Kazanqi Quarter

Kazanqi in Yining is a residential quarter of single-storey courtyard houses whose owners paint them in strong colours, blue and turquoise doors and window frames against white or ochre walls, with grape trellises and flowers in the courtyards behind. The name refers to the metalworkers who worked here, and craft workshops remain among the houses. Horse-drawn carriages, called haidiche, still work the lanes as local transport rather than as a tourist attraction alone. Some families open their courtyards for tea and food, and the quarter is at its best simply walked, with the Ili valley's mixed Uyghur, Kazakh, Hui and Russian influences visible in the architecture.

The main sights

• The painted houses - blue and turquoise doors against white walls.
• The courtyards - grape trellises and flowers behind the street walls.
• The horse carriages - haidiche working the lanes as transport.
• The workshops - metalwork and craft trades among the houses.

When to go

April to June and September to October for mild weather and courtyards in leaf; Ili winters are cold and snowy. Ramadan and Eid change the rhythm of the quarter considerably.

Before you go

This is a residential area, not an attraction, and photographing houses or people should be asked first. Some courtyards charge for tea visits. Restoration has smartened parts of it considerably.

Nearby

The Ili lavender fields lie west; Sayram Lake is northeast.