Tianshan Grand Canyon
The mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon, also known as Keziliya Grand Canyon, is a canyon in Keziliya Mountain (a branch of Tianshan Mountain) which was formed under the action of wind and rain force. Keziliya in Uygur means red cliff. Located in the north of Kucha County of Aksu District, Tianshan Grand Canyon is as long as 5.5 kilometers from east to west with an average altitude of 1600 meters. The red brown mountain groups of Tianshan Grand Canyon with different shapes climb strange to the sky, like burning fires in sun. The mouth of Tianshan Grand Canyon is broad but the path winds along mountain ridges in deep ravines. Some places are too narrow to pass through. The bottom of the canyon is relatively smooth with towering cliffs on both sides and fine sand or shoal water in the road. The peaks in the canyon are colorful and in strange shapes, like stone forests and stone carving: pink, dark green, light yellow, grey, moon white, etc. There is another canyon 700 meters away from Tianshan Grand Canyon.
The astonishing Tianshan Grand Canyon is grand, rugged, quite and fantastic. It is a rare dry land natural scenic spot. Comprised of a series of huge red brown mountain groups, Tianshan Grand Canyon is like a fairy gallery. Inside the canyon, it is warm in winter and cold in summer. The path winds along mountain ridges, forming diversified sceneries. Up to now, there has been 42 attractions in Tianshan Grand Canyon. In the left ridge, there is a thousand-Buddha cave of Tang Dynasty where the paintings are clear, colorful and vivid, which was rare to see in ancient West Regions. What attract people most is the steepness and mystery of Tianshan. Standing at the bottom of the canyon and looking up to the high mountains, you may feel the steep ridges and peaks might fall down any time.
A mysterious ancient Aai Grotto was inferred to be built in early Tang Dynasty. Characters of Han nationality was found inside the cave, which is quite different from other grottoes in West Region areas, fully displaying the trace of Han culture. There is one mountain rock whose shape is like Tang Seng (Tang Sanzang), Pigsy and Sha Seng waiting for Monkey Sun (the four characters are from the novel "Journey to the West"), named "Master and Apprentice Peak".