Where should you go for your first trip to Xinjiang?
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (WeChat ID the same)
Hand-grabbed rice, mutton kebabs, raisins, Hami melons, the chanting of the Quran, tall diversifoliol poplars, the ice and snow of Tianshan Mountain, the mythology of Kanas—this is Xinjiang, the beautiful Xinjiang. From May to October each year is the suitable travel time in Xinjiang, with July to September being the best. Here are 11 recommended scenic spots for chartered tours in Xinjiang, allowing you to roam freely between heaven and earth.
I. Balikun Grassland—Sitting in a basin
Surrounding attractions: Huiwang Tomb, Gaisi Tomb, Mingsha Mountain, Baishitou Mountain, etc.
Driving along National Highway 312 of the Silk Road into Xinjiang, the first place you will arrive is the Hami region, yes, the place that produces Hami melons. Balikun Grassland is located in Hami. It is not as boundless as the Inner Mongolia Grassland but sits in a basin surrounded by continuous mountain peaks with white glaciers on the tops and green mountains on the waists. What is also unique is that among the vast grasslands, there is suddenly a unique desert mountain, Mingsha Mountain; and suddenly a white stone mountain, Baishitou Mountain.
II. Flaming Mountain—You can make a “fried egg” on a car hood
Surrounding attractions: Kaner Well, Su Gongta Pagoda, Aiding Lake, Grape Valley, Jiaohe Ancient City, Tuyugou Valley, etc.
The “Eight Hundred Li Flaming Mountain” mentioned in “Journey to the West” is here. Locals call the Flaming Mountain “Hongshan”. It is composed of medium-red sand, conglomerate, and mudstone. Every summer, the intense sunlight shines on the red mountain, creating rolling heatwaves. How hot is the Flaming Mountain? According to local lore, if you break a raw egg and spread it on the hood of a car, it will become a “fried egg”. There is also a 12-meter-tall thermometer standing there, resembling Sun Wukong’s Golden-hooped Staff.
III. International Bazaar—You can buy all the local specialties of Xinjiang here
Surrounding attractions: Xinjiang Museum, Hongshan, Wuyi Night Market, Baiyang Valley, etc.
The word “Bazaar” originates from Uyghur, meaning “market”. The International Bazaar is located in Urumqi and gathers tourist souvenirs from all over Xinjiang. These include raisins, snow lotuses, Hetian jade, lavender, essential oils, tapestries, Cordyceps sinensis, etc., which are familiar to mainlanders. Besides Xinjiang’s specialties, there are also crafts from Central Asia and Pakistan. It is the “Window of Xinjiang”, the “Window of Central Asia”, and the “Window of the World”. In addition, as the “Homeland of Song and Dance”, there is also a grand stage for song and dance performances.
IV. Tianchi Lake – A浓缩 of the Essence of the Tianshan Mountains
In Urumqi, on a clear day, you can see the majestic Bogda Peak of the Tianshan Mountains. Tianchi Lake is located on the mountainside of Bogda Peak, 110 kilometers away from Urumqi. Tianchi Lake is a mountain lake located above 1,980 meters in altitude. Because its water is crystal-clear and jade-like, myths depict Tianchi Lake as the magical mirror on the dressing table of the Queen Mother of the West. It integrates mountain lakes, spruce forests, and snow-capped mountains,浓缩了天山的精华景致, and is hailed as the “Bright Pearl of the Tianshan Mountains”.
V. Colorful City – Wild Asses and Gazelles by the Roadside
Nearby attractions: Karamay Ungulate Wildlife Reserve, Gurbantünggüt Desert, etc.
Colorful City is located in the Gurbantünggüt Desert, the second-largest desert in China. Over billions of years, coal seams, sand layers, and ore layers have formed there. After being eroded by wind and rain, exposed to sun and lightning, it has formed “Yardan landforms” dominated by reddish-brown hues mixed with yellow, white, black, green, and other colors. From afar or nearby, it resembles a castle. Nearby Colorful City is the Karamay Ungulate Wildlife Reserve, which has received considerable attention in recent years. On a self-driving trip, you can see wild animals such as wild asses, argali sheep, and goitered gazelles along the way.
