2025 Ili, Xinjiang 8-Day Travel Guide

【Introduction】: Located in the northwest of Xinjiang, Ili is known as the "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall." It boasts a rich variety of natural landscapes and cultural attractions, including snow-capped mountains, grasslands, lakes, and canyons. Here are some must-see attractions in Ili: ⛺【Must-See Attractions】: Day 1: Home - Grand Bazaar - Urumqi Day 2: Urumqi - S101 National Defense Highway - Dushanzi Grand Canyon - Jinghe Day 3: Jinghe - Sayram Lake - Guozigou Bridge - Lavender - Liuxing Street - Yining Day 4: Yining - Kalajun Grassland - Tekes Day 5: Tekes - Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery - Fairy Lake - Xinyuan Day 6: Xinyuan - Nalati Grassland - Bayinbuluke Day 7: Bayinbuluke - Duku Highway - Urumqi Day 8: Urumqi - Home 1. Nalati Grassland: As one of the world's four largest alpine valley grasslands, Nalati Grassland is famous for its three-dimensional grassland landscape. In summer, wildflowers bloom all over the mountains, while in winter, the grassland is covered in snow. Visitors can enjoy activities such as horseback riding and visiting Kazakh families. The Sky Grassland Viewing Platform is the perfect spot to overlook the stunning scenery of snow-capped mountains and grasslands. 2. Sayram Lake: Although Sayram Lake is located in Bortala, it is a key attraction on the Ili loop. The lake water changes color with the light, displaying shades of blue and green. In June, the golden lotus flowers bloom by the lake, and in winter, you can see the spectacular ice push phenomenon. Cycling around the lake and stargazing camping are highly recommended experiences. 3. Kalajun Grassland: This UNESCO World Natural Heritage site is famous for its human-like grassland curves. In May and June, the Flower Terrace transforms into a colorful carpet, while the Falcon Terrace offers a distant view of the main peak of the Tianshan Mountains. The Crocodile Bay in the Koksu Grand Canyon is a geological wonder. 4. Tekes Bagua City: This is the world's largest ancient city with a Bagua layout, a mysterious city without traffic lights. Visitors can take a Ferris wheel ride to overlook the streets resembling the Eight Trigrams of the I Ching. The Lijie Folk Custom Area is full of Uyghur charm, making it perfect for drone photography. 5. Ili River Scenic Area: The Ili River, a major river in Central Asia, flows through the city. The sunset over the Ili River Bridge is known as the "most beautiful sunset in the Western Regions." The Wetland Park is a great place for birdwatching, and you can also enjoy ethnic song and dance performances by the river. In winter, swans inhabit the area, showcasing the beauty of a vibrant ecosystem. 🍩【Must-Try Food】: 1. Local Snacks: Milk tea, pilaf, noodle soup, flavored buns (including baked buns, pan-fried buns, and thin-skinned buns), Naren (a grassland-style noodle dish), spicy pot, and blood sausage are all local specialties. Among them, noodle soup is a Hui people's delicacy with excellent color, aroma, and taste, while Naren is a unique dish of the Xibe people, known for its delicious flavor. 2. Fruits and Specialties: Ili is also famous for its various fruits, honey products, famous wines, deer antlers, and snow lotus. Especially the apples in Ili, known as the "hometown of apples," offer a wide variety of apples for visitors to taste. 3. Traditional Flavors: Stuffed lung and stuffed rice sausage are traditional Uyghur snacks, soft, tender, and delicious. Smoked horse sausage is a top-quality smoked meat, with a rich aroma and long shelf life. 4. Specialty Drinks: In addition to milk tea and kumis, the Russian-style drink Kvass, unique to Yining, is also worth trying. It tastes a bit like honey-flavored beer, appetizing and intoxicating. 🏨【Accommodation Guide】: Trip.com 4-Diamond and Classic Homestays 🚌【Transportation Guide】: Customized according to guest needs (7/9/14/16/21/25/35 seats) 🧡【Tips】: 1. Clothing: Ili's climate is mostly dry, with long sunshine hours and a rainy season concentrated in June and July. The temperature difference between day and night is large, so in summer, pay attention to sun protection and warmth. 2. Safety: Ili offers many interesting tourist activities, such as horseback riding, hiking, and photography. Visitors can choose suitable activities based on their interests, but safety should be a priority. 3. Environmental Protection: During the tour, visitors should protect the ecological environment and avoid damaging vegetation and cultural relics. 4. Itinerary Planning: It is recommended to plan the itinerary reasonably based on the opening hours of attractions and traffic conditions to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience. Dushanzi Grand Canyon Sayram Lake·Bole Guozigou Bridge Princess Jieyou Lavender Garden Liuxing Street, Yining Kalajun Scenic Area Tangbula Grassland Nalati Tourist Scenic Area Bayinbuluke Scenic Area Duku Highway