For May Day travel in Xinjiang, you can choose self-driving or joining a tour group. Plan your itinerary in advance, pay attention to the weather and temperature difference, visit popular attractions, and taste local cuisine.
For self-driving tours, you can refer to the following 9-day, 8-night full route guide:
D1: Urumqi – Sayram Lake, enjoy swans playing in the water and the hydrophilic beach, stay overnight and watch the starry sky at night.
D2: Watch the sunrise at Sayram Lake, visit the Guozigou Bridge and the Eastern Moroccan-style Kazanqi, and head to Xiata.
D3: At Xiata, climb the mountain at 9 am when the light is best to view the Muzhate Glacier from afar, hike the Xiata Ancient Road, and stay overnight in Tekes Eight Trigrams City to enjoy the night scene.
D4: Visit Tekes and Qiongkushitai, ride horses to the alpine lake to watch a stunning sunset.
D5: Depart from Qiongkushitai, head to Qiaxi Forest (search for Heidi and Grandfather’s home), and arrive in Gongliu.
D6: Depart from Gongliu, visit Nalati Aerial Grassland, and arrive in Nalati Town.
D7: Depart from Nalati, visit Kongnais Bada坂 and Baluntai, take photos along the Tongtian Highway, and stay overnight in Hejing.
D8: Depart from Hejing, enjoy the scenery of Gangou along the way, visit the popular Mazha Village and Tuyugou, and stay overnight in Shanshan.
D9: Depart from Shanshan, visit Kumtag Desert (sandboarding, camel riding, desert off-roading), and return to Urumqi.
If you choose to join a tour group, you can opt for a local pure-play tour, which saves time, effort, and money, while also allowing for an in-depth exploration or visits to all the highlights. Regardless of which option you choose, pay attention to the following points:
Weather and Temperature Difference: During the May Day holiday, the weather in Xinjiang is mainly sunny with occasional clouds. The sun is shining brightly, but there is a large temperature difference between day and night. Bring a thick jacket to avoid catching a cold.
Popular Attractions: Popular attractions in Xinjiang include Sayram Lake, Tian Chi, Kanas Lake, and Dabaza, which you can choose based on your schedule and interests.
Food Recommendations: Xinjiang offers a diverse range of delicious foods, such as big plate chicken, mutton kebabs, old-fashioned yogurt, etc. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste local cuisine.
In addition, pay attention to sunscreen and hydration, as Xinjiang has strong UV rays and a relatively dry climate.
. Before traveling, be sure to bring your ID card, as inspections may be conducted at any time.