The recommended itinerary for a free-and-easy trip to Yili is a circular route, covering various landscapes such as forests, canyons, grasslands, lakes, deserts, and wetlands. Here is a detailed itinerary planning and attraction recommendation:?
Itinerary Planning:?
Day 1: Urumqi – Anjihai Grand Canyon – Kuitun?
Day 2: Kuitun – Sayram Lake – Yining City/Qingshuihe, enjoy the beautiful scenery of Guozigou Bridge.?
Day 3: Yining – Jade Lake – Zhaosu, or choose to visit Kalajun Grassland.?
Day 4: Zhaosu – Qiongkushitai – Tekes, Tekes Eight Trigrams City has no traffic lights in the inner city and is suitable for aerial photography.?
Day 5: Tekes – Qiaxi Forest – Gongliu, Qiaxi Valley is suitable for light hiking.?
Day 6: Gongliu – Nalati, Nalati Grassland allows self-driving into the scenic area to appreciate the intertwined beauty of snow-capped mountains, forests, and grasslands.?
Day 7: Nalati – Kumtag Desert – Shanshan, experience the desert scenery.?
Day 8: Shanshan – Mazha Village – Urumqi, end of the trip.?
Must-visit Attractions:?
Sayram Lake: Xinjiang’s largest alpine gem, with sapphire-blue waters and picturesque surroundings.?
Qiongkushitai: The northern entrance of the Ancient Wusun Road, suitable for exploring by hiking or horseback riding.?
Qiaxi: A scenic valley suitable for light hiking.?
Nalati Grassland: Known as the ‘Aerial Grassland’, where you can ride horses or hike to appreciate the beautiful scenery.?
Kalajun Grassland: A combination of grassland, forest, and canyon, with breathtaking landscapes such as colorful meadows.?
Travel Tips:?
Xinjiang has large temperature differences in summer, so remember to bring a jacket and a rain jacket.?
Prepare essential items such as trekking poles, insulated water bottles, lip balm, sunscreen, and skincare products.?
Bring along outdoor equipment such as quick-drying clothes, sunglasses, fleece caps, sun hats, and sports shoes.?
Xinjiang has strict security checks, so please carry your ID card with you.?
UV rays are intense, so sunscreen protection must be adequate.?
Prepare food and water to cope with any unexpected needs during long-distance travel.?
In addition, Yili Region also has attractions worth visiting such as the Duku Highway, Bayinbuluke Grassland, Yizhao Highway, and Xiannv Lake Scenic Area.?
. When planning your itinerary, you can choose based on your interests and time to ensure a pleasant and fulfilling journey.?