The most classic tourist routes in Xinjiang mainly include the following:
Kanas Loop Route: This route usually takes 5-7 days and covers fairyland-like scenic spots such as Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, Koktokay, and魔鬼城 (Ghost Town). The greenish water of Kanas Lake seems to wash away the dust of the soul; Hemu Village makes people feel like they have stepped into a fairy tale world, where they can experience the primitive wooden house life.
Yili Loop Route: It takes 6-10 days and visitors can explore the stunning scenery at the foot of Tianshan Mountains, such as Sayram Lake, Nalati, and Xiata. Sayram Lake is known as the “last tear of the Atlantic Ocean”, with its blue lake water surrounded by vast grasslands and snow-capped mountains; Nalati Grassland boasts vast grasslands, dense forests, and towering snow-capped mountains, and is inhabited by the Kazakhs.
Kanas-Yili Loop Route: This route combines the best of Kanas and Yili and takes 11-13 days. It connects the most stunning natural scenery of North Xinjiang, allowing visitors to appreciate the beauty of Kanas and Yili at one time.
North Xinjiang Grand Circle Route: It takes 13-17 days and is suitable for self-driving tours of North Xinjiang. This route includes various landforms such as deserts, Gobi, snow-capped mountains, and grasslands, allowing visitors to fully experience the magnificent scenery of North Xinjiang.
South Xinjiang Grand Circle Route: It also takes 13-17 days. This route combines cultural customs with natural landscapes. Visitors can explore the Pamir Plateau, Kunlun Mountains, Taklamakan Desert, and other places to experience the unique charm of South Xinjiang.
In addition, the Duku Highway is also a very popular self-drive route. This “Road to Tianshan” is only open for 5 months every year. The scenery along the way is breathtaking, but it also requires certain driving skills and courage.
In general, Xinjiang boasts a rich variety of tourist routes. Whether visitors prefer natural scenery or cultural landscapes, they can find suitable tourist routes in Xinjiang.