In the Mongolian language, “Nalati” means “place where the sun emerges.” Legend has it that during Genghis Khan’s western expedition, a legion of Mongolian troops who were advancing from the deep Tianshan Mountains to Ili became plagued by hunger and chilling temperatures brought by high-altitude winds on the snowy mountain. When they finally reached the apex of the mountain, they were surprised to see a vast prairie below them, sated with blooming flowers, bubbling springs, and crystal clear streams. Suddenly, the clouds parted and the sun emerged, inspiring shouts of “Nalati!” from the soldiers, and the name stuck.

Nalati Grassland averages an elevation of 1,800 meters above sea level, making it a typical sub-alpine meadow located at the eastern end of the Ili River Valley in the heart of the Tianshan Mountains. Towering above it amongst the clouds is the perpetually snow-covered Kabanbayi Peak, and just below is the torrential Gongnaisi River, twisting through the mountain valley like a dynamic blue ribbon. Nalati is often hidden in the clouds, so it is nicknamed “air grassland.”

Nalati has been famous since ancient times for its weaving rivers, wide valleys, precipitous peaks, and lush forests. Its colors peak in June, when a rainbow of wildflowers bloom to adorn the seemingly endless sea of green grass, and herds of cattle and sheep arrive to graze amongst simple nomadic dwellings (yurts). Smoke swirls from the yurts as locals cook, curling into the clouds and mist blanketing the mountains. During this prime season, residents hold various cultural and sporting events in the meadows, infused with Kazak ethnic folk customs. At the annual horseracing pageant, visitors can cheer at traditional competitions such as horseracing, sheep catching, girl chasing, and wrestling, while the Kazak people serenade the audience with their unique Aken ballads. Some tourists are even lucky enough to witness a local horseback wedding.

Nalati Grassland is home to 10 percent of the Kazak people in China. Well-preserved traditional Kazak culture, combined with the breathtaking landscapes and diverse folk customs make this destination a popular tourist spot. The white yurts dotting the green mountainsides and riverbanks serve as homes to Kazak herders, who have inhabited the grassland for thousands of years. Although the grassland has evolved into a tourist resort, Kazak nomadic customs still prevail. All Kazak homes, for example, still raise falcons. When tourists drop by, the bird will pose for photography, but remains a more practical pet as an assistant to hunters scouting for foxes and rabbits. In April 2005, Nalati Grassland was named by Shanghai Great World DSJJNS as the “grassland with the largest Kazak population in China.”