Don't be a workhorse, 15-day panoramic wild play guide in Xinjiang
【Introduction】: Say goodbye to cubicle competition, travel through snowy mountains, grasslands, canyons, deserts, and ancient Western cities, and leave your soul in Xinjiang!
🛬【Itinerary】: 📅 Daily schedule|Driving time|Food|Tips
Day 1 Urumqi → Anjihai Grand Canyon → Kenswat Reservoir → Kuitun🏨
Driving time: about 4.5h
✅ Highlights: Red Canyon🌋 + Blue Reservoir💧
🍜 Food: Fried pork noodles, Big Plate Chicken
💡 Tips: Be cautious in the canyon, avoid dangerous areas
Day 2 Kuitun → Sailimu Lake → Yining🏨
Driving time: about 5.5h
✅ Highlights: The last tear of the Atlantic Ocean💙, Guozigou Bridge🌉
🍜 Food: Sailimu high-white salmon, Kavas, handmade ice cream
💡 Tips: Windy and big temperature difference by the lake, bring a jacket
Day 3 Yining → Yizhao Highway → Xiata Tourist Area → Zhaosu🏨
Driving time: about 4h
✅ Highlights: Little Duku Yizhao Highway🏔️, snowy mountains and grasslands
🍜 Food: Hand-grabbed meat, Nang pit meat
💡 Tips: Yizhao Highway is limited to vehicles under 7 seats, seasonally open
Day 4 Zhaosu → Kalajun Grassland → Tekes🏨
Driving time: about 2h
✅ Highlights: Three-dimensional aerial grassland🌿, Flower Terrace
🍜 Food: Kazakh milk tea, Baursak
💡 Tips: Many mosquitoes on the grassland, remember to spray mosquito repellent
Day 5 Tekes → Kuerdening Scenic Area → Nalati Town🏨
Driving time: about 3h
✅ Highlights: Forest valley secret realm🌲, stream grassland
🍜 Food: Wild mushroom soup rice, roasted buns
💡 Tips: Take your time, the scenery is all along the way
Day 6 Full day tour of Nalati Tourist Scenic Area → Stay in Nalati🏨
Driving time: within the scenic area by shuttle
✅ Highlights: Aerial grassland, valley grassland, popular bridge📸
🍜 Food: Jar meat, big lamb skewers
💡 Tips: Go early for fewer people and better photos
Day 7 Nalati → Bayinbuluke Scenic Area → Stay in Bayin🏨
Driving time: about 2.5h
✅ Highlights: Nine bends and eighteen turns sunset🌇, Swan Lake
🍜 Food: Grassland hot pot, butter tea
💡 Tips: High altitude, move slowly, keep warm
Day 8 Bayin → South section of Duku Highway → Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon → Kuqa🏨
Driving time: about 4h
✅ Highlights: Duku Highway scenery🏞️, red canyon wonder
🍜 Food: Kuqa big Nang, pepper chicken
💡 Tips: Weather on Duku Highway changes frequently, always carry a light jacket
Day 9 Kuqa → Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves → Aksu🏨
Driving time: about 3h
✅ Highlights: Silk Road grotto art🪨
🍜 Food: Roasted eggs, local specialty mixed noodles
💡 Tips: Flash photography is prohibited inside the caves
Day 10 Aksu → Bachu County Red Sea Scenic Area - Golden Poplar Island · Dawazi → Kashgar Old City🏨
Driving time: about 6h
✅ Highlights: Wetland scenery🌾, Kashgar night view🌃
🍜 Food: Roasted pigeon, hand-grabbed rice, pomegranate juice
💡 Tips: Ask locals for permission before taking photos in the old city
Day 11 Kashgar → Hotan Yutegan Ancient City → Hotan🏨
Driving time: about 5h
✅ Highlights: Immersive Western Region ancient city🏯
🍜 Food: Hotan roasted buns, yogurt zongzi
💡 Tips: Respect local customs, dress appropriately
Day 12 Hotan → Pigeon Alley → Desert Highway → Aral🏨
Driving time: about 6h
✅ Highlights: Taklamakan Desert🏜️, desert highway
🍜 Food: Desert barbecue, special yogurt
💡 Tips: Fill up gas in advance for desert sections
Day 13 Aral → Kuqa Wangfu → Kuqa Nang City → Kuqa🏨
Driving time: about 4h
✅ Highlights: Cultural relics🏛️, giant Nang pit
🍜 Food: Kuqa white apricot, roasted whole lamb
💡 Tips: Freshly baked Nang in Nang City is very fragrant, good as souvenirs
Day 14 Kuqa → Lop Nur Village → Korla🏨
Driving time: about 5h
✅ Highlights: Desert poplar🌳, Lop Nur culture
🍜 Food: Lop Nur grilled fish, Korla fragrant pear
💡 Tips: Many mosquitoes in the village, take protective measures
Day 15 Korla → Bosten Lake Dahekou Scenic Area → Urumqi🏨
Driving time: about 7h
✅ Highlights: West Sea scenery💦, Tianshan Victory Tunnel
🍜 Food: Bosten fish feast, Xinjiang dried fruits
💡 Tips: Long return trip, rest well and drive safely
🏨【Accommodation Guide】: Choosing 3~4 star hotels in the city is good, booking homestays near scenic spots lets you experience the freshness of nature and a different lodging experience. If worried about pitfalls, you can also have a travel agency book accommodations for you, saving time and worry, usually at prices better than market rates.
🚌【Transportation Guide】: Xinjiang is vast with limited transportation options, mostly driving. For better and more energetic travel and personal safety, it is recommended to hire a travel agency for car tours. Overall, the cost is similar to renting a car for self-driving, offering great value.
🧡【Tips】: 🌟Must-see general tips for Northern Xinjiang
1. Huge temperature difference between day and night|Thin down jacket + windbreaker are must-bring🧥
2. Strong UV rays|SPF50+ sunscreen essentials☀️
3. Carry cash|Poor signal in remote scenic spots💴
4. Respect local customs|Do not take photos of locals without permission🙏
5. Long driving times|Motion sickness medicine and U-shaped pillow are essential💺
Xinjiang Guide Jiang Shufeng