1. Things to Know before You Go
2. Why is Northern Xinjiang so Special?
3. The Tangible Benefits Bring to Tourists
3.1 Immersive Natural Adventures
Kanas Lake & "Lake Monster" Lore: Explore the mystical Kanas Lake, where legends of giant underwater creatures (likely endemic redfish) have persisted for centuries.
Karamay Devil City: Witness surreal Yardang landforms sculpted by wind erosion, resembling an ancient ghost town under golden-hour glow.
Hemu Village: Photograph dawn mist weaving through golden birch forests and traditional Tuvan wooden cabins.
Seasonal Spectacles: Hike from Sayram Lake's sapphire waters to autumn-lit Kanas forests, traversing trails that reveal "four seasons in a day".
3.2 Cultural Mosaic & Ethnic Traditions
Nomadic Arts: Learn eagle-training from Kazakh hunters, join Mongol Naadam festivals, and sway to Uygur muqam music.
Living Heritage: Participate in seasonal livestock migrations or nighttime bonfire gatherings with herders.
Historical Blends: Visit Altay Museum to uncover Silk Road-era exchanges between Han Chinese and nomadic empires.
3.3 Ideal Climate & Travel Comfort
Summer Sanctuary: Enjoy 20-25°C daytime temperatures (June-August) without altitude sickness risks.
Extended Exploration: Daylight lasts until 22:00, maximizing activities like stargazing in Gobi deserts or night markets in Kashgar.
3.4 Culinary Riches & Souvenir Treasures
Flavor Bomb: Savor hand-torn lamb (narin), samsa (flaky meat buns), and dapanji (spicy chicken stew), all of them are very delicous.
Sweet Indulgence: Bite into Hami melons and Turpan grapes at roadside stalls.
Authentic Gifts: You can bring home lavender essential oils from Ili Valley or Kazakh embroidered textiles.
3.5 Seamless Travel Infrastructure
Road Trips Redefined: Drive along the Duku Highway, voted "China's most scenic route," connecting glaciers to grasslands.
Accommodation Spectrum: Sleep under stars in Kazakh yurts, unwind in Hemu’s log cabins, or luxuriate in boutique barbecues along the Irtysh River.
4. How to Get to Northern Xinjiang
By Air
Fly to Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) — the primary gateway to Northern Xinjiang, with direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
Key Airports
Kanas/Aletai Airport: It offers seasonal direct flights (June–October) for travelers prioritizing Kanas Lake.
Yining Airport: It connects to major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, ideal for exploring the Ili Valley.
By Train
Ürümqi → Beitun/Aletai: Opt for the Snow Country Express soft sleeper berths (10–12 hours), with panoramic views from Carriage.
Ürümqi → Yining: Take the intercity train (6 hours) through the Tianshan Mountains and then appreciate the magnificent scenery.
Best For: Budget travelers and slow-travel enthusiasts.
Self-Driving/Road Trips
Iconic Routes
Duku Highway (North Section): From Dushanzi to Nalati, one of the most spectacular self-driving routes in China. You can experience four seasons in a day. However, it is generally open from June to October, and it will be closed due to heavy snow in winter.
Yizhao Highway: A summer-only route (Yining→Zhaosu) dubbed "Mini Duku" for its alpine vistas.
S101 Danxia Corridor: Ürümqi→Kuytun, featuring Martian-like red rock formations.
Tips: Rent vehicles in Ürümqi for lower costs; verify run-flat tires and emergency kits
Suited to: History & culture enthusiasts, photographers & art Lovers
5. Highlights of Northern Xinjiang
5.1 Natural Wonders
5.1.1 Kanas Lake 喀纳斯湖
China’s deepest alpine freshwater lake (188.5 meters), renowned for its "lake monster" legends and color-shifting waters that transition between azure and emerald hues in autumn.
Core Highlights: Morning mist at Shenxian Bay, overlooking the panoramic view from the Fish Viewing Platform, and the S-shaped river course of Moon Bay.
Play Modes: Hike through the Three Bays of Kanas and visit the log cabin villages of the Tuwa people, it is the introduction to the Three Bays as below.
