In Yumin, linger in the sea of flowers in May
.... Sometimes we are so strange, turning a blind eye to the ordinary beauty around us, but prefer to travel thousands of miles in search of fleeting youth. Perhaps as Sanmao said, we don’t love flower gardens, but what we love are the wild flowers that grow with the changing seasons in the wilderness and the feeling of the breeze blowing across the earth.
The first time I came to Turgaliao Grassland to see mountain flowers was 6 years ago, which gave me another glimpse of the vastness and loftiness of the northern Xinjiang grassland. This May, we came to Yumin twice, just to see the most beautiful mountain flowers in the best season.
? ..Balluk Mountain means "rich and abundant" in Chinese. The continuous green hills rise to the horizon, canyons and wide hills are adjacent to each other, and are covered with low and dense vegetation, forming a The beautiful natural pasture is no less than the famous Ili Grassland.
In order to develop tourism, Tacheng has begun to promote the "Mountain Flower Festival" and "Safflower Festival" activities in recent years. The "Mountain Flower Festival" focuses on wild peony, which blooms in early May every year and spreads into a sea of red flowers. Because the flowering period only lasts for about ten days, it is wild and natural, which is particularly eye-catching. The "Safflower Festival" involves the artificial planting of safflowers on the grassland, which is both ornamental and commercial, further promoting summer and autumn tourism.
....The weather forecast was for rain the next day, so we decided to get to Peony Valley before the sun went down. However, beyond the hills, at the end of the line of sight, a graceful body of water invites us to stop and stop. It is the lakeside where the poet Li Bai was born, and was originally the Ala Lake in China. I don’t know whether it’s the reflection of the floating clouds in the sky or the extension of the grassland under my feet. In my eyes, the water and sky of Lake Ala are the same color, mysterious and ethereal, friendly and distant. I can’t stop talking, quietly leaning against the Barluk Mountain, and looking at the Turgaliao grassland in the distance. , draw a landscape painting that will never fade.
After overlooking Ala Lake for a while, we saw that the sun was about to set. We drove on and saw a flash of red peonies on the green hillside on the roadside, which convinced us that the flowering season was just right; suddenly we turned into In a long and narrow valley, peonies blooming in patches came into view. We were so surprised that we almost jumped for joy.
It was evening, there were few tourists, and the valley was quiet. We enjoyed a sea of flowers to ourselves. We were busy recording this blooming flower feast with our eyes and camera, fearing that the splendor would be fleeting. The afterglow of the setting sun casts a layer of golden gauze, and red peonies spread freely on the green mountains and green fields. Purple or yellow wild flowers dotted them. The flower branches swayed by the breeze, and the grassland that was originally like a static screen saver suddenly became colorful. Life flows.
It wasn’t until the sunset that we reluctantly left Shaoyao Valley and stayed overnight in the small courtyard of the Corps’ family at the foot of the “Little Baiyang” post. As dusk fell, our barbecue continued, reliving the pastoral fun of our childhood while looking up at the long-lost stars.
? .....Although we come here to find flowers, we cannot ignore the delicious food and customs. Transferring to Tacheng, we visited the China-Kazakhstan Border Trade Market, which specializes in various products from Kazakhstan. It has a wider range of products than those at Baktu Port, with high quality, low prices, and no fakes. We accidentally discovered a handmade ice cream shop next to the hotel where we were staying. , tastes mellow, sweet and sour, and the price is gratifying; I came here to see the lamb leg bread. Not only do you need to book it in advance, but you cannot take it away. It is suitable for baking on site and eating while it is hot.
In short, this thousand-mile journey to find flowers was a happy one, and I can’t help but secretly look forward to the next season’s Red Flower Festival.