Xinjiang boasts numerous classic tourist routes, and here are a few routes that cannot be missed:
1. Kanas Loop Route:
Duration: 5-7 days.
Highlights: Kanas, Hemu, Koktokay,魔鬼城 (Devil’s City), etc., each place is a fairyland-like scenery of absolute beauty.
Experience: Take a cruise boat and gently glide across the surface of Kanas Lake, surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains and dense forests, as if able to wash away the dust of the soul.
2. Yili Loop Route:
Duration: 6-10 days.
Highlights: Sayram Lake, Nalati, Xiata, etc., the stunning scenery at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains is so enchanting that one forgets to leave.
Feature: This route covers the richest natural landscapes in Xinjiang, from lakes to grasslands, and then to snow-capped mountains, all available.
3. Kanas-Yili Loop Route:
Duration: 11-13 days.
Highlights: Combining the essence of Kanas and Yili, two popular online attractions, this is the most exquisite natural scenery tour of northern Xinjiang.
Recommendation: For tourists with relatively ample time and who wish to deeply experience the natural beauty of Xinjiang, this route is an excellent choice.
4. North Xinjiang Grand Loop Route:
Duration: 13-17 days, although some say it takes 15 days.
Highlights: A self-driving tour of northern Xinjiang allows you to experience the magnificent scenery of deserts, Gobi, snow-capped mountains, and grasslands, serving as a collection of Xinjiang’s natural beauty.
Feature: This route covers all the classic attractions in northern Xinjiang and is a route with high visual appeal.
5. South Xinjiang Grand Loop Route:
Duration: 13-17 days, although some say it’s 4800 kilometers in total and can be completed in 15 days.
Highlights: Pamir Plateau, Kunlun Mountains, Taklamakan Desert, etc., a perfect fusion of cultural customs and natural landscapes.
Experience: This route is more suitable for tourists who enjoy adventure and artistic atmosphere, allowing them to deeply feel the desolate and magnificent beauty of Xinjiang.
In addition, there is the Duku Highway, a route popular with self-driving enthusiasts. The Duku Highway is 561 kilometers long and features fantastic scenery where ‘ten li (a unit of distance) bring different skies, and a single day brings four seasons’, attracting a large number of tourists every year to experience it.
In general, Xinjiang boasts numerous classic tourist routes, each with its unique charm and highlights. Tourists can choose a route suitable for themselves according to their interests and time, and deeply experience the beauty and mystery of Xinjiang.