Is there any direct bus from either Buerjin or Altay to Ili?

I remember only one long-distance bus runs from Altay to the city, leaving at 10:00am. It takes around 12h, and the fare is CNY200 or around. In case the schedule is changed or you cannot catch it, you are suggested to take a train to Urumqi first, then change to another one to Yining.

At Yining Autonomous Perfecture Bus Station, a bus is scheduled for Kuqa each day and it leaves at 12:00 and 16:00 on odd and even days respevtively.

At the same bus station, buses the grassland are available at 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00. If missing them, you can take a bus to Xinyuan County, then change to another one to reach there.