Recommended Attractions in Xinjiang Tourism, What Are the Must-visit Attractions in Xinjiang?
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[Xinjiang Tourism Guide] Must-visit Attractions and Routes in Xinjiang Tourism
Tourist Attractions in Various Regions of Xinjiang
Urumqi, a Destination in Xinjiang Tourism
Urumqi, translated into Mongolian, means a beautiful pasture. It is a major transportation hub and a communication center on the Silk Road. The openness and boldness of Urumqi are endearing, attracting countless tourists to experience its unique cultural connotations. Urumqi has numerous beautiful scenery worth visiting by tourists. The magical Tianshan Tianchi has the nickname of "Jade Pool," resembling a fairyland place, like a dream. Shuimogou Park Scenic Area gathers a large number of natural landscapes and various cultural relics. These landscapes are the park’s unique natural gifts. Xinjiang Salt Lake, Bogda Peak, and Hongshan Park are all must-visit attractions in Urumqi.
Turpan, a Destination in Xinjiang Tourism
Turpan is a basin area in Xinjiang, where there are numerous classic scenic spots with gentle rain. Turpan has left us a large number of relics of the Silk Road, providing us with a wealth of reference materials to understand the Silk Road. The unique ethnic atmosphere in Turpan is also a major highlight here. Special music, dances, and costumes amaze visitors here. Grape Valley is where Turpan produces grapes and is therefore famous worldwide. The rolling heat rising in the Flaming Mountains in central Turpan, coupled with the surrounding red mountains, resembles an impending volcanic eruption. Jiaohe Ancient City, Kumtag Desert, Kanerjing Folk Customs Park, and the Silk Road are all places here worth appreciating.
Yili, a Destination in Xinjiang Tourism
Yili is an autonomous prefecture in the northwest of Xinjiang, where a considerable number of ethnic minorities live. Yili’s unique mountain and landforms are fascinating, and the embellishment of green trees and red flowers makes Yili a fairyland on earth. The unique mountain shapes and lush forests in the Kuerdining Scenic Area attract a large number of tourists to stop and admire. The scenery of the Nalati Grassland is the beautiful landscape of Yili. The openness of the grassland makes people instantly feel broad-minded, and all troubles in their hearts can be swept away. The Sailimu Lake, Yili River, Nalati National Forest Park, and Wild Walnut Valley are all great scenic spots in Yili.
Kashgar in Xinjiang Tourism
Kashgar means a place like jade. Its stunning natural scenery and rich cultural landscapes are the highlights of tourism here. Kashgar has a unique climate, coupled with abundant rainfall, making the local area rich in produce and fragrant fruits. In autumn, the leaves of the large poplar trees in Jinhuyang National Forest Park turn yellow, providing great visual enjoyment from both near and far. Xiangfei Tomb, Kashgar Grand Bazaar, and Kashgar Old Town are all worth visiting cultural landscapes here.
Must-visit attractions in Xinjiang
Balikun Grassland – Sitting in a basin
Nearby attractions: Huiwang Tomb, Gaisi Tomb, Mingsha Mountain, Baishi Mountain, etc.
Driving along National Highway 312 on the Silk Road into Xinjiang, the first place you will come to is the Hami region, yes, the place where Hami melons are produced. Balikun Grassland is in Hami. It is not as endless as the Inner Mongolia grassland but sits in a basin surrounded by continuous mountain peaks. The tops of the mountains are white glaciers, and the midsections are green. What’s unique is that among the vast grasslands, there is suddenly a unique desert mountain, Mingsha Mountain; and suddenly a white stone mountain, Baishi Mountain.
Flaming Mountain – You can make a "fried egg" on the car hood
Nearby attractions: Kaner Well, Su Gong Tower, Aiding Lake, Grape Valley, Jiaohe Ancient City, Tuyugou, etc.
The "Eight Hundred Li Flaming Mountain" mentioned in "Journey to the West" is here. Locals call the Flaming Mountain "Red Mountain", which is composed of medium-red sand, conglomerate, and mudstone. Every summer, the intense sunlight shines on the red mountain body, creating rolling heatwaves. How hot is the Flaming Mountain? According to local sayings, if you break a raw egg and spread it on the car hood, it will become a "fried egg". There is also a 12-meter-tall thermometer standing there, resembling Sun Wukong’s Golden-hooped Staff.
