First-Time Traveler’s Guide to Xinjiang – Detailed and Practical Tips for 2021
Customized Car Rental and Carpooling Consultation for Xinjiang Tourism: 0991-8585456 181-3962-2229
"You won’t know the beauty of abundance until you visit Xinjiang." Generally speaking, each season in Xinjiang has its own beautiful scenery. In January, see glaciers; in February, see snowscapes; in March, see apricot blossoms; in April, see deserts; in May, see grasslands; in June, see flower fields… Overall, the most beautiful time for natural scenery in Xinjiang is from June to August.
Whether you are self-driving or joining a group tour upon arrival, it is necessary to understand the best travel times for major scenic spots in Xinjiang in advance. For example, if you travel to Xinjiang in April and miss out on the most beautiful Apricot Blossom Valley in Xinjiang, but instead visit Kanas, which is relatively ordinary at this time, it would be a great pity. Meeting the right scenery at the right time is also a philosophy of travel.
Below, I will introduce the most famous scenery in Xinjiang during each time period. Which places should you visit in each season? And which scenic spots should you visit?
November-February of the next year: Glaciers, snow villages
Tourist destinations: Kanas Snow Village, Hemu Snow Village, Kashgar, Muztagh Glacier.
Scenery description: Winter is the coldest time of the year in Xinjiang, with withered grass, faded flowers, and fruits waiting to ripen, making it unsuitable to visit places like Ili and the Flaming Mountains. Scenic spots such as the Kanas scenic area in northern Xinjiang and the Mushtagh Peak in southern Xinjiang’s Kashgar are covered with a layer of white snow due to the alpine climate, making them delicate and transparent. The snow-covered ice and snow world is tranquil, pure, and vast, like a fairyland from a fairy tale.
March-April: Apricot blossoms, deserts
Tourist destinations: Nalati Apricot Blossom Valley, Tashkurgan Apricot Village, Flaming Mountains in Turpan, Kuruk Tag Desert.
Scenery description: Early spring in Xinjiang has two major attractions. One is the clusters of apricot blossoms scattered on the tender green grasslands, and the other is the desert scenery with a relatively cool climate. The apricot blossoms in Xinjiang usually bloom from mid-March to early April each year. Clusters of wild pink flames of flowers stretch along the hillsides, creating a romantic and breathtaking scene. Due to the relatively mild climate in March and April in Xinjiang, avoiding the extremely hot summer, you can also visit places like the Flaming Mountains in Turpan, the Kuruk Tag Desert, and the Taklamakan Desert to admire the golden deserts.
May: Plateau, Canyon, Countryside, Ethnic Customs
Tourism Destinations: Southern and Eastern Xinjiang.
Scenery Explanation: In May, Northern Xinjiang has just entered spring, with the grass not yet flourishing, but Southern and Eastern Xinjiang have already embraced spring with singing birds and blooming flowers. The majestic Pamir Plateau, the exotic charm of Kashgar Old City, the picturesque cliffs of the Karakoram Mountains, the lonely ridges of the Turpan Basin, the golden wilderness of Korla’s Taklamakan Desert, and the lush greenery of Balikun Grassland… The integration of landforms and the strong spring atmosphere presents a picturesque rural landscape with a long history.
June to August: Flower Seas, Grasslands, Forests
Tourism Destinations: Ili, Duku Highway, Yizhao Highway.
Scenery Explanation: Xinjiang’s summer belongs to Ili, with the Duku Highway and Yizhao Highway just opening. Flowers are in full bloom, and the grass returns to its lush state, making every corner of Xinjiang breathtakingly beautiful. Zhaosu’s brilliant yellow rapeseed fields, Huocheng’s romantic lavender manor, Yining’s thriving tulips, as well as the lush green of Bayanbulak, Tangbula, and Nalati, transform Ili, Xinjiang, into a dazzling seven-color gallery. Walking through the secluded valleys of the Xiate Ancient Road, wandering through the Karakun nine-bend and eighteen-turn scenery at sunset, and circumnavigating the crystal-clear Sayram Lake… Being in Ili in June, one finally understands what a fairyland on earth is like.
September: Autumn Colors
Tourism Destinations: Kanas, Hemu, Baihaba, or Southern Xinjiang.
Scenery Explanation: At the beginning of September, the grasslands in the Ili region begin to turn yellow, losing their lush green appearance. At this time, the best travel arrangement is to visit Northern Xinjiang to appreciate the colorful landscape of autumn leaves, lakes, and snow-capped mountains, intertwined with green, yellow, red, white, and blue hues. Kanas, known as the "Garden of God’s Hand", Baihaba, known as the "First Village in the Northwest", and the Red Tree Gully in Koktokay are all worth visiting. Meanwhile, one can also visit Southern Xinjiang to experience its diverse cultural life.
October: Populus Euphratica Forest, Birch Forest
Tourism Destinations: Northern Xinjiang (Kanas, Mulai), Southern Xinjiang (Zepu Golden Lake Populus Euphratica Forest, Luntai Populus Euphratica Forest, Zepu Populus Euphratica Forest, Lop Nur Village of罗布人).
Scenery Explanation: After several autumn rains, the leaves of the birch forests in Kanas and Hemu in Northern Xinjiang fall, leaving only bare branches. To appreciate the beauty of the desolate autumn forest in Kanas, one must arrive before mid-October, as it will quickly transition into the cold winter afterward. The best arrangement in October is to view the Populus Euphratica Forest at the right time; the scenery of yellow Populus Euphratica leaves lasts only about ten days.
Specific Viewing Times for Populus Euphratica Forest: In early October for Mulai Populus Euphratica Forest in Northern Xinjiang, and in late October for the Populus Euphratica Forests in Luntai and Yuli, as well as Zepu Golden Lake Populus Euphratica. Under the blue sky as clear as wash, the sight is resplendent with gold. Scattered throughout the desert lakes are the varied trunks of Populus Euphratica forests. They remain alive for thousands of years, and their twisted shapes interpret the tenacity and grandeur of life.
First-Time Traveler’s Guide to Xinjiang – Detailed and Practical Tips for 2021
Customized Car Rental and Carpooling Consultation for Xinjiang Tourism: 0991-8585456 181-3962-2229