Recommended autumn tourism in Kanas, Xinjiang; Kanas tourism
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456
Traveling to Xinjiang is a dream for many people.
The beauty of Xinjiang is well-known, but the size of Xinjiang surprises many people. With a land area of 1.6 million square kilometers, it accounts for one-sixth of the country’s total area. It’s equivalent to 15 Zhejiang Provinces, 9 Guangdong Provinces, 8 Hebei Provinces… It would take more than 30 days just to make a cursory tour, let alone an in-depth exploration.
I. Three reasons to choose a private car tour when visiting Xinjiang
Due to its enormous size and the long distances between attractions, renting a private car for a tour is more comfortable
Due to Xinjiang’s vast size, the distances between attractions are relatively far apart. On average, for a 10-day tour of Xinjiang, the daily journey is around 400-500 kilometers. If you take a coach tour with a group, it can be quite tiring. However, renting a private car will provide a more comfortable ride.
"The most beautiful scenery is on the way" – Chartered car tours offer more spontaneity
The saying "The most beautiful scenery is on the way" should be referring to Xinjiang. The endless expanse of desert, lonely highways stretching to the horizon, and the casual encounter with the setting sun on the horizon are the essence of Xinjiang’s scenery. Chartered car travel can fulfill your requirements to stop and view the scenery or take photos at any time.
"The most spectacular scenery is at the perilous peaks." For special road sections, chartered car tours offer more freedom.
Among the top ten most beautiful highways in China, Xinjiang has two: the Duku Highway and the Yizhao Highway. Both highways are closed to buses and only allow vehicles with 7 seats or fewer to pass. Therefore, renting a 5-seat or 7-seat car will allow you to fully enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Xinjiang is divided into Southern Xinjiang and Northern Xinjiang. Southern Xinjiang focuses on cultural landscapes and cultural relics, with main destinations such as Kashgar, Hotan, and Kuqa. The attractions are represented by Uyghur folklore, Buddhist sites, plateau scenery, and desert scenery. Northern Xinjiang focuses on natural scenery, with main destinations such as Kanas and Yili. The attractions are represented by lakes, forests, and grasslands. From June to October each year is the most beautiful season for natural scenery in Northern Xinjiang, so traveling in Northern Xinjiang during this period is the choice for most tourists. Therefore, the recommended routes below mainly focus on Northern Xinjiang.
5-7 Day Chartered Car Route Recommendations
If you only have about 5-7 days, it is recommended to choose one destination in Northern Xinjiang for an in-depth tour: either Kanas Lake or Yili Grassland. Both start and end in Urumqi, with a round trip distance of about 2200 kilometers. The specific itinerary is as follows:
5-Day In-depth Kanas Lake Circuit Tour
Day 1: Urumqi – Burqin (via East Route National Highway 216)
Day 2: Burqin – Kanas (it is recommended to stay within the scenic area)
Day 3: Kanas – Fish Viewing Terrace – Hemu
Day 4: Hemu – Colorful Beach – Haba River
Day 5: Haba River – Ghost City – Urumqi (via West Route National Highway 217)
This route circles the Junggar Basin and covers the most representative attractions around Kanas Lake (such as Hemu, Colorful Beach, and Ghost City). These attractions encompass lakes, forests, original villages, Yardang landforms, and other scenery most representative of Xinjiang.
If you have 6 days, on the first day, you can go to Koktokay along National Highway 216 and then to Burqin on the second day; (Koktokay is commonly known as "Little Kanas", featuring geological canyons and primitive forest scenery. In May 2017, it was awarded as a World-Class Geological Park by UNESCO.)
If you have 7 days, it is recommended to stay an extra night at Kanas Lake based on the 6-day itinerary. You can visit Baihaba Village, which will allow you to deeply experience all the beautiful scenery of the Kanas Grand Scenic Area. The itinerary will also be very relaxing, suitable for seniors and family travel. Baihaba Village is also an original village, known as the "First Village in the Northwest". Compared to Hemu Village, the scenery is even richer, not only with original natural scenery but also with the China-Kazakhstan Grand Canyon and the China-Kazakhstan Boundary Monument. It was also the location for the filming of "Dad, Where Are We Going?" in 2016.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456