Eight-Diagram City
Located in Tekes County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Eight-Diagram City is the world’s largest and best-preserved city designed strictly in accordance with the Eight Trigrams layout from the ancient Chinese classic I Ching, honored with a Guinness World Record and designated as a National Historical and Cultural City. Planned in the 1930s, the city centers on a Taiji Altar, from which eight main roads radiate outward, corresponding to eight traditional trigrams, and are linked by four circular ring roads, eventually forming a complete network of 64 hexagram streets.
What makes it most fascinating is that the city once operated without traffic lights for decades, as its radial circular design ensures smooth traffic flow at every intersection. From high viewpoints or hot air balloons, visitors can overlook the whole city shaped like a huge Bagua diagram, a perfect integration of traditional Chinese philosophical wisdom and frontier urban construction.
You can wander along characteristic folk streets to appreciate Kazakh handicrafts and taste local delicacies, explore the I Ching Culture Park to learn about the city’s planning history, and experience the harmonious blend of Central Plains traditional culture and nomadic customs. Surrounded by rolling Tianshan grasslands, this magical city perfectly combines architectural wonders, profound cultural heritage and splendid natural scenery, leaving every traveler with an unforgettable cultural journey.
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