Gongliu County, Xinjiang: a charming area hidden among mountains and rivers

Most people who have lived in Xinjiang for a long time are no strangers to Gongliu County under the jurisdiction of Ili Prefecture. When talking about Kurdenin, many people can't help but express their inner admiration: it is simply a fairyland on earth, with magnificent and spectacular scenery. But they didn’t know that Kurdenin was located in Gongliu County and was not part of Xinyuan County. I think that both Nalati Grassland and Kurdening should be part of the Bayinbulak Grassland. Because they belong to different administrative regions, each has its own name.

The place name of Gongliu County comes from the manuscript record of "Gongliu County Chronicle" during the Republic of China. At that time, the area was vast and it was named "Gongjis, Tekestalius..." and later it was under construction. When the county was established, it was named "Gongliu" by taking the two characters before and after the old name, which means "consolidating and lasting". In the Kazakh language, it means "Togusta Rao" (meaning nine tributaries, meaning numerous river tributaries). Whether in Mongolian or Uyghur language, it is the place with the most river tributaries.

In the pre-Qin era, the ancient Ili Sese people lived in Gongliu County. From the Han Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty, it was the territory of the Yueshi and Wusun Kingdoms. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was the territory of the Western Turks. After that, it was the nomadic land of ethnic groups in various eras. The county was officially established in the Republic of China and continues to this day. The topography and topography of Ili Prefecture determine the uniqueness of this area. It has created a long humanistic history in the valleys, rivers, and grasslands.

Wherever the ancients lived, they would definitely choose to live in areas with mountains and water. Because water is the source of life, human civilization is also the civilization of rivers. The Yili River Valley, including the 41 large and small rivers in Gongliu County, are places where humans thrive. Gongliu County, which accounts for nearly 70% of the mountainous area, is located in the middle of the Ili Valley, on the south side of the upper reaches of the Ili River, at the northern foot of Nalati Mountain, a branch of the Tianshan Mountains, and is surrounded by Xinyuan County, Nilek County, Yining County, and Qabcha County respectively. It is adjacent to Er County, Tekes County and Hejing County in Bazhou. It can be seen that these areas are ancient places where human beings depend for survival and are rich in humanities.

In this mysterious area, Gongliu County has vast four-season grasslands, most of which are high-quality grasslands with rich water and grass, and its humanities and nature are particularly unique. The forest resources here are also very rich. The forests, seas and snowfields are home to treasures and there are many rare species of animals and plants, some of which are the best in the world. Gongliu County has famous scenic spots such as the West Tianshan National Nature Reserve, Walnut Nature Reserve, Tikkalagayi Forest Sea, Hecang Canyon Waterfall, Kurdening Scenic Area, Crowling Immortal Wall, etc.

Since there are many cultural and natural landscapes, Gongliu County must be an area where ancient humans gathered. From rock paintings to many ancient tombs such as the Sarbu Group and the Iligedai Ancient Tombs, it can be seen that Gongliu County not only has a rich history, but is also an area with frequent human activities in ancient times.

A large number of cultural relics have been unearthed in Gongliu County, including stone tools, bronzes and other historical relics, which further prove the history of this area. For example, two bronze bells unearthed in Qiaxi and Tastobie Townships, with bulging bellies at the mouth of the garden, are about 50 centimeters high, decorated with patterns and bird and animal patterns on the outside, and have superb casting techniques. They are cultural relics from the Warring States Period to the Western Han Dynasty and are now in the collection of the museum. At the Yili Prefecture Museum.

Facing Gongliu County, I cannot express the charm of this area in detailed words. Only by personally witnessing the cultural and natural landscape and rich history in Gongliu County, I think everyone will Marvel at this area hidden between mountains and rivers. After all, the mountains, rivers, plants and trees here, all year round, tell the world everything about Gongliu County.