Must-visit attractions and recommended free-and-easy travel routes in Xinjiang travel guide
1. When is the best time to visit Xinjiang?
It is often said that the peak season in Xinjiang is from May to October, but Xinjiang is so vast and beautiful throughout the year.
January – February: Hemu Snow Village, Kanas Snow Village, Kashgar in southern Xinjiang, Muztagh Glacier. At this time, Xinjiang has fewer people and beautiful scenery.
March – April: Be aware that spring is approaching in Xinjiang. This is a great time to see apricot blossoms. Apricot blossoms in Tashkurgan County (Datong Township, Bandier Township), Nalati Apricot Blossom Valley… The apricot blossom season varies slightly each year, so please refer to specific notices.
May: Southern Xinjiang gradually enters summer, while northern Xinjiang enters spring. Kanas has not yet entered spring and requires green grass. At this time, you can see the blooming flowers in Ili, with different scenery depending on the flowering season.
June – August: Xinjiang is fully open for business. The entire region is a great destination.
September: Don’t go to Ili at this time. Once the grasslands in Ili turn yellow, they are not as beautiful. The main attractions are in Kanas and southern Xinjiang.
October: The birch forest in Kanas and the poplar forest in southern Xinjiang.
November – December: Same as January – February.
2. What are the classic travel routes in Xinjiang?
Xinjiang boasts numerous attractions and various travel routes. Specific travel itineraries need to be arranged according to the duration of the visit. Here are a few routes for your reference:
8-Day Quality Self-Guided Group Tour of Northern Xinjiang
Day 1: Arrival in Urumqi, the world-famous ‘Homeland of Song and Dance, Fruits and Melons, Gold and Jade’ → Airport Pickup (24/7 airport/high-speed rail pickup)
Check into the hotel. (Free Activities → Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum → Visit the International Grand Bazaar)
Day 2: Urumqi → Karamay’s Hundred-Mile Oilfield → Irtysh River, China’s Only River Flowing into the Arctic Ocean; Colorful Beach by the River → Burqin
Day 3: Burqin → Kanas, a Pure Land on Earth → Jiadenyu
Day 4: Jiadenyu → God’s Backyard Garden: Hemu, China’s First Village → Burqin
Day 5: Burqin → Drive-by View of Urho Magic City → Urumqi
Day 6: Urumqi → ‘Flaming Mountains Turpan’, Asia’s Largest Wind Farm, Ten-Mile Salt Lake, Passing through Dabancheng Ancient Town, Flaming Mountain, Ancient Three Water Sources
Karez Irrigation System (one of the beneficial irrigation projects), Vineyard (taste seasonal fruits, enjoy Uyghur-style dance and songs) → Urumqi
Day 7: Urumqi → Western Regions Grand Bazaar, Tianshan Tianchi Alpine Lake, Bogda Peak Snow Mountain → Urumqi
Day 8: Tour Conclusion in Urumqi
12-Day Quality Group Tour of Northern Xinjiang’s Grand Loop Route
Day 1: Airport Pickup – Check-in
Day 2: Urumqi — Koktokay — Fuyun
Day 3: Fuyun — Colorful Beach — Burqin
Day 4: Burqin — Hemu — Jiadenyu
Day 5: Jiadenyu — Kanas Lake — Karamay
Day 6: Karamay — Urho Magic City — Sayram Lake — Qingshuihe/Yining
Day 7: Yining — Nalati Grassland — Bayanbulak
Day 8: Bayanbulak Grassland — Hejing
Day 9: Hejing — Turpan/Urumqi
Day 10: Turpan — Flaming Mountain — Kanerjing — Grape Manor — Urumqi
Day 11: Urumqi — Mount Tianshan Tian Chi — Urumqi
Day 12: Urumqi — Airport Transfer for Departure
Xinjiang is too large to fully explore in one trip, and several trips are too expensive. There are many attractions and itineraries that can be combined, such as the North-South Xinjiang Grand Circuit,霍尔果斯口岸 (Horgos Border Port), Turpan’s Flaming Mountain, the Taklamakan Desert, and more.
Precautions for Traveling in Xinjiang
1. Xinjiang is two hours ahead of the mainland, but the entire region uses Beijing time for daily activities;
3. The temperature difference between day and night is large, with a difference of about 20 degrees Celsius. If staying overnight at Tianchi, Nalati Pasture, or visiting Kanas Lake, you must bring outerwear, sweaters, and other clothing.
4. Due to Xinjiang’s vast territory and long travel times by car, in many cases, tourists may need to disembark and walk or personally experience the fun of horseback riding and camel riding. Therefore, a pair of suitable shoes is particularly important.
5. Many regions in Xinjiang are at high altitudes with intense ultraviolet radiation. Prepare adequate and effective sunscreen. For passengers prone to carsickness, please bring your own carsickness medication.
6. When traveling in Xinjiang, you may experience water and soil不适应 symptoms. You should bring relevant medications and some commonly used medications, such as band-aids, cold medication, or medication for upset stomach, etc.
7. Xinjiang is known as the hometown of melons and fruits. Never drink hot tea after eating fruits to avoid diarrhea.
Special Note: Be sure to bring all your identification documents. Security checks in Xinjiang are frequent, and an ID card is a quick way to pass through security checks.
5. How to Save Money on a Trip to Xinjiang
2. Itinerary: They say the itinerary is the soul of travel! The tourist attractions in Xinjiang vary greatly in terms of location and scenery from east to west. Friends who are unfamiliar with the attractions and have not planned their route well may often have to backtrack, making the trip exhausting.
3. Food, Lodging, and Transportation: Xinjiang has an abundance of delicious food, especially sweet and inexpensive fruits sold by the kilogram, such as grapes, Hami melons, fragrant pears, walnuts, dates, etc. There is also mutton, hand-grabbed rice, large plate chicken, yogurt, mare’s milk, and more, which can make people gain weight.
Xinjiang is vast, and its scenic spots are relatively scattered. Driving to attractions for 4-5 hours can lead to fatigue. Road conditions, weather, and vehicle condition are all factors to consider. It is recommended to arrange a chartered car to travel around Xinjiang’s scenic spots. This way, you can save time and better enjoy the landscapes along the way, having close encounters with beauty!
Xinjiang Customized Travel Planner Guo Jing: 0991-8585456 181-3962-2229 (same as WeChat)