2021 Xinjiang Travel Guide: Recommended Free-and-Easy Routes
Xinjiang customized travel is provided by Guo Jing: 181-3962-2229 0991-8585456
Do you yearn for Xinjiang like me? Yearn for the vast grasslands, the desert and Gobi, the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean, galloping on the grasslands, chasing sunsets and sunrises, and feeling the exotic atmosphere here…
About Xinjiang
Located in the northwest of China, Xinjiang occupies one-sixth of the country’s land area and is one of China’s largest provinces. It can be divided into northern and southern Xinjiang, with the Tianshan Mountains as the boundary, and there are significant differences between them.
Filming locations for major movies and variety shows. Xinjiang’s beauty is well-known, with its vast territory, numerous ethnic groups, and diverse cultures… It is a favorite place for major movies and variety shows. The wind-eroded landforms and strangely shaped Devil’s City in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; the Hami with roads leading everywhere in No Man’s Land; the grayish-yellow walls and the exotic Central Asian flavor of Kashgar in The Kite Runner; the Kanas, known as the "God’s Palette" and the "Eastern Switzerland" in Dad, Where Are We Going?; the picturesque forest, sea, and snow-capped mountains of Ili in Legend of the Sea; and the shocking Bayinbuluke racetrack in Flying Life, a popular film during this year’s Spring Festival… In short, coming to Xinjiang, you can definitely enjoy the different customs of two countries and feel the charm of other countries without leaving the country.
Travel Preparations
Prepare mentally for long car rides. The distances between scenic spots in Xinjiang are measured in hundreds of kilometers. It often takes several hours to travel from one spot to another, and some spots are so large that you need to take a shuttle bus within. But the scenery along the way will definitely amaze you. Besides being vast, Xinjiang is also dry. Located in the central part of the continent, Xinjiang is hard to reach by ocean moisture, resulting in low air humidity. So be sure to bring moisturizing products when you come to Xinjiang. Sunscreen should be prepared in summer. Girls should prepare brightly colored dresses and clothes. If you want to take great photos at scenic spots, bright and fresh dresses are essential. There are many photo spots in Xinjiang, such as Sayram Lake, Princess Jieyou’s Lavender Field, the Xiate Ancient Road… Every picture you take will be a great one. You can appropriately prepare sunglasses, straw hats, sun umbrellas, and various other props for beautiful photos.
For first-time travelers to Xinjiang, facing the vast and culturally diverse region, they often feel helpless. How to enjoy Xinjiang to the fullest and provide a travel guide for friends at the same time!!
Itinerary: Northern Xinjiang Panoramic Loop Route, featuring Tianchi, Koktokay, Colorful Beach, Kanas, Hemu, Ghost City, Sayram Lake, Nalati, Bayinbrook, and Duku Highway.
D1 Urumqi – Tianchi – Fuyun or Koktokay (about 480 kilometers, journey time about 8 hours)
D2 Koktokay – Colorful Beach – Burqin (about 370 kilometers, journey time about 7 hours)
D3 Burqin – Kanas (about 150 kilometers, journey time about 3.5 hours)
D4 Kanas – Hemu (about 60 kilometers, journey time about 1.5 hours)
D5 Hemu – Ghost City – Urho (about 400 kilometers, journey time about 7 hours).
D6 Urho – Sayram Lake (about 530 kilometers, journey time about 7 hours)
D7 Sayram Lake – Horgos – Lavender Base – Yining (about 200 kilometers, journey time about 3 hours)
D8 Yining – Nalati (about 350 kilometers, journey time about 6 hours)
D9 Nalati – Bayinbrook (about 100 kilometers, journey time about 2 hours)
D10 Bayinbrook – Dushanzi (northern section of Duku Highway) – Urumqi (approximately 570 kilometers, journey time about 10 hours)
Introduction to some attractions in Xinjiang
In summer, the forests and streams by Sayram Lake are lush and clear, with abundant grass and flowers. Orange-yellow trollius flowers cascade gently from the mountaintop, and tiny stars dot the verdant grassland. The vast grassland is dotted with herds of cattle and sheep, and spirals of smoke rise from chimneys, creating a moving pastoral landscape painting.