Immortal Bay (Shenxian Wan 神仙湾)
"Pearl Shoal": Named for its dawn mist resembling scattered pearls under sunlight, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
Best viewing: Summer (6:30–8:00 AM for mist) or autumn (golden birch forests intertwined with fog).
Photography tips: Take the 7:30 AM shuttle to the viewing platform; use wooden walkways for layered shots of valleys and forests.
Moon Bay (Yueliang Wan 月亮湾)
Iconic S-shaped meander: A crescent-like river bend with a "celestial footprint" sandbar, flanked by spruce and birch reflections.
Prime photography: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM for light angles enhancing water reflections; combine with Immortal Bay’s lingering mist.
Classic angles: Upper viewing deck for the full S-curve; mid-level walkways for V-shaped river compositions.
Crouching Dragon Bay (Wolong Wan 卧龙湾)
Dragon-shaped island: A central sandbar resembling a reclining dragon, surrounded by summer wildflowers or winter’s stark monochrome.
Exploration: Hike through primeval forests along glacial streams or ascend observation decks for panoramic views.
Three-Bay Trek: Walk the 3-km wooded trail between Moon Bay and Crouching Dragon Bay, immersing in untouched valleys.
Cultural immersion: Visit Tuvan villages with traditional log cabins and you can learn about nomadic heritage.
Transportation
Shuttle route: Jiadenyu Visitor Center → Transfer Hub → Immortal Bay → Moon Bay → Crouching Dragon Bay (1.5 hours one way).
Hiking alternative: Moon Bay to Crouching Dragon Bay via riverside trails (3 km).
Practical Information
Ticket: Included in the Kanas Scenic Area Pass (¥180 entry + ¥80 shuttle).
Accommodation: Stay in lakeside wooden cottages for early-morning photography or opt for budget-friendly barbecues in Burqin/Jiadenyu
5.1.2 Sayram Lake 赛里木湖
5.3 Cultural & Ecological Gems
5.3.1 Hemu Village (Kanas) 禾木村(喀纳斯)
Listed among China’s "Most Beautiful Ancient Villages", renowned for golden autumn birch forests and fairy-tale winter snowscapes.
Classic Scene: Dawn mist over the Hemu River, with wooden cottages and chimney smoke framing snow-capped peaks.
Architecture: 200+ Wooden Cabins built from red pine logs (30–40 cm thick) with A-frame roofs to withstand heavy snowfall, semi-submerged structures and moss-covered walls so as to ensure natural insulation.
Core Experiences
Haden Viewing Platform: Capture sunrise mist over the village and valley.
Tuvan Traditions: Witness archery competitions and Chuur (reed flute) performances by the Tuvan people.
Activities: Hike to Meili Peak for alpine meadow vistas.
Yunxiao Peak Gondola: Summit at 2,800 meters for panoramic views of four countries (China, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan).
Homestays: Stay in Tuvan lodges to savor hand-torn lamb and fermented dairy products.
Travel Tips
Location: 70 km from Kanas Lake; accessible by self-driving or shuttle bus.
Best Times: Autumn dawn (late Sept–Oct) for golden foliage; winter dusk (Dec–Feb) for blue-hour snowscapes.
5.3.2 Kazanqi Folk Tourism Zone (Yining) 喀赞其民俗旅游区（伊宁）
Northern Xinjiang’s largest Uyghur cultural enclave, it blends vibrant architecture, handicrafts, and living traditions.
Architecture Features
Color Palette: Streets dominated by cobalt-blue doors/windows and dotted with yellow, pink, and green colors; grapevine trellises create photogenic “dopamine corridors”.
Cultural Fusion: It mixes Uyghur courtyards, Rococo carvings, and Sino-European hybrid designs.
Cultural Highlights
Shanxi Grand Mosque(陕西清真大寺): Han-style Islamic architecture from 1760.
Peace Dove Square: Iconic entrance with pastel buildings and flocks of pigeons.
Alexander Accordion Museum: 800+ vintage instruments with live performances.
Experiences
Hadic Horse Carriage Tour: You can ride through blue-washed lanes, which is hailed as the “Morocco of the East”.
