There are multiple options for travel routes from Urumqi to Ili. The following is a classic and detailed self-driving tour route**:
Departure and the first leg of the journey:
Starting from Urumqi, you will first pass through the G30 Lianhuo Expressway, G312 National Highway, or S101 Provincial Highway to Changji. This section is about 150 kilometers, where you can enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery of the Tianshan Mountains and have the opportunity to taste Xinjiang’s special cuisine, such as roast whole sheep and hand-grabbed meat.
Changji to Shihezi section:
Continue forward for about 170 kilometers to reach Shihezi City. The scenery along the way is relatively monotonous, but you can feel the vast farmland scenery of Xinjiang and experience the local living atmosphere in Shihezi City.
From Shihezi to Kuitun and beyond:
Starting from Shihezi, drive another about 200 kilometers along the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain, where the scenery is beautiful, and you can enjoy the snowy scenery of Tianshan Mountain. Afterwards, you can choose to visit Dushanzi Grand Canyon to feel the grandeur of nature.
In the following itinerary, you can also take a tour around Sayram Lake, explore Guozigou, stroll in lavender fields, and continue to Yining and other places.
Deep into the Ili area:
In the Ili area, you can choose to visit the Nalati Aerial Grassland and Bayanbulak Grassland to experience the vastness and magnificent beauty of the grasslands.
You can also choose to take the Yizhao Highway, cross Xiata, challenge the Muzart Glacier, arrive in Zhaosu, and continue to visit attractions such as Tianshan Flower Sea and Tianma Bathing River.
Return or continue exploring:
After visiting the main attractions in the Ili area, you can choose to return to Urumqi along the northern section of the Duku Highway to end your journey.
Of course, if you have enough time, you can continue to explore other regions of Xinjiang, such as Kanas Scenic Area and吉克普林International Ski Resort.
This route covers the classic attractions and unique scenery from Urumqi to Ili, suitable for self-driving tour lovers to deeply experience the magnificent and mysterious Xinjiang. During the journey, you can also flexibly adjust the itinerary according to your time and interests, ensuring that every trip is full of surprises and fun.