For photography in Kanas, Northern Xinjiang, reading this guide is enough.
Xinjiang Travel Private Customization: Xiao Guo. Xinjiang Travel Consultation: (same number) 0991-8585456
As we all know, Xinjiang is very vast, occupying 1/6 of China’s territory. Moreover, Xinjiang is also known as: The last pure land left by heaven on earth! Countless travelers want to enter this mysterious, distant, and unfamiliar Xinjiang to witness its exotic charm. But how to play in Xinjiang for the first time? This guide will tell you!
For friends visiting Xinjiang for the first time, facing the vast territory, numerous ethnic groups, and diverse cultures of Xinjiang, they are often at a loss. What should I see in Xinjiang? How can I play in Xinjiang with limited time? How should I plan my travel route reasonably? How can I experience the vast beauty of Xinjiang without spending too much money… Today, I will answer for you: How to enjoy yourself in Xinjiang for the first time? Actually, just reading this guide is enough!
In Xinjiang, there is a magical mountain, Mount Tianshan, which divides Xinjiang into two distinct styles! North of Tianshan is Northern Xinjiang, and south of Tianshan is Southern Xinjiang. The landscapes of Northern and Southern Xinjiang are vastly different!
Northern Xinjiang is dominated by natural scenery. Well-known cities and regions include Urumqi, Turpan, Yili, Altay, Tacheng, Bortala, all belonging to Northern Xinjiang. The entire Northern Xinjiang boasts a long nomadic culture, alpine grasslands, as well as galloping horses and songs unique to Xinjiang.
Southern Xinjiang is dominated by historical and cultural sites, including Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu, Bayingolin, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, as well as Turpan, the Tarim Basin, and the Xinjiang section of the Kunlun Mountains. When you visit Southern Xinjiang, you will see the perfect combination of desert and gobi, as well as the diverse and unsophisticated agricultural civilization, feeling the rhythm of Mukam and dance.
Xinjiang is best characterized by its vast territory and abundant resources. It boasts deserts, gobi, snow-capped mountains, lakes, primitive forests, grasslands, rural villages, and other beautiful landscapes.
Kanas – A fairyland on earth, it is the place with the most beautiful lakes in China. The lake water is clear to the bottom, winding through the primitive forest. The ever-changing light and shadow intertwine with the golden and dark green trees on the shore, as if you are in a dreamlike Swiss scenery.
Tian Chi, Mount Tianshan – The Pearl of Tianshan. The entire lake is crystal-clear, surrounded by mountains. The peak of Bogda Mountain is reflected in the lake, and tall, verdant spruces stand by the shore. The scenery is like a fairyland, like a sapphire surrounded by mountains.
Yili – Beauty lies in its vastness. A saying goes: You won’t understand how vast China is until you visit Xinjiang, and you won’t understand how beautiful Xinjiang is until you visit Yili. The scenery of Yili, with four distinct seasons, will surely captivate your heart!
Desert and Gobi Desert – In Xinjiang, what is not lacking is the desert and Gobi Desert along the way. Driving an off-road vehicle into the desert allows you to enjoy the exciting beauty while bumping along!
The best time to travel to Xinjiang: Encounter the most beautiful scenery at the right time
Many first-time visitors to Xinjiang may have this question: When is the perfect time for me to visit Xinjiang? Based on some geographical features of Xinjiang and my experience of traveling to Xinjiang multiple times, I have specially summarized the time periods for everyone, hoping to provide a reference for the millions of travelers who are coming to Xinjiang for the first time. I hope everyone can encounter the purest beauty at the right time~~
Spring (March-May): At this time, cold ocean air begins to enter, causing Xinjiang to have more sandstorms in spring, with precipitation also increasing, and temperatures gradually rising. The mountain flowers and grasslands of Xinjiang in spring attract much attention, so southern Xinjiang is a good choice at this time. Lavender, rapeseed flower fields, apricot flowers, and peach blossoms bloom competitively, and the mountain flowers and grasslands are also waking up!
Summer (June-August): It’s the season when melons and fruits ripen and release their fragrance, wheat is harvested, and livestock gain weight the fastest. Although summer in Xinjiang is also relatively hot and dry, the temperature in the mountains is cooler, making it a good place to escape the heat. It’s also the golden season for sand therapy in Turpan, and you can also go to Ili to experience the grassland sea of flowers and the southern region beyond the Great Wall with a Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River) feel.
Autumn (September-November): The hot summer recedes, and the cold front slowly approaches, making autumn in Xinjiang clear and crisp with high skies, bringing a pleasant mood. At this time, Xinjiang is a combination of harvest and coolness, where you can enjoy the harvest and temptation of fruits and food. It’s most suitable for foodies like you~ Kanas is the most beautiful place in autumn nationwide.
Winter (December-February of the next year): Snow-covered scenery is the unique ice and snow charm of Xinjiang in winter. This time period is also the season with the least wind, but there is much fog.
1. Self-guided Tours:
By searching online, you can find a lot of travel guides and route arrangements on the internet and plan your own route. The advantage of this method is: it can exercise your internet search skills, and you can see different scenery and the travel experiences of others. The disadvantage is: to become familiar with everything, you will have to spend a lot of time understanding, which is a waste of time, and in the end, you may still only have a superficial understanding, making it difficult to decide on an itinerary and route within an effective timeframe.
2. Group Tours:
As we all know, group tours all follow the same rhythm: sleep on the bus, take photos when getting off. It’s basically a superficial visit, just to say you’ve been there, and you can’t better appreciate the beautiful scenery. The advantage is that it’s less worrisome~
In summary:
I suggest that if you want to travel around the beautiful scenery of Xinjiang, it’s best to make friends with some people who have been to Xinjiang and ask them many questions. Or there’s a simpler way, which is to find a strong and locally experienced customized travel company in Xinjiang. Based on your needs, time, and other factors, customize your own exclusive route. Customized tours combine the advantages of group tours and self-guided tours, better meeting your personal needs~
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456