The autumn travel guide for Xinjiang mainly includes the best time to enjoy autumn, must-visit attractions, travel routes, and precautions.
Best Time to Enjoy Autumn:
Autumn in Xinjiang, from mid-September to mid-October, is the best time to enjoy autumn in Northern Xinjiang. During this period, the leaves change color significantly, creating the most beautiful scenery. Specifically, from early to mid-September, the leaves start to turn yellow, presenting a colorful scene in places like Kanas; from mid- to late-September, most of the leaves turn golden yellow, marking the best viewing period for autumn colors in Northern Xinjiang; in early October, although autumn is in full swing, note that cold fronts may cause leaves to fall prematurely.
Must-visit Attractions:
Kanas: Known as a "fairyland on earth", the leaves start to turn yellow in mid-September, transforming into a golden autumn fairy tale world by late September, with golden yellow, crimson, and dark green leaves intertwined, captivating visitors.
Hemu Village: Autumn in Hemu is a sea of colors,绚丽多彩, with wooden houses, snowy peaks, forests, meadows, blue skies, and white clouds blending together to form a stunning picture scroll.
Koktokay: Autumn in Koktokay is short but gorgeous. It begins to lose its verdant color in early September and turns into a sea of colors by late September, with the deepest autumn hues.
Sayram Lake: You can see lakes, snowy mountains, forests, and grasslands in one frame, making it a great place to enjoy autumn.
Travel Route:
You can choose to depart from Urumqi, passing through Tianshan Heavenly Lake, Fuyun, Koktokay, Burqin/Altay, and then to Kanas, Hemu, and other places, before finally returning to Urumqi. This route covers the most beautiful autumn scenic spots in Xinjiang, allowing you to fully experience the beauty of autumn in Xinjiang.
Precautions:
The temperature difference between morning and night in Xinjiang is very large, so it is necessary to prepare thick clothing for emergencies, such as down jackets and raincoats.
Xinjiang is vast in territory, and some scenic areas require walking, so choosing a pair of suitable sneakers is very important.
Xinjiang has intense UV radiation, so be sure to prepare sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, sun hats, etc.
Respect local customs and religious beliefs to avoid unnecessary trouble.
In addition, based on personal interests and schedules, one can choose to visit places such as Urho Magic City and Populus euphratica Forest to enjoy the autumn scenery and experience Xinjiang’s unique natural landscapes and cultural customs.