Cycling in Asia: Our Ili River Valley Adventure

Join us on a 6-day adventure through the stunning Ili River Valley in Xinjiang. We’ll be cycling through breathtaking landscapes, while two friends enjoy a leisurely exploration. Our goal is to experience the beauty and culture of Xinjiang, whether on two wheels or on foot. Welcome to our journey!
June 4 Day 1: We've arrived in Yining, the capital of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. Today, we set up our bikes, review the itinerary and prepare for the adventure ahead. Excitement is in the air!Let's go!
June 5 Day 2: We started with a 3-hour drive from Yining to Tekes. Then, we hit the road on our bikes, heading to Qiongkushitai, while our two friends had a private van with stops at all places. It's incredible to be in Kazakh Nomads' land. We covered 81.5 km with an elevation gain of 1900 meters. It was a challenging first day of riding!
June 6 Day 3: The way back to Tekes was the same, but not as difficult as yesterday. Maybe we already got accustomed to the altitude and mountains. Two friends visited the Karajon Grassland National Park. The day ended beautifully with a refreshing treat of watermelon upon our arrival at the hotel in Tekes.
June 7 Day 4: A glass of fresh morning milk made today's 90 km journey to Ku'erdening very relaxing and enjoyable. We took a long break by the Tekes River and enjoyed each other's company. The first half of the ride was flat, while the rest was hilly. We arrived just in time to catch the perfect sunset.
June 8 Day 5: Sven aimed to complete the full 227 km from Ku'erdening to Yining, but I decided to ride only 120 km. Tracy and ChenGong planned to visit another scenic park. In the end, we all achieved our goals. Our Ili River Valley adventure came to a perfect conclusion.
June 9 Day 6: Today, we head home, reflecting on our incredible journey through the Ili River Valley. We're grateful for the experiences and friendships. Until next time!
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