The self-guided tour travel guide for Yili, Xinjiang mainly includes the best travel time, must-visit attractions, route recommendations, and practical suggestions.?
Best travel time:?
The golden period for visiting Yili, Xinjiang is from May to October. Among them, June to August is the peak beauty period of Yili, with lush green grasslands, wildflowers blooming freely, and a particularly pleasant climate, making it a heaven for escaping the summer heat?
Must-visit attractions:?
Salimu Lake: Xinjiang’s largest alpine lake, with lake water as blue as a gem and surrounding scenery like a fairy tale. Driving around the lake allows you to encounter lake and mountain scenery from different angles?
Guozigou Bridge: A magnificent modern bridge perfectly integrated with the natural beauty of mountains and rivers. Standing on the viewing platform, you can easily capture a panoramic view of the bridge?
Huocheng Lavender Fields: From June to July, when the lavender blooms, this place instantly transforms into China’s Provence, with a vast sea of purple flowers that are romantic and charming?
Nalati Grassland: Known as the ‘aerial grassland’, it interweaves snow-capped mountains, forests, and grasslands. You can ride horses or hike to appreciate the beautiful scenery?
Kalajun Grassland: It integrates grasslands, forests, and canyons. The landscapes such as colorful meadows are breathtakingly beautiful. Hiking through it allows for an overhead view of the magnificent grassland scenery?
Route recommendations:?
You can choose different itinerary arrangements such as a 6-day or 8-day tour of the Yili loop route, based on personal time and interests. For example, a 6-day Yili loop tour can include Urumqi, Salimu Lake, Yining, Lavender Fields, Xiata, Zhaosu/Tekes, and other places?
; An 8-day tour allows for a more in-depth exploration of the beautiful scenery in and around Yili?
Practical suggestions:?
Grassland selection: There are many grasslands in Yili. Choosing 2-3 of them is sufficient to avoid aesthetic fatigue?
Salimu Lake tourism route: It is recommended to enter from the East Gate and exit from the South Gate. Don’t miss the beautiful scenery at Songshutou?
Shopping and food: For local specialties, you can go to Jinquan Market. For delicious food, Tianhe Second Street and Lingguan Alley are recommended. For fruits, it is advisable to go to supermarkets or farmers’ markets?
Tourism method: The distances between attractions are relatively far apart. It is recommended to reasonably arrange the itinerary and not be too compact. If you have limited time, it is recommended to spend 7-8 days in Yili?
The above information is for reference only. Specific itinerary and arrangements need to be adjusted according to personal actual circumstances. Wish you a pleasant self-guided tour in Yili, Xinjiang!?