Travel Planning for Yili, Xinjiang?
I. Itinerary Arrangement?
Day 1: Departure to Urumqi?
Upon arrival in Urumqi, it is recommended to rest early to conserve energy for the upcoming journey. Urumqi is the gateway city to Xinjiang, where you can initially feel the exotic atmosphere and rich cultural flavor.?
Day 2: Urumqi to Yining?
Visit Sayram Lake, where the lake water shows layers of blue and green as the light changes. In June, the golden lotus flowers bloom along the lakeside, and in winter, you can witness the magnificent ice pushing phenomenon. Cycling around the lake and camping under the starry sky are particularly recommended experiences.?
Overnight stay in Yining.?
Day 3: In-depth tour of Yining?
Visit the Lavender Base and feel the fragrance of lavender.?
Visit Kazanqi Folk Tourism Area to experience Uyghur customs.?
Overnight stay in Yining.?
Day 4: Yining to Tekes?
Visit Karajun Grassland, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site famous for its human-shaped grassland curves. In May and June, the Flower Platform turns into a colorful carpet, and from Eagle Hunting Platform, you can overlook the main peak of Mount Tianshan.?
Arrive in Tekes, take a night tour of Bagua City, and explore the unique cultural charm of the world’s largest ancient city with a bagua layout.?
Overnight stay in Tekes.?
Day 5: Tekes to Nalati?
Visit Qiaxi and enjoy the magnificent scenery.?
Arrive in Nalati and visit Nalati Grassland, one of the four major alpine river valley grasslands in the world. Nalati Grassland is famous for its three-dimensional grassland landscape. In summer, wildflowers bloom all over the mountains, and in winter, it is covered with snow.?
Overnight stay in Nalati.?
Day 6: Nalati to Yining?
Visit Liuxing Street to experience the urban culture of Yining.?
Return to Yining, take a leisurely walk around the city, and feel the local lifestyle.?
Overnight stay in Yining.?
Day 7: Yining to Urumqi?
Visit Dushanzi Grand Canyon and feel its magnificent scenery.?
Return to Urumqi to end the pleasant journey.?
Day 8: Urumqi to departure point?
Return to the departure point according to flight or train schedule.?
II. Food Recommendations?
Local snacks: Milk tea, pilaf, flour soup, flavored buns (including baked buns, water-fried buns, and thin-skinned buns), Narun (a noodle dish with a prairie flavor), spicy cans, and blood sausage.?
Fruits and specialties: Apples, bee products, famous liquor, pilose antler, and snow lotus from Yili.?
Traditional flavors: Kuaimianfei (filled lung and rice sausage) is a traditional snack favored by the Uyghur people, which is soft, tender, glutinous, and fresh. Smoked horse sausage is a top-grade smoked meat with a strong aroma and is resistant to storage.?
Specialty drinks: The unique Russian-flavored beverage Kavas in Yining tastes a bit like honey-flavored beer, which is appetizing and easy to get drunk.?
III. Accommodation Recommendations?
Ctrip four-diamond and classic homestays ensure a comfortable accommodation experience during the trip.?
IV. Precautions?
Clothing: The climate in Yili is mostly dry with long sunshine hours. The rainy season is concentrated in June and July, and the temperature difference between morning and night is large. During summer, attention should be paid to sunscreen while also keeping warm. In winter, it is necessary to prepare thick warm clothing, anti-slip snow boots, gloves, scarves, etc.?
Safety: Yili has many interesting tourist activities, such as horse riding, hiking, photography, etc. Tourists can choose suitable activities according to their interests and hobbies, but safety should be taken into consideration.?
Environmental protection: During the tour, tourists should pay attention to protecting the ecological environment and not randomly destroy vegetation and cultural relics.?
Itinerary arrangement: It is recommended to reasonably arrange the itinerary according to the opening hours of attractions and traffic conditions to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience. Some attractions require advance reservation of tickets.?
Through the above planning, I believe you will be able to fully experience the natural beauty and cultural customs of Yili, Xinjiang, and have an unforgettable journey.?