Traveling to Xinyuan and Southern Xinjiang is an excellent experience for exploring natural beauty and cultural customs. Here are some recommended tourist attractions and activities:
Nalati Grassland:
Location: It is located within Xinyuan County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and is a 5A-level scenic area.
Characteristics: Nalati Grassland integrates grassland, valleys, and forests, with high vegetation coverage and rich wildlife resources. Due to its unique natural and cultural landscapes, it is known as the ‘Green Island of Tianshan’, ‘Green Homeland’, and ‘Colorful Grassland’.
Attractions: Major attractions include Tianjie Platform (Aerial Grassland), Nomadic Families (Aerial Grassland), Tawusani (meaning ‘beautiful ravine’ in Kazakh) (Valley Grassland), and others.
Duku Highway:
Description: The Duku Highway (from Dushanzi to Kuqa) is a popular route for self-drive travel in Xinjiang, with good road conditions and suitability for self-drive tours.
Scenery Along the Way: The百里 Gallery along the route is very beautiful and suitable for taking photos and sightseeing. Driving on the Duku Highway, you can experience four seasons in a single day, with different weather in every ten miles.
Other Scenic Spots in Southern Xinjiang:
Kanas: Undulating mountain ranges envelop the sapphire-like Kanas Lake, with waters that change from azure to emerald green.
Kashgar: Blue doors and windows, earth-yellow walls, green plants, and colorful goods at lively markets intertwine, creating an exotic atmosphere.
Baisha Lake: Half of it is stretching white sand, and the other half is azure lake water, making it known as the dazzling pearl on the Pamir Plateau.
The Pamir Plateau, the盘龙 Ancient Road, Karakul Lake, and other scenic spots are also unmissable attractions in Southern Xinjiang.
Travel Suggestions:
Travel Time: Southern Xinjiang is worth visiting throughout the year, but different seasons have different landscape features. For example, in March, apricot blossoms bloom under the Pamir Plateau, fruits are fragrant from July to September, and in October, autumn’s Hu Yang trees are golden yellow everywhere.
Accommodation Recommendation: In Xinyuan County, you can choose accommodation options like Airbnb, which offers convenient living and the opportunity to experience local customs.
Food Experience: The specialties of Xinyuan County include dried milk lumps and homemade yogurt, which are definitely worth trying.
In summary, traveling to Xinyuan and Southern Xinjiang not only allows tourists to appreciate the magnificent natural scenery but also to deeply experience the local cultural customs and culinary culture. Whether it’s a self-drive trip or a package tour, everyone can find a suitable travel style.