Which scenic spots in northern Xinjiang are worth visiting? Northern Xinjiang travel guide
Xinjiang Travel Guo Jing: (Same as above)
The best travel season in Xinjiang is from June to October. The temperature is pleasant during this time (some scenic spots are closed in winter due to snow). Of course, visiting Turpan in March is also a good choice, and托克逊’s apricot blossoms and Shanshan’s Desert Park are also well worth a visit! In May, you can head to Tianchi, in June you can go to Yili to see the lavender fields, in July and August you can admire the vast and lush grasslands, and in September and October, the golden autumn scenery of Kanas is simply breathtaking. However, it should be noted that the temperature difference between morning and evening in Xinjiang is quite large, especially in Kanas where the annual average temperature is only 4°C. It truly is a place where “you wear a cotton-padded jacket in the morning and gauze in the afternoon, eating watermelon by the fireplace”.
1. Golden Autumn Kanas
The pale green Kanas Lake winds its way through, with trees in shades of gold and dark green along the shore making the lake appear crystal clear. The tall and straight poplar trees, donned in golden cloaks, dance gracefully in the gentle breeze with the elegance of beauties. The sky over the grassland is exceptionally blue, with fluffy white clouds gazing affectionately at the small trees on the hillside dressed in autumn attire. The chilling autumn wind paints the Kanas forest area in a sea of gold, as the trees also don their golden coats, presenting an intoxicating autumn scenery.
2. Hemu | A Fairy-Tale World of Kanas
A river, a forest and grassland, an ancient ethnic group and village – this is the beautiful Hemu, a fairy-tale world of Kanas. After the spring breeze passes, the grassland turns green, and colorful wildflowers bloom in full swing. Climbing up the small hills around Hemu Village, you can overlook the panoramic view. The neatly arranged Tuva cabins blend naturally and harmoniously with the surrounding environment.
3. The Fertile Bayinbrook Grassland
Most tourists visiting Yili will go to the famous Nalati Grassland, while only photography enthusiasts will venture to Bayinbrook. Here lies another side of Xinjiang – a winding river plateau wetland grassland. Only when you arrive here will you realize that Xinjiang is not just about deserts and gobies, but also has the gentle beauty of the regions south of the Great Wall. Bayinbrook Grassland boasts famous landscapes such as Bayinbrook Swan Lake and the Nine-Bend and Eighteen-Turn River, where you can observe birds up close in June, and the scenery is absolutely stunning.
4. Sayram Lake | A Glorious Flower Sea Amidst Lakes and Mountains
Sayram Lake is located in western Xinjiang, close to places like Yili and Huocheng. Most tourists will visit here when traveling the western route of Xinjiang (i.e., the Yili route). Sayram Lake is backed by snow-capped mountains and bordered by vast grasslands. Even if you’ve seen Kanas Lake and Namtso Lake in Tibet, you will still be amazed by the beauty of Sayram Lake when you first see it.
5. Devil City | The Magnificent Workmanship of Nature
On the long journey back to Urumqi, located on the west side of the Junggar Basin, lies a typical Xinjiang landscape – Yardang landform. It is desolate and has a strong aura. At the same time, under the setting sun, the colors are dazzling. Every time the sun sets, the multicolored light reflected here makes you feel like you’re not on Earth.
6. Yili Guozi Valley
The Guozi Valley, located 40km northeast of Huocheng County, is a necessary passage on the 312 National Highway connecting Urumqi to Yili. In spring and summer, it is the most beautiful valley in western Xinjiang, with the beauty lasting from late May to September each year. Any slope of the Guozi Valley offers a panoramic view of the forest belt and mountain ridges. The viaduct in Guozi Valley is also breathtaking, making it one of China’s most beautiful self-driving routes.
7. Kalajun Grassland
The Kalajun Mountains stretch horizontally across the region, running east-west for 42 kilometers. It connects the Kafusalang Valley in the north and Qiongkushitai in the south, with a width of 25 kilometers. The mountains rise and fall, covered with dense snow caps and spruce forests. The top of the mountain is a high platform terrain that slopes southward, resembling a suspended grassland.
8. Nalati Grassland
The Nalati Grassland, located in the east of Nalati Town, Xinyuan County, is ranked as one of the four major valley grasslands in the world, and is equally famous as the Swiss mountains. The terrain slopes from southeast to northwest. The wilderness is dotted with mountain springs, streams are like a network, rivers crisscross, and the forests are lush, earning it the name of the ‘Aerial Grassland’. The Nalati Grassland has been a famous pasture since ancient times. Valleys, peaks, deep gorges, and forests all add radiance and beauty to each other.
Xinjiang Travel Guo Jing: (Same as above)