Early May in Yili has a pleasant climate with temperatures between 10-20℃, which is a good time to enjoy the beauty of the grasslands and avoid the crowds. Here is a detailed travel guide:
Recommended attractions
Qiaxi: In May, Qiaxi is the first place in the Yili River Valley to turn green, with beautiful scenery. It is very suitable for camping and stargazing, providing an excellent experience.
Kurdining: There are good viewing platforms, and you can visit by horse riding or hiking. If you’re lucky, you can also see yellow flowers everywhere and stunning forest scenery.
Hasa Wild Apple Forest: May is the season when apple blossoms bloom, with a spectacular sight of apple blossoms all over the mountain, filling the air with fragrance.
Nalati: As an online celebrity attraction, Nalati Kongzhong Grassland offers a unique viewing experience. It is very pleasant to stay in the scenic area at night to watch the stars, and you can even hold a little lamb for a photo.
Sayram Lake: On sunny days, the scenery of Sayram Lake is breathtaking. It is an ultimate pleasure to drive around the lake and chase swans.
Qiongkushitai: It is at a higher altitude with colder weather, but during May Day, there are fewer people, allowing for a clear view of the snow-capped mountains and enjoying the scenery of the original ecological pastoral village. You can also ride horses across streams and experience Kazak traditional culture.
In addition, the natural and cultural landscapes of Guozigou, the primitive natural scenery of Kalajun Grassland, and Swan Lake on Bayanbulak Grassland are also worth visiting attractions.
Travel route
Route 1 (7 days 6 nights)
D1: Urumqi – Free activities, taste local specialty foods such as spicy skin noodles with noodles, visit the Grand Bazaar
D2: Urumqi – Duku Highway (if not open, adjust accordingly) – Nalati, experience the magnificent scenery of crossing the snow-capped mountains, overnight stay in Nalati
D3: Nalati Kongzhong Grassland – Bai Rui Campsite, ride horses up to Kongzhong Grassland, star gazing at night
D4: Kurdining – Qiongkushitai, hiking, horse riding, enjoy bonfire dinner
D5: Qiongkushitai – Tekes Eight Trigrams City – Yining Kazanqi Blue House, experience the stunning view of Eight Trigrams City from a drone’s perspective
D6: Huocheng Lavender Field – Guozigou Bridge – Sayram Lake circumnavigation, take beautiful photos of the lavender fields, chase swans at Sayram Lake
D7: Sayram Lake sunrise – Return trip, wake up early to enjoy the sunrise beauty of the lake
Route 2 (5 days)
D1: Yining airport pickup – Liuxingjie – Taste local specialty foods
D2: Yining – Sayram Lake – Guozigou Scenic Area, cliff photoshooting
D3: Yining – Xiata – Zhaosu
D4: Zhaosu – Qiongkushitai – Tekes
D5: Tekes – Qiaxi Forest – Xinyuan
D6: Xinyuan – Nalati – Kongzhong Grassland – Hegu Grassland
D7: Nalati – Yining – Airport transfer
Pre-trip preparation
Transportation: Public transportation within the Yili Prefecture is relatively inconvenient, so it is recommended to rent a car for self-driving or join a local tour group.
Essential items: Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, thin sweater, windbreaker, thick jacket, hiking shoes, water bottle, food, photography equipment, etc.
Precautions: Some attractions at higher altitudes may cause altitude sickness, so rest promptly if you feel unwell. At the same time, respect local customs and traditions, and be mindful of your words and actions in multi-ethnic areas.
Hope this guide can help you plan an unforgettable trip to Yili!