Xinjiang Ancient Ecological Park is a scenic area invested and founded by Xinjiang Yema Cultural Development. Established in 2005, this park covers an area of 200 mu. Most visitors are locals.
The park gathers rare and precious natural relics and cultural essence of the ancient Silk Road : Akhal-teke Horse Base, Ancient Petrified Woods, Millenium Populus Euphratica Forest, Black Iron Meteoric, Folk Custom Garden, Yema Art Gallery, which integrate as a unique and stunning picture scroll.
We were more excited to see the Akhal-teke Horse (汗血宝马). But before you enter the horse camp, you need to pass through the ancient woods and meteorites irons. Chairman Mao Zedong Statue was seen decorated somewhere in the park.
Petrified Wood
Petrified Wood also known as stone tree is a type of fossil formed from a dead tree. Or we understand it as ‘wood turned into stone’ which took million years to form.
Millennium Populus Euphratica Forest
Meteorite Stones
Black Iron Meteoric Stream it remain of a meteor which fell on the earth in Ice Age and it called “Lucky Stone” by people. Meteorites show here which are mainly distributed in Altai region are iron meteorites.
Artifact Deco
Pixiu has no anus!
Pixiu is known by the West as ‘Chimera’; a powerful protector of Feng Shui. Looks like lion and people who are into business love pixiu. They believe Pixiu has a large open mounth which grabs money and keeps it safe. One interesting fact about this mythical creature is that it has no anus. The money goes in will never come out. Hence businessmen love to display pixiu in front of their business building hoping to grab as much momey as possible and never let go any.
Deer Stones
About the deer stone, some people said that it is totem-pole for ancestors and horse fastening pile for the immortal, while someone believed that it is the male’s penis. With a long-standing history, the deer stone could trace to 3000 years ago. The deer stone mainly scatters in Outer Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, the Altai Mountains of Xinjiang and almost the whole Eurasian grassland through Central Asia. People use the deer stone to worship, commemorate their belief and holy things. Every time famine occurred, ancestors would get together to the deer stone to pray.
Akhal-teke Horses Base /汗血宝马
Chinese Akhal-teke Horses Base has 89 adult horses and 8 newly born horses. These horse are beautiful, noble and amazing and they receive high praises from tourists and become a mysterious and beautiful landscape in this scenic spot.
The Akhal-teke/汗血宝马 is a horse breed from Turkmenistan. They have a reputation for speed and endurance and intelligence. You will notice the breed is very tall and huge. The total amount is very rare, about 3,100 horses in the world.
Akhal-teke skin is thinner and when they run, the blood flows easily in the blood vessels, hence it is called “Sweat Blood Precious Horse”/ 汗血宝马. It gives an illusion of “blood bleeding” after the run.
You can feed these horse here in the stable but beware of these animals as they aren’t tame. They seems very agitated being held in the stable and I guess they want to have some freedom.
These horses here appear to be very sad. They certainly look different from the ordinary horses that we see in the grassland.
Akhal-teke special characteristic
Akhal-Teke is also best-known for it fine and silky hair which gives a special metallic sheen to any color.
The appearance is unique, they are tall and the head are quite long and seem under nourish. The ears tend to be upright and expressive. The neck is set high and quite straight on the shoulders.
Wild Horse – Grandfather of the horses
Beside having Akhal-teke species, you also see ‘wild horse’ in this horse camp. Wild horse is know as Equus ferus and even more precious than Akhal-teke horse /汗血宝马 species. Wild horse are considered to be the immediate ancestor of the family horse. Their characteristics are closer to the prehistoric anscestors of horses than to domesticated horses. They look very small but stocky have a short neck, short back, stubby legs and thin tail base and short mane and forelock.
There are several activities that you can do with horses, one of them is the sit in the Cinderella horse carriage and travel one round in the park. Certainly not with the wild horses as they are not domesticated.
Final thoughts :
There are several interesting things found in Xinjiang Ancient Ecological Park, such as million years Woods & Black Iron Meteoric from space & Akhal-teke Horse Base camp where you can see these precious horses in different colors in shinning coat. Akhal-teke horses /汗血宝马 do look different from ordinary horses. You learn a lot about ancient horse culture in this park.
