Five days for traveling in Xinjiang is sufficient. Although Xinjiang has a vast territory and numerous attractions, through reasonable planning and arrangement, five days are enough to experience the essence and unique charm of Xinjiang.
Below are several example five-day Xinjiang travel itinerary suggestions:
Five-day tour of Northern Xinjiang:
Day 1: Depart from Urumqi, visit Tianshan Heavenly Lake and the S21 Internet-famous Desert Highway, and finally arrive in Burqin
Day 2: Depart from Burqin, explore Kanas’s mysterious color-changing lake and Three Bays (Moon Bay, Wolong Bay, Immortal Bay), and arrive in Jiadenyu
Day 3: Depart from Jiadenyu, visit the primitive villages and autumn fairy tale cabins at Hemu, and stay in a cabin within the Hemu scenic area at night
Day 4: Depart from Hemu, admire the morning fog at Hemu, visit Hadeng Observation Deck and Colorful Beach, and return to Burqin
Day 5: Depart from Burqin, visit Urho Devil’s City and other attractions to end the trip
Five-day tour of Southern Xinjiang:
Day 1: Arrive in Kashgar and visit Kashgar Old City first to experience Uyghur cultural atmosphere
Day 2: Head to Baishahu to enjoy the lake beauty of "China’s Maldives"
Day 3: Visit the盘龙古道 (Panlong Ancient Road), an important Silk Road passage with picturesque scenery along the way
Day 4: Head to Karakul Lake and Mustag Ata Glacier Park to experience the tranquility and purity of the plateau
Day 5: Depending on the schedule, you can choose to further explore or shop in Kashgar City to end the trip.
Five-day tour of the Duku Highway and Nalati Grasslands:
Day 1: Arrival in Urumqi from various parts of the country
Day 2: Depart from Urumqi, visit Dushanzi Grand Canyon, and then head to Jinghe
Day 3: Depart from Jinghe, visit Sayram Lake, and arrive in Yining City
Day 4: Depart from Yining City, visit Kuerdening, and then head to Xinyuan County
Day 5: Depart from Xinyuan County, visit Nalati Grasslands, and then return to Urumqi
These itineraries fully showcase Xinjiang’s diversity and beauty, including natural scenery, cultural landscapes, and culinary experiences. Of course, specific itineraries need to be adjusted appropriately based on personal interests, physical condition, weather conditions, and other factors. But overall, five days are sufficient for tourists to appreciate the unique charm of Xinjiang.