Kurdening Forest Park Travel Guide : Best June Route, Qimengde Viewpoint, Self-Drive & Off-Road Tips

If you’ve been searching for summer destinations in Ili, Xinjiang lately, Kurdening is probably showing up everywhere.

Especially after the May 19 Forest Culture Tourism Festival, the entire scenic area was packed. Traffic stretched from the entrance all the way to Qimengde, campsites were filled with tents, and nighttime electronic music parties turned the grasslands into a massive outdoor festival.

But if you really want to experience the most beautiful side of Kurdening, June is actually the best time to go.

The grasslands turn bright green, wildflowers begin blooming across the valleys, snow remains on the mountain peaks, and the crowds are far smaller than during holidays. Compared to the chaotic festival atmosphere, June feels like stepping into a real fairytale forest.

Kurdening Forest Park

Why June Is the Best Time to Visit Kurdening

Many travelers visit Nalati and Kalajun before coming to Kurdening.

To be honest, if you’ve already seen multiple large-scale snow mountain grassland landscapes in Ili, the Qimengde Viewpoint may not feel as shocking as expected.

What truly makes Kurdening special is not the viewpoint itself, but the atmosphere of the forest.

Towering spruce trees, flower-covered grasslands, streams flowing through the woods, and endless layers of greenery make the entire area feel like an oil painting. Early morning mist drifting through the forest gives it a Nordic fairytale vibe.

Advantages of visiting Kurdening in June:

• Fresh green grasslands
• Wildflower season begins
• Snow-capped mountains remain visible
• Fewer tourists
• Comfortable daytime temperatures around 20°C
• Perfect for camping, photography, hiking, and off-road trips

If you enjoy nature photography, forests, and quiet landscapes, June is far better than public holidays or peak summer season.

Basic Information About Kurdening

Location

Kurdening Scenic Area

Located in Gongliu County in Ili Prefecture, Xinjiang, Kurdening is part of the UNESCO Tianshan World Natural Heritage area and one of the best-preserved snow ridge spruce forests in Xinjiang.

Entrance Ticket

• Adult ticket: 60 RMB
• Student ticket: 30 RMB
• Vehicles with fewer than 7 seats can drive into the scenic area

Opening Hours

• May to September
• 09:30 – 20:00
• Last entry at 19:30

Transportation

From Yining

• Around 2.5 hours by car

From Gongliu County

• Around 1 hour by car

Recommended navigation keyword:
“Kurdening Zhonggou Entrance”

Best Things to Do in Kurdening in June

Most visitors head straight to Qimengde Viewpoint after entering the park.

But experienced travelers usually prefer the forest areas and back mountain grasslands instead.

The following route is considered one of the best June itineraries for scenery and photography.

Kurdening Forest Park

Recommended Scenic Route

1. Shili Gallery

Shili Gallery is one of the most relaxing areas in Kurdening.

The route passes through forests, streams, grasslands, and wildflower meadows.

In June, colorful flowers bloom across the hillsides beneath massive spruce forests, creating an unreal fairytale atmosphere.

You don’t even need to search for photo spots here.

Almost every corner looks cinematic.

Best time to visit:

• Early morning
• Softer lighting
• Possible morning mist
• Fewer tourists
• Cleaner mountain views

2. Qimengde Viewpoint

This is the most famous viewpoint in Kurdening.

From the top, you can overlook endless spruce forests, snow mountains, and grasslands.

However, whether it’s worth hiking all the way up depends on your schedule and energy.

Who Should Hike to the Top

Recommended if:

• It’s your first time visiting Ili
• You haven’t visited Nalati or Kalajun yet
• You enjoy panoramic mountain views
• You have decent physical fitness

Who Can Skip the Full Hike

If you:

• Already visited Nalati or Kalajun
• Have limited time
• Prefer forest scenery
• Don’t want an exhausting climb

Then hiking halfway is already enough.

In fact, many of the best forest scenes appear near the beginning of the trail:

• Fallen trees
• Forest light beams
• Flower-covered grass
• Spruce woodland paths

These spots are incredibly photogenic.

Hiking & Horse Riding

• Hiking: around 30 minutes to 1 hour
• Horse riding: about 80 RMB one way

Many travelers choose horseback rides toward Alang Snow Mountain.

3. Ayousai Viewpoint

The highlight here is the winding S-shaped road cutting through forests and grasslands.

Drone photography works especially well here.

If you bring a drone, this stop is absolutely worth visiting.

