The recommended best routes for traveling to Xinjiang in summer are as follows:
Ili Grand Circle Route
The Ili Grand Circle Route is the preferred route for traveling to Xinjiang in summer. It traverses the grasslands, snow-capped mountains, valleys, rivers, and glacial zones of the Ili River Valley, with densely distributed attractions and concentrated scenic highlights. Within 10 days, you can experience the most beautiful landscapes in Xinjiang.
. The specific route arrangement is as follows:
Urumqi → Sayram Lake → Xiata → Tekes → Qiongkushitai → Nalati
This route covers scenic highways such as the Duku Highway, Yizhao Highway, G30 Lianhuo Expressway, Saiguo Expressway, and S101 Baili Danxia Highway, as well as numerous famous attractions such as Sayram Lake, Nalati, Guozigou, Huocheng Lavender Fields, Qiongkushitai, Karajun, Bayinbuluke, Tekes Eight Trigrams City, Xiata Glacier, Qiaxi Grassland, and Tangbula Baili Gallery.
Other Recommended Routes
In addition to the Ili Grand Circle Route, the following routes are also worth considering:
Classic Northern Xinjiang Route (7-8 days): Suitable for tourists who love natural landscapes and outdoor activities, this route includes famous attractions in Urumqi, Changji, Altay, Ili, and other regions, such as Tianshan Heavenly Lake, Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, Sayram Lake, etc.
6-day Southern Xinjiang Tour: Covering southern Xinjiang’s unique attractions such as Urumqi, Nalati, the Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan, Kucha, Kashgar Old Town, Baisha Lake, Pamir Tourism Zone, etc., this tour offers an immersive experience of rich Uyghur culture and unique natural landscapes.
Kashi-Ili Loop (9-13 days): Combining the best of Ili and Kanas scenic areas, this route passes by attractions such as Tianshan Heavenly Lake, Koktokay, Burqin, Hemu, Kanas, Baihaba, Urho Devil’s City, etc. It is suitable for tourists with more time on their hands.
In summary, the best route for traveling to Xinjiang in summer is the Ili Grand Circle Route. It not only covers the most beautiful natural landscapes in Xinjiang but also features densely distributed attractions, allowing tourists to appreciate the essence of Xinjiang in a short period of time. Of course, depending on personal interests and schedules, the classic Northern Xinjiang route, the 6-day Southern Xinjiang tour, and the Kashi-Ili loop are also good choices.