The Xinjiang self-drive travel guide mainly includes route planning, best travel times, precautions, and other key points.?
I. Route Planning?
Xinjiang is vast and sparsely populated, with scattered attractions and diverse self-drive routes. You can choose different circle routes or classic routes based on your time and interests:?
Xinjiang Grand Circle Route: A total of 12,000 kilometers, requiring more than 40 days of self-driving. It crosses both Northern and Southern Xinjiang, offering a diverse range of scenery.?
Northern Xinjiang Grand Circle Route: A total of 5,000 kilometers, requiring 15 days of self-driving. It focuses on natural scenery, including Kanas, Ili, and other places.?
Southern Xinjiang Grand Circle Route: A total of 5,000 kilometers, requiring 15 days of self-driving. It focuses on historical culture, covering places like Kashgar and Hotan.?
Kayi Grand Circle Route: A total of 3,300 kilometers, requiring 11 days of self-driving. It combines the essence of Kanas in Northern Xinjiang and Ili in Southern Xinjiang.?
Duku Highway: With a total length of 561 kilometers, it stretches from Dushanzi to Kuqa, crossing the Tianshan Mountains. It is known as the "Most Beautiful Highway in Tianshan" and is recommended to visit from June to September when road conditions are best.?
II. Best Travel Times?
June to September: The grasslands are lush and green, and wildflowers bloom romantically, making it suitable for the Northern Xinjiang Grand Circle Route and the Ili Circle Route.?
Mid-October: The autumn scenery in Kanas is breathtakingly beautiful, with golden poplar forests, making it an excellent time for photography. The Southern Xinjiang Grand Circle Route is also best at this time.?
III. Precautions?
Document preparation: ID card, driver’s license (essential), and in some areas, a border defense permit is required.?
Vehicle preparation: Check the brake system, and a spare tire is essential. Carry a complete set of tools and some spare parts just in case.?
Daily necessities: Sunscreen (Xinjiang’s sun is intense), vacuum flask (due to large temperature differences), commonly used medications (to prevent altitude sickness), and power banks (essential for charging devices in remote areas).?
Car rental advice: Renting a car from Urumqi is relatively cheap. Choose a car with higher comfort, especially if traveling with children.?
Clothing preparation: Xinjiang has a large temperature difference, especially during winter travel. Be sure to pack enough clothing and consider buying some heat-generating insoles.?
Snacks preparation: Often, meals cannot be taken promptly on the road, so prepare enough snacks to stave off hunger.?
A self-drive tour in Xinjiang not only allows you to admire the magnificent natural scenery but also experience the rich ethnic cultures, making it an unforgettable travel experience.?