Park of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (ninth batch) |
| Province | Xinjiang |
| Name | Tomur Grand Canyon |
| Highlights | Red sandstone canyon, Salt Valley, southern foot of the Tianshan |
| Top sights | Tomur Grand Canyon, Salt Valley, main and branch valleys |
| Location | Bozidun Kyrgyz Township, Wensu County, Aksu, Xinjiang |
| Area | 752 sq km |
| Nearby cities | Ürümqi |
| Nearby sites | Sayram Lake 332km Search nearby |
| Mountains | Tianshan Mountains |
| Latitude, longitude | 41.85, 80.45 Google Maps |
| Themes | Canyon, Cliff |
About
Tomur Grand Canyon (托木尔大峡谷风景名胜区) is a national park of China (ninth batch, designated by the State Council in 2017), located in Bozidun Kyrgyz Township, Wensu County, Aksu, Xinjiang.
The area is in the northwest of Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture, western Xinjiang, on the southern slopes of the Tianshan, in the Bozidun Kyrgyz Township area. It centres on the Tomur Grand Canyon (known locally as the Kudulouke Canyon, also called the Wensu Mysterious Grand Canyon), with the Tomur Peak region of the Tianshan to the north.
The canyon is cut in red sandstone and conglomerate and has 2 main valleys, 12 branches and many smaller side valleys, with steep walls; the most characteristic is the Salt Valley, where salt-bearing rock layers can be seen. The scenic area is next to the Tomur section of the Xinjiang Tianshan World Heritage site.
Travel tips
About 30 minutes from Aksu city to Wensu, then northwest along National Highway 314, about 2 hours to the canyon. Half a day to a full day is enough. Summer and autumn suit best. The canyon is dry and exposed, so bring water and a hat, and avoid the gorges when it rains because of flash floods.
Photo credits: Tomur Grand Canyon, Xinjiang: landagent (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)