Walk Hong Kong : Yili Old Town, Yili (Ili, Yining), Xinjiang

Yili Old Town in Xinjiang refers to the Kazanqi Folk Tourism Area in Yining (Ghulja), known for its vibrant Uyghur culture, colorful traditional houses with intricate carvings, historic mosques, tea houses, and bustling ethnic atmosphere, offering a glimpse into the Silk Road's past with rich local food, music, and dance. It's a key cultural part of the larger Yili region, famous for its stunning natural scenery like grasslands and lavender fields, making it a cultural and natural gem in western Xinjiang.

A living museum showcasing Uyghur traditions, architecture, and daily life. Traditional Uyghur dwellings with unique designs and decorative elements. Explore ancient streets, visit mosques (like the Shaanxi Hui Grand Mosque), enjoy local performances, try ethnic foods, and experience cultural photo opportunities in traditional attire. Situated in the Yili River Valley, part of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, near Yining city.

The Yili Accordion Museum is located on Liuxing Street in Yining City, within the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. It is a cultural landmark known for its extensive collection of accordions and its role in preserving local musical heritage.

The museum is situated in the historical Liuxing Street, an area known for its unique hexagonal layout and multi-ethnic community, where the sound of accordions is a common feature. The museum houses more than 800 accordions of various styles and sizes, collected from over 20 countries, including Russia, Germany, Italy, and Ukraine. The instruments were primarily collected over forty years by Alexander Sergeevich Zazulin, an ethnic Russian local and a recognized inheritor of the Russian bayan accordion intangible heritage. He donated his entire collection to the museum for free. Visitors can view the vast collection and often enjoy live performances by a local multi-ethnic accordion band. The museum aims to pass on the love of accordion music to future generations. The museum, established with investment from the Yining municipal government in 2019, serves as a unique tourist destination and a center for cultural exchange and development.

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