For traveling in Xinjiang in April, it is recommended to visit Yili to admire apricot blossoms, tour Sayram Lake, and also explore natural landscapes such as Qiongkushitai and Qiaxi, experiencing the unique charm of Xinjiang.?
Yili Apricot Blossoms: In early April, the apricot blossoms in Tulgen, Yili, are gorgeous and enchanting, making it one of the best places for photography in Xinjiang’s spring. With green grasslands and valleys as the background, and sunlight hitting the hillsides at sunrise and sunset, light and shadow, pink and green intertwine, creating a fantastical scenery. Huocheng Daxi Valley is also rich in flower varieties, with various wild fruit trees blooming in spring, which is very special.?
Sayram Lake: It is known as ‘The Last Tear of the Atlantic Ocean’. In early April, Sayram Lake still has blue ice, which is beautiful beyond imagination. You can enjoy the lake scenery by the lake or choose to take a tour around the lake to appreciate the beauty from different angles. A tour around Sayram Lake is the most interesting, with 12 check-in points worth exploring.?
Qiongkushitai: This is a treasure-like Kazak village without excessive development, where you can see natural landscapes such as forests, lakes, grasslands, and snow-capped mountains. If you stay in Qiongkushitai, the scenery is very beautiful at dusk and dawn when the sun shines obliquely. In addition, it is also the starting point of hiking trails, with Karakun and the Ancient Wusun Road both starting from here.?
Qiaxi: It is praised as ‘The Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River) beyond the Great Wall is in Ili, and the most beautiful place in Ili is Qiaxi’. Here, you can camp and drive into the scenic area, freely choosing where to stay. The pure natural farms, undulating grasslands, and coniferous forests, coupled with cattle and sheep, constitute a beautiful picture. There may still be snow in April, while May sees the earliest green grasslands in Xinjiang.?
Other recommendations: Besides the aforementioned attractions, you can visit Turpan in April to experience the enthusiasm of the locals and explore attractions such as Flaming Mountain and Grape Valley; or head to Kashgar to experience the unique cluster of earth buildings and rich cultural atmosphere.?
In addition, Xinjiang has unpredictable weather, so please be sure to pack warm clothing and sunscreen for your trip. Meanwhile, due to the two-hour time difference between Xinjiang and the mainland, the sun sets later, and office hours are correspondingly postponed. Please arrange your itinerary reasonably.?