Xinjiang chartered tour bus: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (same as WeChat)
National Day Visit to Xinjiang
First Stop – Tianshan Tianchi Scenic Area
Tianshan Tianchi, anciently known as the ‘Jade Pool’, is located at the northern peak of Bogda Peak in Fukang City, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, about 110 kilometers from Urumqi. It is a famous tourist attraction in Xinjiang.
To visit Xinjiang, you must first go to Urumqi. Urumqi has Diwopu International Airport, Urumqi Station, Urumqi South Station, Urumqi West Station, and other railway stations. Choose a reasonable mode of transportation according to your needs. After arriving in Urumqi, go to Tianshan Tianchi Scenic Area. Take the direct bus from Urumqi People’s Park to Tianshan Tianchi (journey time is about 2 hours).
Scenic Area Ticket: 215 yuan (including the cost of the sightseeing bus within the scenic area)
Opening Hours: High Season (April 1st – October 31st) 9:00 – 19:30
Off-peak Season (November 1st – March 31st of the next year) 10:00 – 18:00
Second Stop – Nalati Grassland
The Nalati Grassland is a subalpine meadow plant area, one of the four major grasslands in the world. It has been a famous pasture since ancient times, with valleys, peaks, deep gorges, and forests intertwining. It is located within the territory of Nalati Town, eastern Xinyuan County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang.
Nalati Town has Nalati Airport. After visiting Tianshan Tianchi, return to Urumqi. Urumqi has flights to Nalati, with a journey time of about 1 hour (The editor suggests traveling by plane. You can also arrive by train. Take the train from Urumqi to Yining, and then take a car from Yining to Nalati. The journey from Yining to Nalati takes about 4 hours). It is very convenient to take a car to the scenic area from Nalati Airport.
Scenic Area Ticket: High Season (June 1st – September 30th) 95 yuan
Off-peak Season (April 1st – May 31st, October 1st – November 30th) 75 yuan
Special Tourism Season (December 1st – March 31st of the next year) 47 yuan
There are three sightseeing routes within the scenic area. The price of the sightseeing bus ticket is:
Aerial Grassland Route: Tourist Service Center – Celestial Terrace – Aerial Grassland – Nomadic Household Round Trip 60 yuan
Valley Grassland Route: Visitor Service Center – Small Loop – Tawusani – Kazakh Hall of Fame – Forest Park, round trip 40 yuan
Panlong Valley Route: Visitor Service Center – Wusun Ancient Tomb – Panlong Valley – Visitor Service Center, round trip 100 yuan
Third stop – Sayram Lake
Sayram Lake is a high-altitude and large alpine lake in Xinjiang, located in the Tianshan Mountains within Bole City, Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. The lake surface is at an altitude of 2071 meters, 30 kilometers long from east to west and 25 kilometers wide from north to south, covering an area of 453 square kilometers with a water storage capacity of 21 billion cubic meters. The lake water is clear and transparent, with a transparency of 12 meters. The highway around the lake is about 60 kilometers long, and there are various scenic spots around the lake that can be viewed and photographed.
To go to Sayram Lake, you can choose to charter a car directly from Nalati, or take a bus from Nalati to Yining Passenger Station, and then take another bus to Sayram Lake from Yining.
Scenic area ticket: Peak season (April 1st – October 31st) 70 yuan
Off-season (November 1st – March 31st of the next year) 35 yuan
I drove to Sayram Lake by myself. At that time, I drove around the lake for a week. There was no charge for cars. However, there is a recent announcement stating that there is a daily limit on the number of cars entering the scenic area, and cars are charged separately. But there are sightseeing buses around the lake within the scenic area.
Fourth stop – Horgos Port
Horgos Port is located on the border line, facing Kazakhstan across the river. There are national gateway scenic areas, Boundary Marker 324, and the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Trade Zone here.
After visiting Sayram Lake, you can take a bus to Horgos Port. The cooperation zone has duty-free goods from all over the world, with more small goods from Central Asia. In addition to shopping, you can also visit the national gateway scenic area, go to the border line, and see the boundary markers.
To go to the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Trade Zone, you need to apply for an exit-entry pass, which costs 15 yuan. If you have a passport, you don’t need to apply for a pass.
Fifth stop – Kanas
Kanas’ autumn scenery was rated as China’s most beautiful autumn scenery by Chinese Geography magazine, ranking first, with Jiuzhaigou in second place. The Kanas scenic area is located in Burqin County, Altay City, Xinjiang, and the scenic area has the only Swiss scenery in Asia.
Kanas is arranged after the Horgos Port for the convenience of travel. This year, Xinjiang has opened the Urumqi – Horgos – Beitun tourist route loop, so after visiting the port, you can directly go to Beitun Railway Station from Horgos Railway Station, and there are shuttle buses to the scenic area at Beitun Railway Station.
Scenic area ticket: 185 yuan
Sightseeing bus fee: one-time entry 100 yuan/person
The Altay Airport in the Altay Prefecture where Kanas is located has flights to various destinations, convenient for the return trip.
Xinjiang chartered tour bus: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (same as WeChat)