The best travel seasons in Xinjiang and the suitable travel times in Xinjiang
So, which month is the best time to visit Xinjiang? What season should you choose to visit Xinjiang? These are questions many people ask when coming to Xinjiang. Today, I’ll talk about traveling in Xinjiang.
The peak tourist season in Xinjiang is from June to September. Therefore, it can be very crowded. If you visit Kanas and Tianchi during these two months, you’ll find it packed with people. Moreover, Xinjiang is most beautiful after mid-September. Personally, I think it’s best to visit Xinjiang after mid-September. At this time, there are fewer people, but the scenery is at its most beautiful, and Turpan is not as hot as 48 degrees Celsius in summer. The colorful world of Kanas is only beautiful at this time.
Many friends ask me when to visit Xinjiang, and I always say after mid-September. I don’t like traveling when there are too many people. By mid-September, all the fruits are ripe and sweet beyond description!
In Xinjiang, different seasons bring different landscapes. You can choose your travel time based on your preferences.
Xinjiang is characterized by its three mountains sandwiching two basins, with the Tianshan Mountains, Kunlun Mountains, and Altai Mountains stretching across the entire region. Therefore, regardless of when and where you are in Xinjiang, you will always be accompanied by snow-capped peaks.
Leisure tours in Xinjiang can be broadly divided into two regions: southern Xinjiang and northern Xinjiang. Southern Xinjiang focuses on local customs and traditions, which are not limited by seasons; northern Xinjiang focuses on natural landscapes, and each season offers a unique beauty.
March: Flower viewing. From March to April, Xinjiang is the kingdom of flowers. The apricot flowers in Turpan first usher in spring, followed by the apricot flowers in Yili, which are scattered on the early spring prairies like oil paintings, beautifully eye-catching!
April: Desert. Go to Xinjiang to see the desert during the Tomb-Sweeping Day holiday. Avoid the hot summer. The surrounding areas of Turpan and the Kumtag Desert are good choices. They are also very close to Urumqi and Changji, so you can go there and back in one day without worrying about accommodation.
May: The southern and eastern regions of Xinjiang, as well as the northern region of Xinjiang, have just entered spring, but the southern region of Xinjiang has already been spring. It is a very good choice to travel to the southern region of Xinjiang at this time. The desert scenery of Kuqa and Korla, the mysterious Grand Canyon in Kuqa… The eastern region, namely Hami and Balikun in Xinjiang, have newly developed scenic spots in recent years: Balikun Grassland, the New Northern Route of the Silk Road, Beiting Duhu Prefecture, etc. In May, the eastern Tianshan Mountains are beautiful. Especially the Balikun Grassland, where the grass turns green nearly a month earlier than the Ili Grassland. The grassland under the eastern Tianshan Mountains and the snow-capped Tianshan Mountains constitute a stunningly beautiful picture.
June: The Ili Grassland in Northern Xinjiang is already full of blooming flowers and lush green grass. Not mentioning the intoxicating green of the Nalati Grassland, Bayanbulak Grassland, and Tangbula Grassland, the red tulips and yellow rape flowers along the way have already made Yili in June dazzling. There is also the tranquility of the Xiate Ancient Road, the grandeur of the Karakorum Grassland, and the romance of lavender. The whole June belongs to Yili. It is a paradise for countless tourists who long for Yili’s colorful world!
July to August: All parts of Xinjiang are beautiful. The weather has started to cool down, and the fruits have also matured. The beautiful prairies, the peaceful Sayram Lake, are so beautiful that I won’t elaborate on it. You will know when you come.
September: Colorful. Xinjiang’s autumn is like a palette overturned by God, colorful. At this time, the 5th Boundary Marker in Baihaba, the First Village in Northwest China, is extremely beautiful. The Red Tree Gully in Koktokay is a season of yellow and red alternation around September 25, and there is also Baisha Lake, which looks like an oil painting in this season.
October: A glorious autumn. After several autumn rains, the leaves of the birch forest in Northern Xinjiang fall one after another, and the tree trunks stand in the wind, revealing a kind of bleak and beautiful oil painting effect. Go to the desert to see the thousand-year-old Hu Yang forest. The clear blue sky, golden leaves, and twisted tree trunks in various poses show its tenacity and grandeur in the desert. In early October, the Hu Yang forest in Mulei, Northern Xinjiang, and in late October, the Hu Yang forest in Luntai and Yuli, as well as Zepu Golden Poplar Forest, a 5A scenic spot in Kashgar, are waiting for you to appreciate their vicissitudes and glory.
November to March of the next year: Ice and snow. In winter, Xinjiang becomes a world of ice and snow. There are Hemu’s Ice and Snow Fairy Tale, Tianshan Tianchi Ice and Snow Style Tour, Kashgar Folk Customs Tour, etc. In addition, Xinjiang in the long winter is a paradise for outdoor sports enthusiasts such as skiing, skating, and desert hiking.
More Xinjiang travel guides. For Xinjiang travel, contact Guo Jing. Car rental, carpooling, self-guided tours are available.
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