Xinjiang Travel Guide: What are the differences between Southern Xinjiang and Northern Xinjiang?
After a month, I finally completed my journey across Xinjiang.
It has to be said that Xinjiang is a place where human and natural beauty converge, with majestic canyons and steep mountains. It not only has abundant natural tourism resources but also enthusiastic and diverse ethnic cultures.
The following article will introduce in detail whether one should go to Southern Xinjiang or Northern Xinjiang for their first trip to Xinjiang.
Differences between Northern Xinjiang and Southern Xinjiang
The differences between Northern Xinjiang and Southern Xinjiang are mainly experienced in scenery, human geography, and historical culture.
The core of tourism in Northern Xinjiang lies in natural scenery, focusing on visual enjoyment through the eyes; the core of tourism in Southern Xinjiang lies in history and human geography, focusing on spiritual insights and shocking life experiences.
Generally speaking, young people prefer to see scenery, while middle-aged and elderly people are more interested in culture. Therefore, when traveling to Xinjiang, most young people will choose Northern Xinjiang, while those who like human geography, history, and culture mostly choose Southern Xinjiang.
Two Tourism Routes in Northern Xinjiang
1. Ili Route: This is the most scenic and tourism resource-rich route in Xinjiang; including Sayram Lake, Tuergen apricot blossoms (April), Yili Huocheng Lavender Base (June), Kazanqi in Yining, Khorgos, Kuldining in Gongliu, one million mu of rapeseed flowers in Zhaosu, Tekes Eight Trigrams City, Karajun Grassland, Nileke Tangbula, Nalati in Xinyuan, etc. After that, follow the Duku Highway to the Devil’s City in Karamay, and then return to Urumqi.
2. Altay Route: This is the second largest tourism resource-rich area in Xinjiang; from Kanas and Hemu in Burqin, to Baihaba and五彩滩 (Colorful Beach), and then to Keketuohai in Wensu, Altay.
Northern Xinjiang, a must-visit destination
1. Sayram Lake. Best travel time: June to early August. Wildflowers dotted around the lake, cattle and sheep grazing freely on the hills, and a graceful, mirror-like lake surface constitute the most beautiful scenery of Sayram Lake.
2. Kanas + Hemu. Kanas is most beautiful during the golden autumn season, with colorful forests and a dazzling lake surface. Stay in Hemu at night. The sunset scenery in Hemu, the sunrise in the morning, the mist in the light, and the red sun on the horizon are breathtakingly beautiful.
3. Duku Highway. There are two self-driving highways in China: one is the 318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway, and the other is the Duku Highway in Xinjiang. Due to weather conditions, the Duku Highway is usually open in early June and closed around October, with only four months of operation.
Cliffs, snowy mountains, grassland lakes, cattle and sheep, blue skies and white clouds, winding roads stretching endlessly. Among travelers’ reviews, the Duku Highway is the most beautiful scenic route in Xinjiang, surpassing the Yizhao Highway (Yining to Zhaosu).
4. Tekes Eight Trigrams City. Ride the ferris wheel to see the panoramic view of Tekes Eight Trigrams City. It is visually stunning and soul-stirring.
5. Karajun Grassland is the second most popular attraction in Yili. There are many activities to enjoy, such as sightseeing buses, boats, cable cars, and horse riding.
Scenic Spots in Southern Xinjiang
One of the scenic spots worth visiting in southern Xinjiang is the Bayanbulak Grassland. The grasslands I have been to include: Tagong Grassland, Maoya Grassland, Ruoergai Grassland, but it seems that Bayanbulak Grassland is the most beautiful among all the grasslands I have visited.
It is even better than the Karajun Grassland mentioned earlier, especially Swan Lake and Nine-Bend and Eighteen-Turn River. After seeing the beautiful scenery here, other places will seem uninteresting.
The Bayanbulak Grassland is at an altitude of 2,500 meters. The best time to visit is from June to September. By October, the grass starts to turn yellow, lacking the vibrant spirit of a jade-green grassland. During the summer vacation period, rooms here are almost fully booked, so it is best to book in advance.
Southern Xinjiang is rich in human landscapes related to geography and history. It can be said that everywhere is culture. Especially the Kashgar Old Town, which is full of historical and cultural significance. It is one of the largest existing earth-built architectural groups in the world. Every piece of earth is culture.
If you want to have a good understanding of Xinjiang’s past culture, the Xinjiang Museum in Urumqi is a good choice. The geography and history of ancient Western Regions can be understood through the museum. By reading about Xinjiang’s past, you can feel the profoundness of Xinjiang’s culture.
Xinjiang Cuisine
The cuisine in both northern and southern Xinjiang is delicious and abundant. You must visit local people’s homes or restaurants run by locals. Large plate chicken, hand-grabbed rice, noodles with sauce, grilled mutton kebabs, baked stuffed buns, yogurt, ice cream, baked naan, and so on. There are also grapes,哈密瓜 (Hami melons), Korla fragrant pears, Aksu walnuts, Ruoqiang dates, etc. Just thinking about them makes my mouth water.
For more about Xinjiang, if you have any questions that are unclear, you can send me a private message (you must follow me first to send a private message). I promise to tell you everything I know. Wish you a happy trip!
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456