Duku Highway
The Duku Highway winds across the Tianshan like a giant dragon. This 561-km road linking northern and southern Xinjiang traverses towering mountains and ridges, cuts through deep valleys,…
Duku Highway, Ili
Key facts
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 867. Open in Google Maps
About Duku Highway
The Duku Highway winds across the Tianshan like a giant dragon. This 561-km road linking northern and southern Xinjiang traverses towering mountains and ridges, cuts through deep valleys, and connects many ethnic minority communities. It winds over peaks and snowy mountains, with magnificent, beautiful scenery all along the way. The road is itself the destination, and drivers can also enjoy the thrill of the drive. There are plenty of parking spots along the route for stopping to admire the view and take photos.
Tips from the guidebook
- The Duku Highway is open for only about four months each year, from late May or early June to mid-October. The Dushanzi–Nalati section is very dangerous, so drive with great care and avoid driving at night where possible.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Duku Highway?
Duku Highway is in Ili, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in the Northwest of China.
More places in Ili
Tekes Bagua City
The world's only fully preserved Bagua City, and it has no traffic lights. Its streets radiate in a circular, octagonal layout, forming a maze-like network where every road connects to the next. The city also offers rich folk customs, a deep history and beautiful natural scenery, including the well-preserved Wusun ancient tomb complex, the site of the 'summer capital' of the Wusun Kingdom, grassland stone statues, ancient rock paintings and rock wind caves.
Free · 0.5–1 day
Ili Flower Viewing
Zhaosu Rapeseed Flowers: On the open Zhaosu Grassland lies the largest rapeseed field in China. Every July, golden rapeseed flowers and sunflowers bloom in full, adding a romantic and picturesque touch to the grassland.
Viewing lavender from the road requires no ticket; entering the fields to take photos costs ¥5–10 paid to the farmer; the Princess Jieyou Lavender Garden is sold separately, ¥35 in peak season and ¥17 in off-season; free · 2–3 hours
Tangbula Grassland
A collective name for the valley grassland scenery along the upper reaches of the Kashi River, a natural landscape combining forest, grassland, rapids and rock formations. The area has many sights; it is said to contain 113 gullies, each with its own character. The famous film 'Red Flowers of the Tianshan' was partly shot here.
3–4 hours
Nalati Scenic Area
Nalati Grassland sits on a major transport route between northern and southern Xinjiang and is one of the four great alpine river-valley grasslands in the world. It has long been a famous pasture. Here you can enjoy the distinctive grassland scenery of the Western Regions and immerse yourself in the rich, rustic folk culture of the Kazakh people; many of the region's gatherings are held here.
Hiking entry ¥95; shuttle bus ¥24–40; customised self-drive tour ¥300 per person · 1–2 days
Kalajun Grassland
Kalajun Grassland lies along the northern route of the ancient Silk Road in China and preserves the grassland's original ecology. It is an important part of the 'Xinjiang Tianshan' and was inscribed as a World Natural Heritage Site in 2013. Across the boundless grassland, tall, lush Schrenk spruces stand in rows, and the distant ranges of the Tianshan rise in layered, distinct profiles, creating a lofty and expansive atmosphere. Galloping across the wide horizon will leave you feeling wonderfully free!
Whole-area pass ¥275 · 1–2 days
Guozigou Valley
Also known as Talaqi Valley, this 28-km-long gorge has long been an important gateway linking the Central Plains with Central Asia and Europe. Even today, the Wuyi Highway between Lake Sayram, Bole and Yining still runs through Guozigou. The valley takes its name from the many wild apple trees growing in its mountains. When Genghis Khan campaigned westward, he passed through here and had 48 plank roads built; during the Qing dynasty, 42 bridges were built on the old route. The road winds and turns, and the scenery is unrivalled: sharp peaks rise on both sides, mountain streams murmur, and pine forests and pastures spread across the slopes. Even if you pass through quickly by bus, you will feel as though you have turned straight onto the road to paradise.
2–3 hours