In winter, Sayram Lake is covered with snow and ice, with its oval-shaped lake surface nestled among ice mountains and snowfields, resembling an emerald green gem placed on white and soft silk cotton. Come to Xinjiang and visit Sayram Lake to witness the sunrise and sunset, and experience the allure of its ‘sapphire-like lake that captivates the heart at first sight’.
Huocheng Lavender Plantation Base – the third largest lavender base in the world, equally famous for its lavender. Huocheng in Xinjiang is not inferior to Provence in any way. Located in the northwest of Yili, Huocheng is a border county that focuses on agriculture while combining farming and herding. Lavender, also known as perfume plant and sacred basil. Its leaves and flowers are elegant and beautiful, with slender and graceful blue-purple inflorescences. It is a new type of perennial cold-resistant flower. Flower language: Waiting for love.
Huocheng is overwhelmed with lavender, resembling a sea of purple that stretches as far as the eye can see. Stand at the edge of the field with arms outstretched, as if the entire sky is yours. Whenever the lavender blooms collectively, the sea of purple-blue flowers, the blossoms in full bloom, and the intense fragrance make people willingly intoxicate themselves in the embrace of lavender.
In June, Huocheng is adorned with hundreds of acres of blooming lavender. Come to Huocheng to embark on a sweet romance and indulge in the romantic ambiance of flower language.
Xiate Ancient Path – A high-risk hiking and exploration route. The Xiate Ancient Path connects the northern and southern parts of the Tianshan Mountains and is 120 kilometers long. It is one of the most dangerous and high-risk famous ancient passes on the Silk Road and is also known as the Tang Monk Ancient Path.
The Xiate Ancient Path is very suitable for explorers. After ascending the Northern and Southern Tianshan Mountains, it seems like entering a world of ice and snow. Majestic snow-capped mountains appear and disappear in the clouds, and the endless glacier below stretches like a jade belt winding upwards and disappearing into the sea of snow and clouds. To climb to the Tianshan Mountains, the shattered glaciers, ice crevasses, and glaciers along the way will be great threats.
Therefore, to walk the Xiate Ancient Path, one must be a mentally prepared and physically fit explorer to feel the insignificance of nature and the vicissitudes of the ancient path.
Best Travel Time: Early May – Early June or Late September – Early October
Kalajun Grassland – "Human Body Grassland"
My impression of grasslands has always been the vast Hulunbeir Grassland, with the magnificent and fertile scenery of "The sky is gray and vast, and the wind blows through the grass, revealing cattle and sheep". After seeing Kalajun Grassland, I believe you will be amazed by it.
Kalajun Grassland is located in Tekes County, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang, and is the transitional zone between the Western Tianshan Mountains and the Yili River Valley.
Chinese National Geography described it as: "It overthrows the aesthetic ‘fatigue’ brought by the monotonous colors and single landscape of ordinary grasslands and is defined as an ‘integrated grassland’ landscape that combines different时空 and colors and is easy to observe."
Due to differences in elevation, Kalajun Grassland forms a unique landscape with distinct layers and a well-organized arrangement. In addition, various types of forage enrich the grassland’s colors, as if a magnificent landscape painting is placed in front of you. A vast undulating plain with beautiful curves is also known as the "Human Body Grassland". The undulating and crisscross landforms, as well as the curved lines of shadows, are favorite subjects for photographers.
Come to Kalajun Grassland to witness the amazing workmanship of nature and experience the "Human Body Grassland" in different时空.
Transportation: Rent a car from Urumqi to Yili
Bayin布鲁克 Grassland – Nine-Bend and Eighteen-Turn River
Bayin布鲁克 Grassland, located in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, is the second-largest grassland in China and also a high-mountain grassland. It is a high-mountain basin surrounded by snow-capped mountains of the Tianshan Mountains. The grassland has a flat terrain. It is a paradise surrounded by snow-capped mountains; it has the Kaidu River with "Nine-Bend and Eighteen-Turn"; and it also has the elegant and charming Swan Lake.
