Arrive in Urumqi → International Grand Bazaar or Hotan 2nd Street
Urumqi → S21 Desert Highway → Altay City: Travel along the edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert and experience the grandeur of the S21 Desert Highway. Take breaks at rest areas along the way and arrive in Altay City in the evening.
Altay City → Ahe Highway → Hemu Village: Travel along the breathtaking Ahe Highway to enter the fairy-tale-like Hemu Village. In the afternoon, take a stroll across Hemu Bridge and through the birch forest, experience a Tuvan log cabin, and rest under the starry sky in the evening.
Hemu → Kanas Lake → Kanas Three Bays: Head to the Kanas Scenic Area, climb the Fish-Viewing Platform for a panoramic view, then hike through Fairy Bay, Moon Bay, and Reclining Dragon Bay to experience the harmony of forest and lake.
Kanas → Five-Color Beach → Urho World Devil’s City: In the morning, admire the Yadan landforms and sunset at Five-Color Beach; in the afternoon, head to the World Devil’s City and ride a small train through the wonders of the Gobi Desert.
Wuerhe → Lake Sayram: Head to Lake Sayram, known as “the last tear of the Atlantic.” We recommend driving around the lake via the East Gate (entry) and South Gate (exit), stopping at Songshutou and Swan Lake to experience the deep-blue waters and seas of wildflowers on the grasslands.
Lake Sayram → Guozigou Bridge → Yining City: Cross the spectacular Guozigou Bridge, which winds through the valley, framing snow-capped mountains and forests in a single view. Arrive in Yining in the afternoon to explore Liuxing Street and enjoy artisanal ice cream.
Yining → Karajun Grassland → Tekes Bagua City Head to the Karajun Grassland to visit the Flower Terrace and Falcon Terrace, and experience the awe-inspiring three-dimensional landscape of the grasslands. Arrive at Tekes Bagua City in the evening to experience a city without traffic lights.
Tekes → Nalati Grassland → Duku Highway: Explore the Nalati “Sky Grassland” and watch cattle and sheep roaming freely across the hills. In the afternoon, drive onto the Duku Highway to experience the wonder of “four seasons in a single day, and the weather changing every ten li.”
Duku Highway → Urumqi → Return Trip Complete the northern section of the Duku Highway and return to Urumqi. In the morning, visit the Xinjiang Museum or Jinquan Shopping Mall to purchase local specialties; in the afternoon, head to the airport for your return flight.
Transportation and Cost Guide
Essential Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
Precise Navigation: For Lake Sayram, navigate to the “North Gate Temporary Entrance” to save 1 hour; for Nalati, navigate to the “Sky Grassland Entrance” to avoid detours; for the Duku Highway, navigate in sections.
Transportation and Vehicle Recommendations
Accommodation Recommendations
