The travel guide to the eastern Xinjiang mainly includes itinerary planning, scenic spot recommendations, food experience, and other aspects.?
I. Itinerary Planning?
You can choose to take a 4-day, 3-night self-driving tour of the eastern Xinjiang. The specific itinerary is as follows:?
Day 1: From Urumqi to Turpan, visit scenic spots such as Flaming Mountain (although you may think the thermometer is not as interesting as the banana fan, the sand-roasted eggs are worth trying), Tuyugou Mazavillage (taste super-sweet cantaloupes), and Turpan Museum (you’ll have a wonderful feeling of a dialogue with time and space).?
Day 2: From Turpan to Hami, visit scenic spots such as Kumtag Desert (a clean desert suitable for taking photos) and Aletun Ancient Street (taste charcoal-grilled mutton kebabs, zhafan, and roasted stuffed buns).?
Day 3: From Hami to Qitai, visit scenic spots such as the Tomb of the King of the Hui People (catch the free tour guide to appreciate the historical architecture), Huancai Lake (you can see a pink lake surface when the weather is good, and the scenery along the way is also beautiful), and Balikun Lake (the vast lake combined with the snowy mountains creates a spectacular view).?
Day 4: From Qitai to Urumqi, visit scenic spots such as Jiangbulake (after the wheat harvest, you can experience horse riding in the snow, which is the most beautiful scenery in the eastern Xinjiang).?
Alternatively, you can choose another 4-day, 3-night itinerary:?
Day 1: Urumqi – Tianchi Lake in the Tianshan Mountains – Qitai?
Day 2: Qitai – Balikun Lake – Balikun Monster Rock (overnight stay in Balikun)?
Day 3: Balikun – Jiangbulake – Mulei Mingsha Mountain?
Day 4: Mulei – Urumqi?
II. Scenic Spot Recommendations?
Tianchi Lake in the Tianshan Mountains: The scenery changes every day and is worth visiting.?
Kumtag Desert: A desert connected to the city, with sand dunes and oasis complementing each other, creating a unique landscape.?
Balikun Lake: The vast lake combined with the snowy mountains creates a spectacular view.?
Jiangbulake: After the wheat harvest, you can experience horse riding in the snow, which is the most beautiful scenery in the eastern Xinjiang.?
III. Food Experience?
When traveling in the eastern Xinjiang, the must-try foods include:?
Nang: One of the staple foods of Xinjiang people, it has a golden crust and a variety of flavors.?
Grilled Mutton Kebabs: They have a glossy and yellow appearance with tender and crisp meat.?
Dapanji (Chicken with Potatoes): The chicken is smooth and spicy, the potatoes are soft and sweet, and they go extremely well with belt noodles.?
In addition, you can also taste special local delicacies such as zhafan (a type of rice dish with meat and vegetables), roasted stuffed buns, nangkeng meat (meat roasted in a clay oven), and spicy chicken.?
IV. Accommodation Suggestions?
In the eastern Xinjiang region, there are hotels and homestays available in Turpan, Shanshan, and other places. Accommodation near scenic spots is more convenient for travel.?
Above is the travel guide to the eastern Xinjiang, hoping it will be helpful for your trip.?