The Unforgettable Beauty of Xia Ta: A Must-Visit in Xinjiang
Before I went to Xinjiang, I came across a bunch of "avoid pitfalls" posts about Summer Tower: two-hour waits, bad weather ruining everything, horse manure mud pits that make you want to turn back... To be honest, I had already crossed it off my itinerary. But then, I stumbled upon some lavender shots from Zhaosu, and my heart softened, so I squeezed Summer Tower back into my plans. Little did I expect, this "saved" Summer Tower would end up being my TOP 1 experience in Xinjiang, knocking off places like Nalati, Kuerdening, Karajun, and Sailimu Lake. Below is my live report and a breakdown guide for friends like me who want to "avoid pitfalls and just enjoy."
My Live Experience
What does Summer Tower even look like? Beautiful in an unbelievable way
On May 20th at 8:50 AM, I took a taxi for an hour from Zhaosu County to the Summer Tower scenic area entrance. The sunlight was just hitting the mountain peaks, and the snow-capped mountains looked like they were covered in cream. The shuttle bus rocked us all the way to the transfer bridge, and as soon as I got off, I was completely stunned: the snow mountain loomed at the end of the village path, and a quick snap was like a desktop wallpaper.
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A 3 km hike actually turns out to be the most comfortable part
The official distance from the transfer bridge to General Bridge is 3 km, but I took a bunch of shepherd’s paths along the way. In May, the grass was already sprouting little yellow flowers, so snapping photos along the way took about 50 minutes. A few tips:
- Definitely bring shoe covers! The grass patches are full of cow and horse poop; don't think you can tiptoe around it.
- If you want to take pictures, don’t hesitate to carry a small tripod to stick in the dirt; it allows you to capture the entire flower sea together with the snow mountains.
The fork in the road after General Bridge: Riding a horse feels like being normal, but walking turns you into a mud monkey
Once you cross the bridge, there’s an unfinished boardwalk to the left and a horse path to the right. I witnessed two dudes walking in, and 10 minutes later, they returned covered in mud... seriously, don’t push it.
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I quickly registered with the horse team; by 9 AM only a few horses were lined up, 80/hour, and a round trip cost 160, locking in a spot at the fourth house. Along the way, the snow mountains were magnified right in my face, the sound of horses’ hooves hitting the snowy water was super soothing, and after 1.5 hours, I reached a small slope in front of the fourth house: the left side had a glacier tongue hanging down like jelly, while the right had a glacial river bursting with shattered blue ice, and I felt a cold rush straight to the top of my head.
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Tips for You: How Not to Be Discouraged by Summer Tower
1. Weather = Lifeline
The beauty of Summer Tower's snow mountains is totally dependent on the sunshine. The microclimate in Zhaosu Valley is tricky, it can be sunny in the morning and turn gray in the afternoon, so don’t gamble:
- You need to take the first shuttle bus by 8:30.
- Stay in Zhaosu County the night before, and taxi/share ride directly to the scenic area in the morning, which takes about 50 minutes to an hour.
2. Hiking or Horseback Riding? A Quick Table
| Route | Distance | Surface | Time Reference | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer Bridge → General Bridge | 3 km | Wooden Boardwalk + Dirt Road + Small Paths | 50-60 min | Hiking is the best, just bring shoe covers |
| General Bridge → First House | 2.5 km | Mud + Horse Manure | 40 min / 1 h on horseback | Ride a horse |
| First House → Fourth House | 3 km | Earth + Rocky Slopes | 1.5 h on horseback | Must ride a horse, walking is a struggle |
Remember: there are only about 200 horses, after noon, the waiting line starts becoming over 1 hour, so the earlier, the better.
3. Plan for a Full Day
If you want to have a great time, be prepared for 6 hours or more:
- 8:30 AM arrive at the scenic area entrance
- 8:50 AM board the first shuttle bus
- 9:30 AM start hiking (Transfer Bridge → General Bridge)
- 10:30 AM ride a horse from General Bridge
- 12:00 PM take photos + have a picnic at the Fourth House
- 1:00 PM ride back
- 2:30 PM take the shuttle back to the entrance
If it’s cloudy or if your plan is less than 6 hours, just give it up; don’t regret that 160 yuan horse ticket; the energy you save will be counterattacked by the cold winds and negative vibes.
4. Preparedness Checklist (Tested and Simplified)
- Lightweight raincoat: it can turn into a fridge in the afternoon
- Shoe covers/disposable rain shoe covers: saves your shoes
- Energy gels/small bread: no supplies for a 5-hour round trip
- Foldable storage bag: the horse team doesn’t like your big bags bumping into the horses
- A small amount of cash: shuttle tickets can be scanned, but sometimes the horse team only accepts cash
Lastly, a reminder: Summer Tower really depends on perfect timing and conditions. As long as it’s sunny, early, and there are enough horses, it’s the ultimate highlight of your Xinjiang trip. If you ever see it trending again, don’t hesitate; just follow my timeline and go for it—the snow mountains won’t disappoint those who rise early.