A herdsman rides on a horse in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Zhihao)
URUMQI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds.
In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals.
Photo taken on Jan. 26, 2022 shows a herdsmen's house in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
Herdsmen herd sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
Veterinarians make a round of visits in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
A veterinarian makes a round of visits in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
Aerial photo taken on Jan. 25, 2022 shows herdsmen herding sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
Aerial photo taken on Jan. 25, 2022 shows the Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
A herdsmen family have breakfast at home in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)
Children play at home in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
Veterinarians talk to a herdsman during a round of visits in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)
A woman makes tea at home in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
Aerial photo taken on Jan. 26, 2022 shows the Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
A herdsman herds sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)
Photo taken on Jan. 24, 2022 shows sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Li Zhihao)
A veterinarian makes a round of visits in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)
A herdsmen family have breakfast at home in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
Aerial photo taken on Jan. 25, 2022 shows herdsmen herding sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
Two children play around their house in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)■
