filled with bright yellow wildflowers, with mountains as the backdrop.
Beautiful and rarely crowded.
📍 Wusun Ancient City
A man-made historical site — more like a movie set.
If you enjoy cultural sites, stop for a bit.
If not, you can safely skip it.
⚠ Important Transfer Notice
If you’re taking the shuttle bus:
👉 You MUST get off at Yitigense Station
This is the mandatory transfer point for reaching Panlong Valley Road.
Self-driving and shuttle routes overlap only briefly, but both can reach the top viewpoints.
5️⃣ Spend 1.5–2 Hours Enjoying Panlong Valley Road
This is one of the most spectacular parts of Nalati.
Self-driving:
You can stop at any safe viewpoint, take photos, enjoy the silence, and go at your own pace.
Shuttle bus:
More relaxing, no need to deal with mountain driving, and you’ll still see all the highlights.
📸 Best photo suggestions:
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Shoot the full S-shaped curves of the road
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Use your car as a prop for “highway road trip” shots
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Enjoy the panorama views from designated viewpoints
6️⃣ After 16:00 — Drive Down Toward the River Valley
From Panlong Valley Road, you’ll naturally descend into the River Valley Grassland area again.
This road is incredibly peaceful:
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rolling green mountains
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forests and rivers
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grazing cattle and sheep
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soft light in the late afternoon
You can:
✔ Self-drive to the very end and exit through East Gate
✔ Take a shuttle back to the Visitor Center and explore River Valley Grassland slowly
✔ Hike to Tianying Platform (Hawk Platform) if you have enough energy
Tianying is beautiful but does require climbing — choose based on your fitness.
Nalati Grassland
🎫 Self-Driving Ticket Rules You MUST Know
Self-driving tickets are limited to 300 cars per day
and must be booked in advance on the official “Zhiyou Nalati” mini-program.
Key points:
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Tickets are released 7 days in advance
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If sold out → use waiting list (‘standby’) — success rate is surprisingly high
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Self-driving tickets allow unlimited entry for 48 hours
I joined the waiting list around 6 AM and got my approval by 8 AM.
❄️ Nalati in Winter (Dec–Feb): A Hidden Fairy-Tale Version
Honestly, winter in Nalati feels like stepping into a Nordic countryside.
Fewer tourists, pristine scenery, and everything looks like a snow-covered dream.
Winter Highlights
1️⃣ Aerial Grassland — The Winter Star
The entire meadow turns into a vast snowfield.
Snowy peaks, wooden cabins with smoke rising, grazing animals…
You may even find clusters of “snow mushrooms” — dome-shaped snow caps formed on grass bundles.
2️⃣ River Valley Forest — Snowy Forest Tunnel
Walk along the wooden trail and see snow-laden spruce trees glowing under the sunlight.
Calm, quiet, and magical.
3️⃣ Panlong Valley Road — The Snowy Scenic Drive
Frosted trees, white mountains, and soft golden light in the afternoon.
You can create amazing winter road-trip photos here.
4️⃣ First Kazakh Village — Local Winter Life
A chance to drink hot milk tea, try hand-grabbed lamb, and see traditional Kazakh weaving.
Warm, rustic, and full of local character.
Nalati Grassland
📸 100% Photo-Ready Winter Spots
✔ Aerial Grassland Viewpoint — snowfield + mountain backdrop
✔ River Valley Forest Walkway — low-angle shots with curved pathway
✔ Panlong Valley Road curves — car + snow = cinematic
✔ Kazakh Village courtyards — wood cabins + milk tea = cozy shots
✔ Snow mushroom clusters — perfect for close-up or macro photos
🔚 Final Summary — The Easiest Way to Visit Nalati in One Day
Best Route (No Repetition, Smoothest Flow):
Tayasu Checkpoint → Aerial Grassland → Snow Lotus Valley (optional) → Visitor Center → Tawusake → Wusun Ancient City → Yitigense Transfer → Panlong Valley Road → River Valley → East Gate/West Gate Exit
Three Rules to Remember:
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Cars are NOT allowed to enter after 4 PM at Tayasu Checkpoint
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Book self-drive tickets early, or use the waiting list
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Always follow this order: Aerial Grassland → River Valley + Panlong Valley Road
Do this, and you’ll avoid crowds, avoid backtracking, and enjoy the best landscape all in one day.
