The best tourist routes in Xinjiang depend on tourists’ preferences and travel time. However, several classic routes are highly recommended**:?
Kanas Circle Route (5-7 days): This route focuses on the Altay region, including scenic spots such as Kanas, Hemu, Koktokay, and Devil’s City. Kanas Lake is green and clear, and Hemu Village is primitive and fairy-tale-like. It is an excellent choice to experience the natural beauty of Xinjiang. The best travel time is from September to October.?
Ili Circle Route (6-10 days): This route covers the Ili River Valley surrounded by the Tianshan Mountains, such as Sayram Lake, Nalati, and Xiata. Sayram Lake is known as ‘the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean’, and the Nalati Grassland is vast and endless. It is suitable for travel from May to August, when the grassland is green and wildflowers are blooming.?
Kanas-Ili Circle Route (11-13 days): Combining the essence of the Kanas Circle Route and the Ili Circle Route, it is the most exquisite natural scenery tourism route in Northern Xinjiang. Suitable for travel from May to October, tourists can enjoy the stunning scenery of Kanas and Ili at one time.?
Northern Xinjiang Grand Circle Route (13-17 days): A self-driving route around the entire Northern Xinjiang, besides the scenic spots in Kanas and Ili, it also includes the desert and Gobi landscapes in Turpan, Hejing, and Hami in Eastern Xinjiang. Suitable for travel from May to November, it is one of the most comprehensive self-driving routes in Xinjiang.?
Southern Xinjiang Grand Circle Route (13-17 days): It faces the Northern Xinjiang Grand Circle Route across the Tianshan Mountains, focusing on experiencing human culture. It mainly passes through the Taklamakan Desert, Pamir Plateau, Kunlun Mountains, etc., and is an excellent choice to feel the profound cultural heritage of Xinjiang. The best travel season is from September to November and from March to May.?
In addition, there are well-known self-driving routes such as the Duku Highway, which is also deeply loved by tourists. The Duku Highway is 561 kilometers long and has a magical scenery of ‘ten li with different weather, four seasons in one day’. It attracts many self-driving enthusiasts every year.?
Tourists can choose suitable routes according to their interests and time to experience the magnificent scenery and unique culture of Xinjiang.?