The recommended seven-day travel guide for Yili is as follows:?
Day 1: Arrival in Urumqi?
After arrival, you can choose to stroll around the downtown area, feel the local customs, and taste Xinjiang’s specialty cuisine such as big plate chicken and mutton kebabs.?
Day 2: Urumqi – Sayram Lake?
Depart for Sayram Lake in the morning to admire the magnificent sunrise scenery, take a self-driving tour around the lake or take the scenic area shuttle bus to experience the lake and mountain scenery. It is recommended to stay at an RV campsite near Sayram Lake in the evening, such as the Dianjiangtai Starry Sky Campsite, to experience the joy of being in close contact with nature.?
Day 3: Sayram Lake – Guozigou – Yining?
Get up early to enjoy the sunrise at Sayram Lake again, then head to Guozigou, cross the Guozigou Bridge, and overlook the magnificent gorge scenery. In the afternoon, arrive in Yining City, visit the old town of Yining, and taste local cuisine such as pilaf and lung kezi.?
Day 4: Yining – Zhaosu/Nalati?
There are two options: one is to head to Zhaosu County to visit Zhaosu Jade Lake, admire the blue ice wonders (in winter), visit Tianma Bathing River, and feel the charm of equestrian culture; the other is to go to the Nalati Grassland or Qiaxi Forest Park to enjoy the tranquil forest or grassland scenery.?
Day 5: Zhaosu/Nalati – Tekes?
If you went to Zhaosu the previous day, visit the Xiata Ancient Road, take a distant view of the Muzart Glacier, and head to Tekes Eight Trigram City in the afternoon to feel the unique charm of this city built according to the layout of the eight trigrams; if you went to Nalati the previous day, go directly to Tekes to prepare for the next day’s itinerary.?
Day 6: Tekes – Nalati/Duku Highway?
After visiting Tekes, you can choose to head to the Nalati Grassland to fully enjoy the beauty of the grassland; or travel through the Duku Highway, passing through the Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery, and feel the freedom and exhilaration of a road trip.?
Day 7: Nalati/Dushanzi – Urumqi?
After visiting the Nalati Grassland, return to Urumqi, or depart from Dushanzi to visit the Dushanzi Grand Canyon, and then return to Urumqi along the scenic S101 National Defense Highway to end the delightful trip.?
This guide covers the main attractions and special activities in the Yili region, but the specific itinerary can be adjusted appropriately according to personal interests and time. During the trip, please pay attention to weather changes and local customs and habits to ensure a pleasant and safe journey.?