The best travel route in Xinjiang is difficult to determine solely because it depends on tourists’ preferences, travel time, and available travel days. However, the following classic travel routes are highly recommended and can be chosen according to individual needs:
Kanas Loop (5-7 days):
This route focuses on the Altay region and covers famous attractions such as Kanas, Hemu, Koktokay, and魔鬼城(Ghost Town).
Kanas Lake is as green as a mirror, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dense forests, earning it the reputation of a fairyland.
The morning light and chimney smoke in Hemu Village make people feel like they have entered a fairy tale world.
Yili Loop (6-10 days):
Visit the Ili River valley surrounded by the Tianshan Mountains, including Sayram Lake, Nalati, Xiata, and others.
Enjoy apricot blossoms in spring, grasslands in summer, orchards in autumn, and snowy landscapes in winter; each season has its own unique characteristics.
Kanas-Yili Loop (11-13 days):
Combining the essence of the Kanas Loop and the Yili Loop, it is the most essential natural scenery tourism route in Northern Xinjiang.
Suitable for tourists who want to deeply experience the natural beauty of Northern Xinjiang.
Great Northern Xinjiang Loop (13-17 days):
Self-driving around the entire Northern Xinjiang, besides the scenic spots in Kanas and Yili, also includes desert and Gobi landscapes in the Turpan, Hejing, and Hami areas of Eastern Xinjiang.
Suitable for tourists who want to fully experience the scenery and culture of Northern Xinjiang.
Great Southern Xinjiang Loop (13-17 days):
Focusing on experiencing humanistic customs, it mainly passes through places such as the Taklamakan Desert, the Pamir Plateau, and the Kunlun Mountains.
Ancient cities, thousand-Buddha caves, desert highways, and poplar forests are all remnants of the Silk Road.
In addition, there are also some special routes such as the summer resort and leisure tourism loop in the Taye Basin, the self-driving boutique tourism loop in East Tianshan, and the in-depth experience tour route in the Pamir Plateau, which are also worth visiting.
For tourists who enjoy self-driving, the Duku Highway is an unmissable “most beautiful highway in the Tianshan Mountains”, with a total length of 561 kilometers. It spans the Tianshan Mountains, and the landscapes along the way are rich and varied.
When choosing a travel route, it is recommended to arrange it according to your interests and time, while also considering seasonal and weather factors to ensure a smooth trip.
