I've returned from a week-long trip to Hemu in Xinjiang, and I'm here to share some hard truths! Every sentence is a lesson learned from bitter experience

1. After landing in Urumqi, don't join a tour group! You can drive yourself, hire a car, or carpool to Hemu Village. This way, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way and have more freedom. 2. You can't enter Hemu scenic area by car; you'll need to park at the parking lot at the entrance and take a shuttle bus (Hemu Mountain Villa → Hemu New Village → Hemu Old Village) into the scenic area. It's recommended to sit on the left side of the bus for better views. 3. In any case, all tourists must take the shuttle bus to enter. Remember to arrive at the scenic area before 9 pm, which is the last bus. If you miss it, you won't be able to get in! 3. Once you reach the entrance of Hemu Old Village or New Village, there are free one-way loop shuttle buses (which generally stop at all the guesthouses), bicycles, and electric scooters available for rent, making travel convenient. 4. Guesthouses are divided between the New Village and Old Village. Staying in the Old Village is busier and livelier, while the New Village has better facilities and is quieter, but the downside is that it's a bit far from the Hemu viewing platform. 5. Don't book accommodation in advance. If there are many people, you can ask at the place where you eat after arriving in Hemu Village. The owners usually tell you that you can stay with them. Although the guesthouses are simple, they are very cheap. (Booking through an app in advance can be 3-5 times more expensive, and it may even show no availability—those who have booked before will understand.) 6. Guesthouses are generally wooden cabins, but sound insulation is not very good, although cleanliness is decent. We had trouble controlling the hot water when washing, but the owners are always willing to help. (If you're concerned about sound insulation, look for a detached cabin...) 8. Food inside the scenic area is expensive and not very tasty; you can bring your own instant noodles. You can also dine at the guesthouse where you're staying, which is rich, cheap, and delicious. 9. The temperature drops gradually in autumn, with a significant difference between day and night. The weather is mostly sunny and dry, with increasing wind. You can wear a light jacket with a thin sweater and also prepare windproof clothing, such as a windbreaker. Remember to hydrate your skin and drink plenty of water. 10. For the bag you carry with you, just pack the essentials. Many places require walking. 11. Items to bring in your luggage: masks, a thermos, hand warmers, a U-shaped pillow, sunglasses, high-calorie snacks, and also Isatis root, motion sickness patches, glucose, gastrointestinal medicine, etc., which are often needed. 12. Hemu scenic area implements an online real-name system and time-slot reservation for ticket purchase. You need to buy tickets in advance. 13. There are two viewing platforms in Hemu Village, one for sunrise and one for sunset! The sunrise viewing platform is far from Hemu Village and requires a telephoto lens for good photos. The sunset viewing platform is closer to Hemu Village, just a five-minute climb up the mountain, and you can take close-up photos of the morning mist! 14. To see the sunrise, be sure to check the weather forecast in advance and the time of sunrise on that day. Arrive half an hour early! 15. We also bought a big watermelon in the scenic area. There were 5-6 of us photographers sharing it. It was expensive, but we couldn't resist buying it. Everything in the scenic area is expensive, so weigh your options. 16. Hemu attractions ✅ Hemu Bridge ✅ Birch Forest ✅ Aid Xinjiang Bridge ✅ Hemu River ✅ Harden Viewing Platform ✅ Sunset Viewing Platform 17. Delicious food: ✅ Roasted buns ✅ Lamb skewers ✅ Roasted naan ✅ Crazy Long Coffee ✅ Mom's Private Kitchen ✅ Big Plate Chicken ✅ Hand-grabbed rice ✅ Old yogurt ✅ Pepper chicken ✅ Roasted pigeon