Many off-road tours specifically come here for vehicle photography.

4. Back Mountain Grasslands & Alang Snow Mountain

This route is still relatively unknown to most tourists.

A good strategy is driving directly to Bairui Camp early in the morning, then continuing toward the back mountain grasslands.

Compared with crowded viewpoints:

• Far fewer tourists
• More open grasslands
• Closer snow mountain views
• Stronger forest atmosphere

If you have enough energy, you can continue hiking along the horse trail toward Alang Snow Mountain.

Some visitors take horseback tours lasting 3–5 hours, but experienced hikers often walk the route themselves.

Best Photography Timing

A lot of people fail to capture good photos simply because they arrive at the wrong time.

Morning Is Best

Morning sunlight provides:

• Better facial lighting
• Brighter grass colors
• Clearer snow mountain details

Afternoon Lighting Issues

After around 6 PM:

• Strong backlighting appears
• Portrait faces become dark
• Better for landscape shots
• Less suitable for close-up portraits

If you mainly want portrait photography, morning is strongly recommended.

Hidden Photo Spots Most People Miss

Fallen Tree Forest Area

Near the beginning of the Qimengde trail, there are several fallen spruce trees inside the forest.

They create excellent cinematic compositions.

But be careful:
There are many ant nests nearby.

Small Reflection Puddle

On the right side of the trail uphill, the first small puddle is actually better than the large puddle near the summit.

Why?

• Cleaner water
• Better reflections
• Fewer people
• No need to climb all the way up

The large puddle at the top is often muddy.

Kurdening Forest Park

Useful Travel Tips

1. Arrive Early

Try entering before 9 AM.

Traffic becomes extremely heavy in the afternoon, especially during holidays.

2. Bring Supplies

Facilities inside the park are limited.

Bring:

• Water
• Snacks
• Power bank

3. Download Offline Maps

Mountain areas often have poor signal coverage.

Offline maps are highly recommended.

4. Large Day-Night Temperature Difference

Daytime temperatures may reach 20°C, but nights can become very cold.

Bring:

• Windproof jacket
• Light down jacket
• Warm layers

5. Sun Protection Is Essential

Xinjiang UV exposure is extremely strong.

Recommended:

• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Sunscreen

Kurdening vs Qiaxi: Which Is Better?

Many travelers visit both Kurdening and Qiaxi together.

But their styles are actually very different.

Kurdening Is Better For:

• Spruce forests
• Close mountain access
• Fairytale forest atmosphere
• Camping and off-road travel

Qiaxi Is Better For:

• Wide panoramic snow mountains
• Rivers and grasslands
• Open landscapes
• Scenic driving routes

If time is limited:

• Choose Kurdening for forests
• Choose Qiaxi for grand mountain scenery

If possible, both are worth visiting.

Why Off-Road Tours Are Becoming Popular in Ili

Experienced Ili travelers rarely choose large bus tours anymore.

Many of the most beautiful hidden locations simply cannot be reached by normal tourist buses.

Especially around:

• Kurdening
• Qiaxi
• Alang Snow Mountain

Most hidden viewpoints require off-road vehicles.

Popular June tours usually include:

• Kurdening
• Qiaxi
• Nalati
• Sayram Lake
• Duku Highway

Main advantages:

• Access to hidden routes
• Flexible photography stops
• Better sunset chasing
• Stargazing camps
• More freedom for exploration

Many tours now also include:

• Drone filming
• DSLR photography support

Perfect for travelers focused on content creation and photography.

Kurdening Forest Park

Is Kurdening Worth Visiting?

If you ask which place in Ili feels most like a fairytale world, Kurdening is definitely near the top.

Especially in June.

Forests, snow mountains, grasslands, and wildflowers all appear together at their best.

Unlike Nalati or Kalajun, which focus on massive panoramic landscapes, Kurdening’s real charm lies in its quiet and healing forest atmosphere.

Sometimes the best experience isn’t reaching a viewpoint.

It’s simply walking slowly through the forest, sitting quietly on a grassy hillside, and enjoying the calm surroundings.

If you want to avoid crowded tourist hotspots while still capturing incredible scenery, Kurdening absolutely deserves a place on your Ili itinerary.

recommend route：

North Xinjiang 12-Day Small Group Tour | Urumqi, Kanas, Sayram Lake & Duku Highway

Urumqi Altay Kanas Karamay Sayram Lake Zhaosu Tekes Xinyuan Nalati