The best tourist routes in Xinjiang vary depending on the duration of travel, preferred attraction types (natural scenery or cultural landscapes), and the travel season. However, overall, the following routes are highly recommended**:?
Kanas Loop (5-7 days):?
Essential attractions: Kanas, Hemu, Koktokay, and Ghost Town.?
Specialty: Every place is a fairyland. Kanas Lake is as green as jade, and Hemu Village resembles a fairy tale world, suitable for tourists who love natural scenery.?
Yili Loop (6-10 days):?
Essential attractions: Sayram Lake, Nalati, Xiata, Tangbula, and Duku Highway.?
Specialty: Stunning scenery at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, suitable for travel from May to August, especially for tourists who love flowers and grasslands.?
Kayi Loop (11-13 days):?
Essential attractions: Combining all the attractions of the Kanas Loop and Yili Loop.?
Specialty: The most essential natural scenery tourism route in Northern Xinjiang, suitable for tourists who want an in-depth tour of Northern Xinjiang.?
Northern Xinjiang Great Loop (13-17 days):?
Essential attractions: Based on the Kayi Loop, it adds desert and Gobi landscapes in the eastern Xinjiang areas of Turpan, Hejing, and Hami.?
Specialty: Self-drive around Northern Xinjiang, experiencing diverse landscapes from deserts to snow-capped mountains, and from grasslands to lakes.?
Southern Xinjiang Great Loop (13-17 days):?
Essential attractions: Pamir Plateau, Kunlun Mountains, Taklamakan Desert, Populus euphratica Forest (mid-to-late October).?
Specialty: Mainly focuses on experiencing cultural customs, suitable for tourists who love history, culture, and unique landforms.?
In addition, there are also some special routes such as ‘Duku-Southern Xinjiang’ (7 days and 6 nights) and ‘Tianshan Highway’ (suitable for short-distance self-drive travel), which are also popular among tourists.?
For tourists with ample time and a preference for in-depth travel, the ‘Great Northern Xinjiang Loop’ (40-50 days) can also be considered. This route combines all the essential attractions of Northern and Southern Xinjiang, providing a comprehensive tour of Xinjiang.?
When choosing a route, it is recommended to make the best decision based on your interests, time, and season. Meanwhile, due to Xinjiang’s vast territory and the long distances between attractions, self-drive travel is a good choice, but it is also necessary to plan your itinerary and accommodation in advance.?
