"——A self-driving guide to the Duku Highway!

🌈[About the Duku Highway] The Duku Highway, officially known as the Dushanzi-Kuche section of National Highway 217, is a "heavenly road" connecting Dushanzi in northern Xinjiang and Kuche in southern Xinjiang. It is 561 km long and took 10 years to build, with tens of thousands of soldiers fighting and 168 soldiers sacrificing their lives, which is why it is also known as the "Hero's Road." It crosses the Tianshan Mountains, from grasslands to snow-capped mountains, from canyons to the Gobi Desert, with picturesque scenery along the way, and was voted one of the "most beautiful roads" by China National Geographic. 🚧[Opening Hours] The Duku Highway is only open in summer, from early June to late September, and is closed at other times due to heavy snow. So, if you want to experience this route, make sure you take advantage of this short opening time! 📸[Highlights Along the Way] 🏞️ Dushanzi Grand Canyon: A maze of ravines, like a woodcut print. 🏔️ Haxilegen Daban: Purple-red gravel mountains towering into the clouds. 🌿 Bayinbuluke: The nine bends and eighteen turns on the grassland are breathtakingly beautiful. 🚘 Tielimaiti Daban: A panoramic view after crossing the Central Tianshan Mountains. 🏰 Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon: A deep canyon in the red mountains, mysterious and unpredictable. 🧳[Self-Driving Guide] 🚨 Safety First: As some sections of the Duku Highway are dangerous, you need to be extra careful when driving, and watch out for falling rocks and black ice. 🛣️ Speed and Traffic Restrictions: Most sections have a speed limit of 40 km/h, and buses with more than 7 seats and trucks weighing more than 5 tons are not allowed. 🏨 Rest Stops: It is recommended to stay overnight in Bayinbuluke, don't rush, and take your time to enjoy the scenery along the way. 📸 Parking for Photos: Choose a safe viewing platform or a spacious parking spot, and watch out for oncoming traffic. 🌟[Travel Insights] The Duku Highway is not only a shortcut connecting northern and southern Xinjiang, but also a spiritual baptism. Here, you will experience the vastness of the grasslands, the magnificence of the snow-capped mountains, the depth of the canyons, and the desolation of the Gobi Desert. Every step is a landscape, and every place is a story. This is not just a trip, but a love of life and a reverence for nature.