Travel Guide to Yining City, Ili, Xinjiang
Recommended travel routes
Three-day tour route
Day 1:
Arrive in Yining and check into the hotel to rest.
In the afternoon, take a leisurely walk through Kazanqi Folk Village to feel the rich Uyghur culture, with blue houses and colorful doors and windows that seem like a fairy tale world.
In the evening, head to Liuxing Street to stroll through specialty shops and listen to street performers’ singing and playing.
Day 2:
Head to Sayram Lake to admire the beautiful scenery of blue water surrounded by mountains, walk along the lakeside栈道, and enjoy the natural scenery.
Have lunch near Sayram Lake and taste the lake’s seafood.
In the afternoon, pass by the Guozigou Bridge to take photos of the bridge in its entirety, then proceed to the Huocheng Lavender Manor (if the season is right) to immerse yourself in the purple flower sea.
Day 3:
Head to the Nalati Grassland to experience the magnificent expanse of the aerial grassland and the pleasure of galloping horses.
Return to Yining in the afternoon or evening to end your pleasant journey.
Five-day tour route (in-depth tour)
Day 1: Go directly to Sayram Lake to enjoy the natural scenery and stay at a homestay near the lake at night.
Day 2: Visit Guozigou, then proceed to Yining Liuxing Street to taste local cuisine and stroll through specialty shops.
Day 3: Head to the Xiata Ancient Road for a hike and experience the grandeur and tranquility of nature.
Day 4: Visit the Ili Museum to learn about the history and culture of Ili. Afterwards, you can head to the Batula Mosque to feel the solemnity of religious architecture.
Day 5: Free activities in Yining City, stroll around Hanren Street, or go for a jog on the Ili River Bridge to feel the grandeur and tranquility of the Ili River. Prepare to return in the evening.
Must-visit Attractions
Kazanqi Folk Village: It preserves the most primitive Uyghur way of life, with colorful streets and alleys that seem like a fairy tale world in Central Asia.
Liuxing Street: With a unique hexagonal block layout, it offers a variety of specialty foods to taste and is also a treasure trove of ethnic culture.
Sayram Lake: The last tear of the Atlantic Ocean, with clear and blue water, as beautiful as a fairyland.
Guozigou Bridge: A spectacular bridge structure that complements the surrounding scenery.
Lavender Manor (Huocheng): When the season is right, the purple flower sea is fragrant and breathtakingly beautiful.
Food Recommendations
In Kazanqi Folk Village and Liuxing Street, you can taste authentic Uyghur cuisine and local specialties.
Small restaurants near Sayram Lake offer fresh lake fish with a unique taste.
The Bayandai baked buns and Gulandam’s handmade ice cream in Yining City are also delicious foods that cannot be missed.
Travel Tips
The weather in Xinjiang is dry and windy. It is recommended to bring more skincare products for hydrating and moisturizing.
The sunset in Xinjiang is relatively late, about 2 hours later than Beijing time. If you want to see the sunset over the Ili River, you can go around 8 o’clock.
When playing in Yining, please pay attention to safety and try not to walk into secluded alleys with few people.
I hope this travel guide can help you better plan your trip to Yining and enjoy a wonderful time!