I’m from Xinjiang, and I have some advice for friends who are coming to Xinjiang. Xinjiang is vast in territory and abundant in resources. If you want to travel to Xinjiang, think about the places and routes you want to go, and do your homework in advance. Your goal must be clear. If you’re traveling by car, be mentally prepared because Xinjiang is huge. The distance between each city is too far apart. Just understand it this way: if you take a one-hour car ride in Xinjiang, you’re still in Xinjiang. If you take another ten-hour car ride, you’re still in Xinjiang. You have to understand it like this. This is not the mainland where you can travel through several provinces and cities in just a ten-hour car ride.
Firstly, the suggestion for friends coming to Xinjiang for the first time is to join a tour group. This can save time and expenses because the distances between attractions and between cities are too far. Tour groups have mature routes and processes. Compared to other options, their costs are still very cost-effective. If you travel alone, just going to each attraction and city will greatly increase your expenses, not to mention eating specialty delicacies. If you have relatives in Xinjiang, you can travel alone, after all, you won’t have to worry about food and accommodation expenses.
Second, the weather in Xinjiang is unpredictable, truly embodying the saying, ‘Wear a fur coat in the morning and a gauze shirt in the afternoon, eating watermelon by the fireplace.’ The temperature difference is particularly large, especially at attractions like Tianchi and Kanas, where the temperature difference is even greater than other places. And places like Turpan’s Grape Valley are especially hot. These attractions are usually a must-visit for tourists in Xinjiang. Therefore, while preparing thick clothes, also pay attention to sunscreen clothing.
Third, Xinjiang hardly has a spring. If you are not coming during the peak tourist season, you can come from March to May. At this time, oceanic cold air begins to enter, causing more wind and sand in Xinjiang during spring. Precipitation also increases, and temperatures gradually rise. The scenery of Xinjiang’s mountains and grasslands in spring is still nice. Going to southern Xinjiang at this time is a good choice, with rapeseed fields, apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, and other flowers blooming in competition. The cost is relatively lower. The drawback is that Xinjiang’s fruits are not in season, so you can’t taste the delicious fruits.
Fifth, from September to November in autumn, Xinjiang has already entered autumn, with cold waves slowly arriving. The sky is clear and the air is crisp. At this time, Xinjiang is a combination of harvest and coolness, where you can enjoy the harvest of fruits and the temptation of delicacies. However, it can also be quite cold because the heating season in Xinjiang begins in October, and the cost at this time is relatively low. For foodies, from winter (February) to the next February, the snowy landscape is Xinjiang’s unique ice and snow charm. During this time, you can come to ski and enjoy the ice and snow scenery and the charm of Xinjiang’s winter!
Sixth, if you join a tour group when coming to Xinjiang, the tour group usually provides meals, which are all specialty delicacies. When meals are not provided, eat near the hotel and look for local delicacies. If you want to buy local specialties, search online yourself to find where the more cost-effective local specialties are. This way, you can save money and trouble.
Special reminder for friends coming to Xinjiang for tourism:
1. Plan your route well! Because the roads in Xinjiang are very long! Try to travel along the way as much as possible, and never take detours or backtrack.
3. If you love taking photos, remember to clear your phone’s memory, bring enough memory cards or portable storage devices for your camera, and it is recommended to bring two 10,000mAh power banks instead of one 20,000mAh power bank, so you can always have one fully charged power bank on hand.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456