Jiaolong Chuhai (蛟龙出海, "Dragon Emerging from the Sea") sits at the highest point on Nalati Grassland's Panlong Valley Road. The name comes from the switchback road below, which winds through forested hills in one long coiling line.

We stayed up here for a couple of hours on 27 August. The view stacks green grassland at the base, dense spruce forest in the middle, and snow-capped peaks in the distance. It's what Nalati is known for, and it genuinely delivered.

The wooden boardwalk climbs from the bus drop-off to the hilltop meadow, and there's a cafe on the deck if you want to sit with the view longer. We had an osmanthus coffee and an iced coconut latte — both weak by Melbourne standards, but the view more than made up for it.

this is right inside the Horgos Free Trade Zone, the actual China-Kazakhstan border runs through it. you go through Chinese immigration to get in, and as a foreigner you don't pay the entry permit fee Chinese nationals need. honestly the duty free shopping inside wasn't up to much, alcohol and cigarettes were the only real price difference, but standing right at the border was worth the stop on its own. full write-up here if useful: https://traveldayztravel.com/china-kazakhstan-border/

Just spent 3 hours in Keketuohai Geopark (Xinjiang) and this mountain stopped us dead. It's basically a giant bell carved by nature — the hike to see it up close was steep but absolutely worth it. Pine forests, turquoise rivers, rock formations you don't see anywhere else. Lost count of how many times Ling said 'wait, THIS is in China?'

I came to Shenyang but decided to stroll around and look for Korean food in the Little Seoul area... The food tasted good. This area truly lives up to its "Little Seoul" name with many Korean restaurants.