Workshops: Try wood carving, Atlas silk dyeing, or lamb skewer grilling over clay ovens.
Home Visits: Learn Uyghur etiquette while you are sampling borsok (fried dough) and making ice cream.
Craftsmanships: 100+ artisan shops preserving metalwork, saddle-making, and boot-making traditions
5.3.3 Bayanbulak Grassland (Where Ecology Meets Nomadic Heritage)巴音布鲁克草原
Name Origin: Derived from Mongolian "Bayan buluk", meaning "abundant springs", reflecting its 1,000+ freshwater springs and intertwined river system.
Status: China’s second-largest grassland (23,835 km²), nestled in the Tianshan Mountains at 2,500 meters elevation.
Nine-Bend Serpentine of the Kaidu River: A 516-km winding river with 1,142 bends, famed for its sunset reflections to create the "nine suns" optical illusion.
Cultural Myth: Inspired Journey to the West’s mythical "Heavenly River," with a legendary "Scripture-Drying Island" along its course.
Swan Lake Nature Reserve: Supports 75% of the global mute swan population, attracting 10,000+ migratory swans each spring.
Ecosystem: A mosaic of marshes, lakes, and streams hosting red-billed gulls and other avian species.
Grassland Ecology: Dominated by "buttergrass" (Stipa glareosa) meadows, sustaining 600,000+ livestock including Bayanbulak fat-tailed sheep and Tianshan horses.
Nomadic Culture
Torghut Mongol Legacy(土尔扈特文化): Home to descendants of the 1771 Torghut exodus from Russia, it preserves traditions like ovoo worship and horsemanship.
Nadam Festival (Summer):Horse racing, wrestling, and archery competitions during lunar June 4–6.
Nomadic Immersion: You can try milk mares, craft fermented dairy products (kurut), and stay in yurts under starry skies. In the winter, you can also ride horse-drawn sledges.
Torghut Cultural Village: Learn yurt-making techniques and traditional wool processing.
5.4 Seasonal Spectacles
Nalati Grassland (A Tapestry of Nature and Culture)
June–August
Huocheng Lavender Fields (霍城薰衣草田): Known as the "Eastern Provence", these sprawling purple blooms in mid-June, transforming the Ili Valley into a fragrant sea of violet.
Zhaosu Rape Flower Sea & Heavenly Horse Bathing: Golden rapeseed fields stretch to the horizon, while the Tekes River hosts daily performances of Xinjiang’s "heavenly horses" galloping through water.
September–October
Kanas Autumn Palette: Larch forests turn fiery gold, mirrored in the "Color-Changing Lake" (Kanas Lake), which in turn to create a surreal multicolor landscape.
Koktokay White Birch Forest: Amber-lit birch groves line the Irtysh River Valley, it is best to take photos at dawn.
November–March
Altay General Mountain Ski Resort (阿勒泰将军山滑雪场): Features 12 ski runs (30 km total) with pristine powder snow and alpine views.
Hemu Winter Wonderland: Snow-covered Tuvan log cabins and chimney smoke under starry skies with horse-drawn sleigh rides.
6. Recommended Itineraries for Exploring the Northern Xinjiang
6.1 5-Day Highlights
Route: Ürümqi → Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) → Kanas Lake → Hemu Village → Burqin.
6.2 7-Day Northern Xinjiang Loop (First-Time Visitors)
6.3 Budget Public Transport Route
Route: Ürümqi → Sayram Lake (bus) → Yining (train) → Zhaosu (shared car) → Xia’er (trekking).
6.4 Seasonal Recommendations
Summer (Jun–Aug): Prioritize Duku/ Yizhao Highways, paired with Ili Valley lavender fields and grasslands.
Autumn (Sep–Oct): Opt for Kanas Loop via train + private car to avoid traffic.
Winter (Nov–Mar): Fly directly to Altay/Kanas airports for skiing and confirm flight schedules in advance.
7. What to See and Do in Northern Xinjiang
7.1 Cultural Scenery & Ethnic Customs
Kazakh Eagle Hunting: Witness the ancient art of training golden eagles in the Altai region.
