The October travel guide for northern Xinjiang mainly includes itinerary planning, dressing guide, recommended attractions, and precautions.
Itinerary Planning
October’s itinerary in northern Xinjiang can be arranged to be rich and varied. Here is a recommended 8-day itinerary:
Day1: Departure – Urumqi (airport pickup)
Day2: Urumqi – S21 Desert Expressway – Passing by Ulungur Lake – Wucai Beach – Burqin
Day3: Burqin – Kanas Lake – Shenxian Bay – Wolong Bay – Moon Bay – Jiadenyu
Day4: Jiadenyu – Hemu Ancient Village – Hemu
Day5: Hemu – Urho Devil’s City – Huyang Forest – Karamay (or Kuitun)
Day6: Karamay (or Kuitun) – Sayram Lake – Sayram Lake Scenic Area
Day7: Sayram Lake – Second Visit to Sayram Lake for a Walk – Urumqi
Day8: Urumqi (airport transfer) – Warm Home
Dressing Guide
The average temperature in northern Xinjiang in October is around 5°C~14°C, mainly sunny, but with a large temperature difference between morning and night. It is recommended to bring suits, thin sweaters, trench coats, casual wear, jackets, overcoats, as well as down jackets or windbreakers for warmth.
Meanwhile, due to the dry weather in Xinjiang, you also need to prepare skincare products such as lotion, cream, body lotion, hand cream, and lip balm.
Recommended attractions
Kanas: A mysterious alpine lake with water that presents different colors, beautiful beyond description.
Hemu: Smoke rises slowly in the autumn scenery, forming a fantastic smoke band, as if it is a fairyland.
Wucai Beach: A river separates the two banks, with two different worlds. Different rock minerals create various colors.
S101 Baili Danxia: Driving in the Tianshan Mountains, the scenery along the way is picturesque, including Kazakh pastures and other beautiful sights.
Urho Huyang Forest: Wander through the golden Huyang trees and feel the sense of historical depth.
Precautions
Xinjiang becomes cold in October, so make sure to keep warm and carry some cash with you for emergencies.
In some places in Xinjiang, the network may be poor, so it is recommended to download offline maps or navigation software in advance.
When renting a car for a self-drive tour, ensure that the vehicle is in good condition and carry necessary driving documents and insurance.
The autumn climate is dry and UV rays are intense, so you need to bring high-moisturizing skincare products and sunscreen.
If you plan to be away for more than four days, it is recommended to bring common medications to deal with possible minor issues.
I hope this travel guide for northern Xinjiang in October can provide useful references for your trip.