When traveling to Xinjiang in April, there are several recommended scenic spots:
Firstly, the Turpan Basin is the first place in Xinjiang to welcome spring, known as the ‘First Spring of Xinjiang’, with apricot flowers blooming and the vitality of spring everywhere.
Moreover, the apricot flowers in the Yili River Valley and Pamir Plateau are also worth seeing, jointly creating the most ‘apricot-blessed’ spring scenery in China.
Secondly, it’s very fun to travel around Sayram Lake, with 12 check-in points. In early April, Sayram Lake still has blue ice, and in May, early summer arrives, with wildflowers starting to bloom along the lakeside.
Kanas and Hemu are known as the ‘God’s Back Garden’, and the three bays of Kanas (Fairy Bay, Moon Bay, and Wolong Bay) are must-visit places.
In addition, there are some other scenic spots worth visiting, such as Qiongkushitai, which is the starting point of hiking trails, and Karajun Grassland, which is a famous 3D grassland with snowy mountains, grasslands, flower seas, forests, as well as horses and lambs.
The grass on Nalati Grassland starts to turn green slowly in late March, with wild lilies breaking through the ice all over the mountains, creating a very beautiful scene.
The Xiata Ancient Road is close to the snowy mountains, and you can take shuttle buses, ride horses, or hike to explore it.
For itinerary planning, you can refer to the following route: departing from Urumqi, crossing the S21 Desert Highway, arriving at Jiadenyu, then visiting Kanas, and staying overnight in Hemu Village. Afterwards, you can head to Haba River, explore the魔鬼城 (Ghost Town) of Urho, and finally visit Tianshan Heavenly Lake before returning to Urumqi.
Or you can also choose to start from Urumqi and travel around places like Sayram Lake, Guozigou Valley, and Nalati Grassland, before returning to Urumqi.
In general, Xinjiang in April is full of the vitality of spring with numerous beautiful scenery. Whether it’s flower appreciation, hiking, or photography, you can find a suitable travel project for yourself.