Uyghur Muqam Music: Attend a soulful performance, which is the UNESCO-listed intangible heritage.
7.2 Interactive Experiences
Hands-On Workshops & Culinary Experiences
Lavender Essential Oil Distillation: Harvest lavender in Huocheng fields, then learn steam distillation techniques to extract oils and craft sachets. The bonus is to visit the Lavender Museum to observe industrial-scale production.
Tandoor Cooking Class
Locations: Kashgar Old Town or Yining courtyard kitchens.
Skills: Master fire control in clay tandoors to roast lamb skewers and bake naan bread.
7.3 Eco-Cultural Immersion
Swan Lake Interaction
Winter: Feed mute swans at Sayram Lake
Summer: Join wrestling matches at Nadam Festival.
Hemu Morning Mist Photography
Guided Session: Hike to Haden Platform at dawn with Tuvan guides to capture log cabins and drifting chimney smoke using long-exposure techniques.
Horseback Riding with Kazakh Herders
Adventure: Traverse Hemu’s alpine meadows on Tianshan horses, learning nomadic herding traditions
7.4 Seasonal Specials
Winter Exclusives (Altay Fur Ski Crafting): Build traditional skis using ancient Tuvan methods (Intangible Cultural Heritage).
Hemu Sleigh Racing: Compete in horse-drawn sled sprints across snowfields.
Summer Highlights (Zhaosu Heavenly Horse Festival): Gallop on Akhal-Teke horses across rapeseed flower fields.
Tekes Stargazing: Photograph the Milky Way above the Bagua City’s geometric layout.
7.5 Natural Exploration
Hike in Kanas National Park: Trek through fairy-tale forests and spot the mysterious “Kanas Lake Monster.”
Stargaze in the Gobi Desert: The remote Karamay Desert offers pristine night skies.
8. Food & Accommodation
Must-Try Foods
Laghman (拉条子): Hand-pulled noodles with spicy mutton.
Samsa (烤包子): Flaky baked buns stuffed with lamb.
Nang (馕): Uyghur flatbread baked in clay ovens.
Stay Options
Yurts: Sleep under the stars in a traditional Kazakh tent.
Boutique Guesthouses: Modern stays in towns like Burqin.
9. Useful Travel Tips
Road Conditions: The northern section of the Duku Highway features winding mountain roads with speed limits of 40–60 km/h; SUVs or off-road vehicles are strongly recommended.
Fuel Stops: Gas stations are available in Dushanzi, Qiao’erma, and Nalati Town.
Must-Pack: SPF 50+ sunscreen (intense UV at high altitudes), light down jacket (temperature drops sharply at mountain passes) and snow chains (for sudden snowfall, especially in May/October).
Lodging Tips: Dushanzi/Nalati (Upscale resorts with full amenities), Sayram Lake with lakeside yurts (~¥300/night) or boutique lodges, Grassland Areas with Kazakh yurts for nomadic immersion.
10. The Possible Benefits of Visiting with Yes! CN Tour
Assisting you to enjoy a time-saving and convenient visit in Northern Xinjiang, we highly recommend you to travel with us Yes! CN Tour.
Guided tours are led by knowledgeable and experienced tour guides who provide valuable insights into the history, culture, and significance of the places you visit. Therefore, joining a guided tour offers a hassle-free, enriching, and socially engaging way to explore the world. It’s an excellent choice for those who value convenience, expert insights, and the camaraderie of group travel. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-timer, a guided tour can provide a memorable and rewarding experience.
What's more, our local experienced drivers will serve you wholeheartedly from the beginning you arrive in the airport of tourism destinations to the last moment you want to leave, we focus on each detail and make tailor-made itineraries based on your group size, physical conditions and budgets. What you need to do is to concentrate on the highlights in the scenic spots.
Most importantly, traveling with a group and a professional guide can provide an added sense of security, especially in unfamiliar or remote locations, our tour guides are well-prepared to handle emergencies, and being part of a group reduces the risks associated with solo travel.
Please don't hesitate to contact with us to create a more unforgettable journey.
