This guide to traveling in Xinjiang is enough. Must-read travel tips for Xinjiang
Consultation hotline for chartered bus tours in Xinjiang: 0991-8585456 (same number)
Best Travel Season
The best travel season is from June to October. The temperature is suitable during this time (some scenic spots are closed in winter due to snow). In June, you can visit Yili to see the lavender fields, while in July and August, you can admire the vast and lush grasslands. In September and October, the golden autumn scenery of Kanas is even more breathtaking. However, it should be noted that there is a large temperature difference between morning and evening in Xinjiang, especially in Kanas, where the annual average temperature is only 4°C. It is truly a place where you ‘wear a cotton-padded jacket in the morning, a gauze shirt in the afternoon, and eat watermelon by the fireplace’.
Golden Autumn
Kanas
The light green Kanas Lake winds its way through, with golden yellow and dark green trees alternating along the shore, making the lake look crystal clear. The tall and straight poplar trees, dressed in golden cloaks, dance gracefully in the gentle breeze. The sky over the grassland is unusually azure, with fluffy white clouds gazing affectionately at the autumn-dressed trees on the hillside. The rustling autumn wind stains the Kanas forest area golden, and the trees also put on golden coats, creating an intoxicating autumn scenery.
Hemu
The distant place in my dream
A river, a forest and grassland, an ancient ethnicity and village, this is the beautiful Hemu, the fairy tale world of Kanas. After the spring breeze blows, the grassland turns green, and colorful wildflowers bloom in full swing. Climbing up the small hillsides around Hemu Village, you can overlook the panoramic view. The rows of neat Tuva log cabins blend naturally and harmoniously with the surrounding environment.
A romantic flower sea amidst lakes and mountains
Sayram Lake
Sayram Lake is located in the west of Xinjiang, close to places like Yili and Huocheng. Most tourists will come here when traveling the western route of Xinjiang (i.e., the Yili route). Sayram Lake is backed by snow-capped mountains and bordered by vast grasslands. Even if you have seen Kanas Lake and Namtso Lake in Tibet, when you first see Sayram Lake, you will still be amazed by its beauty.
A masterpiece of nature
Ghost City
It is on the distant road back to Urumqi, located on the west side of the Junggar Basin. It is a typical Xinjiang landscape – Yardang landform, wild and impressive in aura. At the same time, under the setting sun, it is colorful. Whenever the sun sets, the colorful light reflected here will make you doubt whether you are on earth.
A picturesque self-driving route
Yili Guozigou
Guozigou is located 40 kilometers northeast of Huocheng County and is a necessary passage on the G312 National Highway from Urumqi to Yili. In spring and summer, it is the most beautiful valley in western Xinjiang, with the best time being from late May to September each year. From any slope of Guozigou, you can capture the boundless beauty of the forest belt and mountain ridges. The viaduct in Guozigou is also stunning and is one of the most beautiful self-driving roads in China.
A beautiful scenery on earth
Nalati Grassland
Nalati Grassland is located in the east of Nalati Town, Xinyuan County, and is ranked as one of the four major valley grasslands in the world, renowned alongside Swiss mountain pastures. The terrain slopes from southeast to northwest. The wilderness is densely covered with mountain springs, with streams forming a network, rivers crisscrossing, and forests flourishing. It is praised as the "grassland in the sky". Nalati Grassland has been a famous pasture since ancient times. Valleys, peaks, deep gorges, and forests add radiance and beauty to each other.
A holy place
Tashkurgan
The road conditions to Tashkurgan are not good at all. Although it is only 300 kilometers, dangers are hidden everywhere. But as soon as you turn into the mountain pass, the dazzling beauty of the snow-capped mountains gathering around on all sides will greet you, with sunlight and snow light alternating, sacred and uncontaminated.
A romantic purple world
Muzart
Only by coming here in summer can you wait for the beautiful scenery of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, pastures, and flower fields intertwined under the blue sky. In the distance are silver-white snow-capped mountains, and at your feet are winding glaciers. The pasture is full of green, complemented by thin yellow and dark purple rape flowers and lavender fields; it is serene, beautiful, and breathtaking.
2. The temperature difference between morning and evening in Xinjiang is relatively large, reaching about 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. In addition, for some situations, such as overnight stays at Tianchi, visiting the Nanshan Pasture, climbing Glacier No. 1, visiting Kanas Lake, or going to Bayinbulak Grassland, you need to bring outerwear, sweaters, and other clothing.
3. Due to the vast territory of Xinjiang, the travel time by car is relatively long. In many cases, tourists need to get off the bus to walk or personally experience the fun of horse riding and camel riding. Therefore, a pair of suitable shoes is particularly important.
4. Although the temperature in Xinjiang is slightly lower than that of the inland regions, due to the high altitude of many areas in Xinjiang, the ultraviolet radiation is intense. Therefore, tourists should prepare sufficient and effective sunscreen products, as well as medications or instant drinks that can clear heat, quench thirst, and moisturize, such as Xiasangju instant drink and Shidi Shui, to avoid being unable to bear the excessively dry and hot climate.
Consultation hotline for chartered bus tours in Xinjiang: 0991-8585456 (same number)