There are multiple options for travel routes in Xinjiang. Here are a few classic routes:?
1. Kanas Ring Road: 5-7 days. It mainly covers the Altay Prefecture, including scenic spots such as Kanas, Hemu, Koktokay, and Devil’s City. This route focuses on natural scenery and is one of the highlights of Xinjiang tourism. The best travel time is from September to October.?
2. Yili Ring Road: 6-10 days. It takes you through the Yili River Valley surrounded by the Tianshan Mountains, including scenic areas such as Sayram Lake, Nalati Grassland, and Xiata. This route is suitable for travel from May to August, allowing you to enjoy the stunning scenery at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.?
3. Kanas-Yili Ring Road: 11-13 days. It is a combination of the ‘Kanas Ring Road + Yili Ring Road’, allowing you to visit the scenic spots of the above two routes. It is the most essential natural scenery tourist route in northern Xinjiang. Suitable for travel from May to October.?
4. Northern Xinjiang Grand Ring Road: 13-17 days. It takes you on a self-driving tour of the entire northern Xinjiang, including scenic spots in Kanas and Yili, as well as desert and Gobi landscapes in the Turpan and Hami areas of Eastern Xinjiang. This route focuses on enjoying scenery and is suitable for travel from May to November.?
5. Southern Xinjiang Grand Ring Road: 13-17 days. It faces the Northern Xinjiang Grand Ring Road across the Tianshan Mountains and focuses on experiencing cultural customs. It mainly passes through places such as the Taklamakan Desert, the Pamir Plateau, and the Kunlun Mountains. The best travel season is from September to November and from March to May.?
In addition, there are self-driving routes such as Eastern Xinjiang, Western Tianshan Mountains, and the Tarim Basin Ring Road, as well as different themed tourist routes of varying durations such as the Southern Xinjiang Small Ring Road and the Xinjiang Grand Ring Road, which can be selected according to personal interests and schedules.?
The above routes cover the natural scenery, cultural landscapes, and folk customs of Xinjiang. No matter which route you choose, you will be able to experience the unique charm of beautiful Xinjiang.?