Ili Ili River,Ili He

Ili River, one of the largest mountain rivers in Xinjiang, has its source in eastern Mt. Tianshan. The Kashi, Kongnaiz, and Terks Rivers are three branches of the Ili. Waters converging on the Chinese mainland, running 205 km from east to west, shape the main course of the 1500 km long Ili. The river’s upper reaches in China flows into the Kazakstan Republic through the outlet of the Korgas River and eventually empties into Balkashi Lake.

The Ili River and its tributaries are teeming with fish. In summer, the water runoff is 150 – 250 cubic meters per second. The river freezes at the end of November, and begins to thaw in early April. Previous logistical difficulties to travel to the Ili River have now been made easier with the Yemadu Bridge, Kalatamu Bridge and Ili River Bridge, 16 kilometers southwest of Yining City, making the natural moat a thoroughfare.