Dzungarian Alatau
The city is named after the Dzungarian Gate ("Alashankou" in Chinese), a pass connecting the two countries through the Dzungarian Alatau mountains. West of the pass, the port of entry on the Kazakhstan side is Dostyk. Alashankou is from Bole, from Ürümqi, and from Almaty. The weather in Alashankou is harsh.