VI. Kanas Lake – Eastern Switzerland
Nearby attractions: Wulungu Lake, Irtysh River, Alashan Hot Springs, Bakhba, etc.
Xinjiang boasts countless beautiful sceneries. If you have to choose the most beautiful one, many people would believe it to be Kanas Lake. Kanas is known as the “Eastern Switzerland” due to its special geographical location, which resembles the vegetation landscape of the European Alps. Different plant communities are well-stratified and colorful. Kanas Lake resembles a colorful gemstone, making it a paradise for photographers. Visiting Kanas also allows you to see the oldest indigenous people, the Tuwa people.
VII. Devil’s City – A “Castle” Blown by the Wind
Nearby attractions: Karamay Oilfield No. 1.
Both the Mongolian and Kazakh languages unanimously refer to it as the “Devil’s City”. The Devil’s City is not a castle; it is a rare wind-eroded landform in China, with various “buildings” created by the wind. Some resemble the Liuhe Pagoda in Hangzhou; some resemble the Temple of Heaven in Beijing; some resemble the Pyramids of Egypt; some resemble the Angkor Wat in Cambodia …… The scariest time at the Devil’s City is when the night falls and a gale blows, with the sound of flying sand and stones creating an eerie atmosphere. However, during the daytime, you may still find beautiful crystal agate stones there.
Eight, Sayram Lake – Where You Can See the Lakebed 10 Meters Below
Nearby Attractions: Guishi Valley, Alataw Pass, etc.
Some people compare Xinjiang’s Sayram Lake to Tibet’s Namtso Lake because Sayram Lake is also a high-altitude lake, being Xinjiang’s highest and largest high-altitude cold-water lake. Known as the "Pure Sea", Sayram Lake allows you to see the lakebed 10 meters below the surface. The most beautiful time at Sayram Lake is during late spring and early summer, when the lakeside is covered with alpine wildflowers. Every July, local Mongolians hold the traditional "Nadam" festival on the grassland by the lake.
Nine, Nalati Grassland – The Grassland with the Fattest Cattle and Sheep
Nearby Attractions: Ili River, Guozigou Valley, Gongnais Grassland, Tangbula Grassland, etc.
There are many grasslands along the Ili River, with Nalati Grassland being the most famous. At the same time, Nalati Grassland is also the most developed and suitable for tourism. Thousands of tourists stay there every day. The grass on Nalati Grassland reaches half a meter in height. It rains frequently in the area, so the cattle and sheep there are fatter. Historically, Nalati Grassland was known as the "Deer Park" and is also called the "Aerial Grassland" due to its high altitude.
Ten, Mount Muztagh – Father of Glaciers
Nearby Attractions: Id Kah Mosque, Xiangfei Tomb, Tashkurgan Stone City, etc.
Starting from Kashgar, the largest city in southern Xinjiang, and driving towards Hongqilapu on the China-Pakistan border, the journey is filled with breathtaking views of snowy mountains and grasslands. Before realizing it, you’re already at an altitude of over 3,000 meters. Looking next to you, you’ll see a huge glacier-capped mountain, which is Mount Muztagh, known as the "Father of Glaciers", resembling a cream cake. Mount Muztagh stands in stark contrast to K2, the world’s second-highest peak at 8,611 meters above sea level.
Eleven, Desert Highway – Drive Through the Desert to Your Heart’s Content
Nearby Attractions: Tarim River, Populus euphratica Forest Nature Reserve.
The Desert Highway runs through China’s largest Taklamakan Desert, which covers an area of over 330,000 square kilometers and has long been considered a "forbidden zone for life", making it difficult for tourists to visit its hinterland. However, after the opening of the Desert Highway, self-driving tourists can now traverse it. The Desert Highway is 446 kilometers long and is currently the longest road built in shifting sands worldwide. It generally takes five to six hours to drive, so make sure to bring enough water before starting the journey.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (WeChat ID the same)