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35 comments
I had never realized the depth of ancient horse culture in China. China is on my ten year plan. I’ll be sure to check this park out. 🙂
Dear Deb,
I learn quite a fair bit from this horse camp. You get to see different type of ancient horses and truly unique and aren’t those horses you seen in the farm if you observe carefully.
I love horses. No matter how wild it is I can tame them easily. I loved the statues. It is indeed a lovely place.
Dear Monidipa,
Not sure you can tame these ‘wild horses’ easily as these are not domesticated.
Wow, this looks like an amazing place to visit. I would love to touch the petrified wood and the black stones. You’ve given us a great write up!
Dear Azlin,
The black stones is the Meteorite stone from space.
I’m not much into horses, but the stone trees look fascinating. I’ve never seen anything like that before
Dear Laura,
Petrified wood is millions of years old, making each piece incredibly antique and unique. Yema cultural center here spend a fortune to purchase these petrified wood back to this museum.
This seems like such a unique place to spend a day. I want to visit China via Trans-Siberian Rail. Hopefully soon.
Dear Anindiantraveler,
I have never tried the Trans-Siberian Rail yet and what a great way to explore China using that route. Hope you have a successful travel.
I love this! Horses are a kind of big back in Maryland, USA (as we have an island full of small wild horses). I would check out this Chinese park for the horses!
I smiled reading the legend of pixiu and why is the reason why businessmen like it. You can see from your photos the almost metallic color of the horses. They look so well taken care of.
I have never been to China but with this write up I am so going to visit this park.
Everything looks so amazing
Dear Eken,
This ancient ecological park has plenty of treasure from wood, stone to horses.
Meteorite Stones is interesting part, I didn’t know before.
Dear Mahmud,
The ecological park here has big collection of meteorite stones which is quite interesting to see.
beautiful park. Some of the horses look real! would keep it in mind when we travel to China
Dear Sinjanag,
The horses are endangered and only limited numbers in the world. Observe carefully and they do look different from farm horses.
I have always wanted to visit China. I’ll definitely have to keep this park in mind if I ever visit China someday!
Very interesting! This park has some really cool sculptures!
Wow I’ve never seen anything like this place. Looks like an awesome place to visit
Dear Angelica,
It was my first experience to see so many meteorite stones and petrified woods. I heard about metorite stone but never imagine I could see it in real life in this park. But my favorite is still the Akhal-teke and wild horse camp base. These endanger horses do look stunning and beautiful. Totally different from the domesticated horses in the farm.
Those horses are stunningly gorgeous and appear to be well looked after. I kind of feel sorry for them having to drag that cinderella carriage around 🙂
Dear Nancie,
I feel sorry for the horses that was kept in the stable. I hope these endangered horses can come out more and run around.
The eco park looks lovely! Perfect to spend time with family. Everything looks so welcoming, I bet it was sad to leave!
Wow, it looks like a nice place to visit and how fascinating to see and touch that stone tree. I can feel how happy and excited you are in exploring this place, it so beautiful!
Dear Racheal,
The meteorite stone displayed at the ecological parks are very precious and expensive. However I am surprised that they places these meteorite outdoor and not indoor.
Looks like a great place to visit. I’ll definitely go here one day with my family. Will be saving this! Next trip into here.
Very interesting! Looks like a great place to visit. Thanks for sharing.
Looks like an amazing park! Really want to go there someday…
I love horses and I had a few when I was younger because I love to ride. I am amazed at how anatomy of horses enables them to make so fast and they have a well-developed sense of balance. I have learned so much about the ancient horse culture in China from your post and the horse camp.
Everyone knows the way to my heart is horses! I love them and riding them is so much fun! I’d own one if I could.
Dear Lisa,
Glad to learn that you love riding horses 🙂 I have never ride a horse in my life but love to check out these beauty in this park.
What a great views and artifacts! I always want to visit China, but still not sure where part of China that I want to visit.
Dear Mariam,
First timer of China, usually go to visit Beijing where you can see thousands years of history of China. Shanghai would give you a more recent history of hundreds years old. Ancient Ecological in Urumqi is in Xinjiang, a north west province in China. Xinjiang has total different experience. Well, China is just too big to explore.