Xinjiang is more than just Altay! A 9-day guide to traveling around southern and northern Xinjiang (Part 1)

A nine-day self-driving tour guide to Northern and Southern Xinjiang, including food and accommodation recommendations, and no pitfalls to avoid~ This article is my guide to southern and northern Xinjiang in July (last year) (late-stage procrastination patients are here...). Fortunately, now in July and August, the beauty of Xinjiang is at that time. Some people are confused whether to see the culture of southern Xinjiang or the scenery of northern Xinjiang. Adults wanted it all at that time! This guide covers the Kashgar City·Kashgar Region + Ili·Xinjiang itinerary, which is fun and not tiring~ The first part talks about southern Xinjiang, and the next part moves to northern Xinjiang. DAY 1 Shanghai-Kashgar landing 📝Note tips:: Apply for border defense permit When I first arrived, I walked around the west and east cities of the ancient city of Kashgar, drank tea at the Xiangfei Teahouse and listened to the local people playing the piano. ✅Must experience: Roses and original flavored rice are delicious~ 📍Hotel: Youranju B&B (Kashgar Ancient City Branch) DAY2 Kashgar-Ta County ● Oytak Red Valley (walk in next to road sign 1583 by car) ● Baisha Mountain-Baisha Lake Scenic Area (Detour to the north and take the Muji Border Highway for more stunning views) The navigation is set up at the Muji Township volcano, and you can drive to the grass beach by walking a short distance around the north of Baisha Lake. Hotel: Taxkorgan Zhanyunshui B&B DAY3 One-day tour around Ta County ● In the morning, we drove from the village to Bandil Blue Lake and passed a wetland grass beach, which was more beautiful than the Golden Grass Beach. Then we drove a bad road on the Tasha Ancient Trail to see the Blue Lake first. Because we were afraid of weather changes and wanted to catch the good weather, we went against the conventional recommended route. The conventional route is a one-way road on the Tasha Ancient Trail. It is recommended to start from Ta County and go to Panlong Ancient Trail and then to Blue Lake, so that you don’t have to repeat the route. But be flexible depending on the weather. ● Bandil Blue Lake/Xiabandi Reservoir is absolutely beautiful. ●Passing a casual glance at the Wakhan Corridor. Return to Ta County and then drive to the Panlong Ancient Trail, where you can see large and small coiling dragons, the neat hairpin bend of the small coiling dragon at the end, and internet celebrity photo spots. The Panlong Ancient Road passed through a small village. At 8:30 in the evening, we had dinner at a very humble restaurant. It was surprisingly delicious and local. The locals were very honest and the boss even walked us out when we left. Hotel: Tasha Trail Hotel . Day4 Ta County-Kashgar Heading back to Kashgar from Ta County, today’s itinerary is relatively easy, just take some photos on the way. Go to Kashgar for half a day. ●We passed Muztagh Peak. The weather was very good and the snow-capped mountains were very clear. We took a photo with the snow-capped mountains on the grass. ●On the way back, we passed by Baisha Lake and took some photos at the observation deck. ●Back in Kashgar, go to the Gray Ram in the ancient city food street to eat, and the roasted pigeons in pigeon soup are both good. Hotel: GreenTree Inn (Kashgar Xiangfeiyuan Branch) Day5 Kashgar-Yarkand-Yining ●Go to the Yarkand Kashgar area and have lunch at the Internet celebrity store Muqam Hometown Restaurant in Yarkand County. The roasted pigeon is the best in the whole place, and the pigeon soup is also delicious, better than the one in Kashgar. Sure enough, you have to go to Yarkand to eat pigeons! ●One Yuan Teahouse, navigate to Xinjie Tuanjie Tea Shop. It is not very recommended. It is hot and stuffy, and the tea and tea are just average. However, it only costs one yuan and only accepts cash. You can get change in the small shop next to it. ●Go to Yining City, Yili, visit Liuxing Street, and have dinner at the Apple Fragrance Restaurant. It is very good. The hand-made Acanthus fruit ice cream is very delicious. The apricot and passion fruit are delicious, and the rose one is also good. Hotel: Yining Hanxiangju B&B, very good, 👍most recommended. Due to space reasons, the next chapter will introduce Northern Xinjiang, 🌟 Sailimu Lake Saigao~