Tianchi Lake – Concentrating the essence of the Tianshan Mountains
In Urumqi, if the weather is clear, you can see the majestic Bogda Peak of the Tianshan Mountains. Tianchi Lake is located on the mountainside of Bogda Peak, 110 kilometers away from Urumqi City. Tianchi Lake is a mountain lake located above 1980 meters above sea level. Because the lake water is as clear as jade, myths say that Tianchi Lake is the treasure mirror on the dressing table of the Queen Mother of the West. It integrates mountain lakes, spruce forests, and snow-capped mountains into one, which can be said to concentrate the essence of the Tianshan Mountains. It is known as the "Bright Pearl of the Tianshan Mountains".
Wucai City – Wild asses and gazelles by the roadside
Nearby attractions: Kalamaili Hooved Wildlife Reserve, Gurbantünggüt Desert, etc.
Wucai City is located in the Gurbantünggüt Desert, the second largest desert in China. Over billions of years, coal seams, sand layers, and mineral layers have formed there. After being eroded by wind and rain, exposed to sun and lightning, it has developed a "Yadan landform" dominated by ochre red, interspersed with yellow, white, black, green, and other colors. It resembles a castle from afar and up close. Near Wucai City is the Kalamaili Hooved Wildlife Reserve, which has attracted much attention in recent years. On the self-driving route, you can see wild animals such as wild asses, argali sheep, and goitered gazelles along the way.
Kanas Lake – Eastern Switzerland
Nearby Attractions: Ulungur Lake, Irtysh River, Alashan Hot Springs, Baihaba, etc.
The beautiful scenery in Xinjiang is countless. If one has to choose where is the most beautiful, many people would choose Kanas Lake. Kanas is known as the "Eastern Switzerland" because of its special geographical location, which resembles the vegetation landscape of the European Alps. Different plant communities are well-layered and colorful. Kanas Lake resembles a colorful gemstone and is a paradise for photographers. Visiting Kanas also allows one to see the ancient indigenous people, the Tuwa people.
Devil’s City – The "Castle" Blown by the Wind
Nearby Attractions: Karamay No.1 Oilfield
Whether in Mongolian or Kazakh, the place is unanimously called "Devil’s City". Devil’s City is not a castle but a rare wind erosion landform in China, where various "buildings" are blown by the wind. Some resemble the Liuhe Pagoda in Hangzhou; some resemble the Temple of Heaven in Beijing; some resemble the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt; some resemble Angkor Wat in Cambodia… The scariest time at Devil’s City is when a fierce wind blows at night, creating an eerie atmosphere with the sound of flying sand and stones. However, during the daytime, one may find beautiful agate stones there.
Sayram Lake – Visible Lakebed More Than 10 Meters Below
Nearby Attractions: Guai Shi Gou (Weird Rock Gorge), Alataw Pass, etc.
Some people compare Xinjiang’s Sayram Lake to Tibet’s Namtso Lake because Sayram Lake is also a high-altitude lake and is the highest and largest alpine cold-water lake in Xinjiang. Sayram Lake is known as the "Pure Sea", and one can see the lakebed more than 10 meters below the surface. The most beautiful time at Sayram Lake is during the transition from spring to summer, when the mountains around the lake are covered with alpine wildflowers. Every July, local Mongolians hold a traditional "Nadam" festival on the grassland by the lake.
Nalati Grassland – The Grassland with the Fattest Cattle and Sheep
Nearby Attractions: Ili River, Fruit Valley, Gongnaisi Grassland, Tangbula Grassland, etc.
There are many grasslands along the Ili River, among which the famous one is the Nalati Grassland, where thousands of tourists stay every day. The grass on Nalati Grassland grows to more than half a meter tall. It rains frequently in the area, so the cattle and sheep there are fatter. Historically, Nalati Grassland was known as the "Deer Park", and due to its high altitude, it is also called the "Aerial Grassland".
Desert Highway – Drive Freely Through the Desert
Nearby Attractions: Tarim River, Populus Euphratica Forest Nature Reserve
The Desert Highway runs through China’s vast Taklamakan Desert, which covers an area of over 330,000 square kilometers and has long been considered a "forbidden zone for life", making it difficult for tourists to visit its hinterland. However, after the opening of the Desert Highway, self-driving tourists can now traverse it. The Desert Highway is 446 kilometers long and is currently the longest highway built in a mobile desert in the world. It generally takes five to six hours to drive, and it is essential to prepare sufficient water before setting off.
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