Tianlai Jiayi Scenic Area is located in Jiayi Village, Yiqiairike Town, Xinhe County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area has distinctive features and is the most locally characteristic heritage site for traditional folk handmade musical instrument production in Xinjiang. Its musical instrument-making technique has been included in the national intangible cultural heritage list. Inside the scenic area stands a statue of an elderly man playing a musical instrument, 21 meters high and 56 meters wide, symbolizing the great unity of 56 ethnic groups. The camel design beside it represents the Silk Road. The tourist reception center in the scenic area contains a sand table at a scale of 1:10000, covering all tourism resources of Xinhe County.
History and Culture
Xinhe County has a long history and is rich in cultural heritage. It was a flourishing area of ancient Qiuci. As early as the second year of Yuanding in the Western Han Dynasty (115 BC), after Zhang Qian's second mission to the Western Regions, exchanges between ancient Qiuci and the Central Plains became increasingly close. After the opening of the Silk Road, the Kingdom of Qiuci became a vital hub for economic trade and cultural exchange between East and West. Multiple ethnic groups, religions, and cultures converged and blended here, forming the distinctive Qiuci culture. During the Han and Tang dynasties, Xinhe was already a political, economic, cultural, and military center of the Western Regions, and has long been known as "the ancient land of Qiuci, the White Horse Ancient River, the Protectorate of the Eastern Han, the chief town of Anxi, and the thousand-year Xinhe."
Jiayi Village also has a fairly long history. More than 300 years ago, the ancestors dug canals to divert water and opened up wasteland here, gradually forming a village. At present, the village has 299 households, of which 106 are engaged in musical instrument making, with the longest family tradition passed down through six or seven generations. The folk musical instrument making of Jiayi Village and the ethnic song and dance of Tashairike Township both belong to the "Qiuci music and dance" cultural system, and are a highlight of the folk art of Xinhe County.
Main Attractions
Handmade Musical Instrument Industrial Park
This is the core area of the scenic area, concentrating the display of the production techniques and processes of various ethnic musical instruments. Tourists can watch craftsmen's production procedures such as selecting, chiseling, carving, and engraving at close range, and learn about the production mysteries of instruments such as the dutar, tanbur, and rawap.
Lexiang Jiayi Farmhouse
It provides dining and leisure services with local characteristics. Tourists can taste delicious food here while enjoying local ethnic song and dance performances and experiencing rich folk customs.
Jiayi Courtyard
It preserves the style of traditional Uygur dwellings. Tourists can experience the local way of life here and feel the charm of traditional culture.
Folk Check-in Points
Distributed throughout the scenic area, they contain unique folk cultural elements, such as traditional architectural styles and decorative patterns. They provide good places for tourists to take photos as souvenirs and allow tourists to gain an in-depth understanding of local folk culture.
Food
Xinhe Braised Pigeon
Fresh pigeons are selected and cooked in a secret braising broth with various seasonings. The meat is delicate and the taste is excellent. It was included in the 2022 National Famous, Special, Excellent, and New Agricultural Products List.
Xinhe Beef
The beef has fine texture, is elastic, has moderate fat, and is tender and delicious. Before cooking, it is marinated with white liquor, Sichuan pepper, beer, salt, ginger, pepper, and other ingredients, making it even more fresh and flavorful after cooking.
Guopai Watermelon
The flesh is delicate, the texture is dense, and it is sweet and juicy, crisp and thirst-quenching.
Grilled Mutton Skewers
Fresh mutton is selected and grilled until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a rich aroma.
Hand-grabbed Rice
Made with ingredients such as rice, mutton, and carrots, the rice grains are distinct, the mutton is tender, and the flavor is rich.
Tickets：
Tickets are 35 yuan per person. As of 2025-06-08, no official WeChat public account was found.
Opening Hours：
Daily 10:00 - 19:00
Tour Route：
In the morning, you can first visit the Handmade Musical Instrument Industrial Park to learn about instrument-making techniques; then go to Jiayi Courtyard to experience local residential life. At noon, dine at Lexiang Jiayi Farmhouse, taste specialty food, and enjoy ethnic song and dance. In the afternoon, go to the folk check-in points to take photos and feel the folk culture.
Transportation：
The scenic area is located in Jiayi Village, Yiqiairike Town, Xinhe County, 2.5 kilometers north of the county seat and adjacent to Xinhe County Railway Station, with very convenient transportation.
It is 20 kilometers from Qiuci Airport. You can take a plane to Qiuci Airport and then transfer to local transportation to reach the scenic area.
National Highway 314 and the Southern Xinjiang Railway run through the entire territory of Xinhe County. You can reach Xinhe County by national highway or railway, and then go to the scenic area.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Handmade Musical Instrument Industrial Park: You can personally experience the charm of the national intangible cultural heritage—ethnic handmade musical instrument-making techniques, appreciate the superb craftsmanship of the artisans, and also buy exquisite musical instruments as souvenirs.
Lexiang Jiayi Farmhouse: You can not only taste authentic Xinjiang cuisine, but also enjoy lively ethnic dances and beautiful music, enjoying a full range of folk cultural experiences.
Travel Suggestions：
You may choose to visit during local traditional festivals, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, to gain a deeper experience of local folk culture.
If you are interested in musical instrument making, you can make an appointment in advance to participate in some handmade production experience courses and personally make a small musical instrument of your own.
Prepare a camera. The folk buildings, handicrafts, and song and dance performances in the scenic area are all good photography subjects, allowing you to leave beautiful memories.
Notes：
Respect local religious beliefs and customs, and avoid conflicts caused by cultural differences.
When visiting the Handmade Musical Instrument Industrial Park, do not touch production tools or unfinished musical instruments at will, so as not to affect the artisans' work or damage items.
Protect the scenic area environment, do not litter, and keep the scenic area clean and tidy.