The most beautiful scene of "Nine-Bend and Eighteen-Turn River" is the reflection of the evening glow in the river bend. As the sun gradually sets in the west, half of the sky is illuminated, and the sky is filled with colorful red clouds, which reflect on the river surface and shimmer, adding great charm.
Visit Bayin布鲁克 Grassland to see the breathtaking scene of "Nine-Bend and Eighteen-Turn River" and the extraordinarily charming Swan Lake filled with red flowers.
Flaming Mountain Grand Canyon – A valley scenery with crisscross gullies
"Journey to the West" tells the story of Sun Wukong passing through the Flaming Mountain and borrowing the Banana Leaf Fan three times, which is well-known. The Flaming Mountain Grand Canyon, located in the Turpan Basin in Xinjiang, is a mysterious place. The mountain range runs east-west and is barren. During summer, the ground surface steams under the sun, resembling a soaring fire dragon, which is very spectacular.
The Huoyan Mountain scenic area is located at a spectacular position on Huoyan Mountain, with many sculptures of characters from Journey to the West, as well as historical and cultural exhibitions of the Huoyan Mountain area. Rocky, gully-ridden valleys; the Tuyugou Thousand Buddha Caves excavated during the Sixteen Kingdoms period… This place can be called a treasure trove of culture and art.
Karez – Ancient horizontal water-collecting structure
Karez means ‘well cave’. It is commonly found in the Turpan area of Xinjiang and is an ancient horizontal water-collecting structure used to exploit and utilize groundwater. It is suitable for use in the foothills and alluvial fan areas, mainly for intercepting groundwater for farmland irrigation and domestic water use.
Karez wells consist of vertical wells, underground channels, open channels, and flood basins. They intercept underground water and use gravity to transport this water to irrigated farmland or for domestic use. The sweet grapes are irrigated using water from Karez wells.
Travel time
The tourist season in Xinjiang is generally from May to October
March – April
Windy, with cold waves, prone to gale winds and floating soil caused by wind, with increased precipitation.
At this time, it is suitable to visit southern Xinjiang, where peach blossoms and apricot blossoms are blooming, along with newly revived grasslands.
You can admire wild apricot blossoms in places like Turpan.
June
In the Ili region, you can admire seas of flowers and lavender (most beautiful in mid-June), although fruits and melons are not yet ripe at this time.
July – August
You can also see flowers covering the mountains and lush grasslands with abundant water plants. This is a good time to escape the summer heat. Lavender has already been harvested, and fruits and melons begin to ripen by mid-August.
September – October
The harvest season in Xinjiang, with comfortable weather, is the true golden autumn season with fragrant fruits and melons.
Autumn in Xinjiang can be considered the most beautiful autumn in the country. The poplar forests in southern Xinjiang are dyed in the colors of autumn, but these two months are the peak tourist season.
Winter
Winter: Temperatures have dropped to minus twenty to thirty degrees Celsius, many places have closed roads and mountains, and many scenic areas are also closed. Tickets at this time are discounted, and some are even free.
Equipment
1. Bring a suitcase, you can also prepare a small waist bag for lightweight travel throughout the trip
2. The temperature difference between morning and night is large, please prepare a thick coat; pay attention to cold prevention and warmth retention according to weather changes
3. Sunglasses, brimmed hat, insulated water bottle, magic scarf
4. Travel shoes, hiking shoes, or mountaineering shoes are all fine
5. Cold medicine, stomach medicine, motion sickness medicine, vitamins, band-aids, essential oil, you can prepare some glucose oral solution to replenish energy.
6. Sunscreen + moisturizing lotion + hand cream + lip balm
7. Flashlight or headlamp, various digital products (and their chargers, power banks)
8. ID card, student ID, instructor ID, and various other documents
9. Prepare some water, dry food, fruits, and snacks
10. Toiletries, change of clothes.
You may also want to learn more about Xinjiang travel information,
Xinjiang customized travel is provided by Guo Jing: 181-3962-2229 0991-8585456