Xinjiang Travel Experience

Went to Xinjiang, and it was truly worth it. We chose a 6-day, 7-night itinerary: Route: Day 1: Urumqi - Anjihai Grand Canyon, a masterpiece of nature - Desert - Overnight in Jinghe (Bole) Day 2: Jinghe - Sailimu Lake, the "last tear of the Atlantic" (self-driving around the lake) - Ili's First Guozigou Bridge - Lavender Base - Overnight in Yining - Visit Liuxing Street Day 3: Yizhao Highway - Xiata Ancient Trail - Muzart Glacier - Overnight in Zhaosu Day 4: Zhaosu - Chaxi Scenic Area - Xinyuan Day 5: Xinyuan - Nalati Grassland - Overnight in Nalati Day 6: Nalati - Middle section of Duku Highway - Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery - Northern section of Duku Highway - Urumqi Details: We formed a private group of two people, costing 6,800 RMB per person, with a private guide. The tour fee includes transportation, tolls, fuel costs, airport transfers, 6 days and 7 nights of accommodation, breakfast, entrance tickets, and first shuttle tickets within scenic areas. Airfare, lunch, and dinner are self-funded, and there are no additional costs. Drone photography is also included. Essentials to bring: Emergency face masks, sunscreen spray (suggested size under 100ml), power bank, umbrella, sunglasses, sun hat, face masks, sun-protective gloves (especially useful if you plan to ride horses—I got sunburned hands), snacks (we mostly skipped lunch at restaurants and ate dinner back at the hotel), and small change (not much needed). Clothing: I went in June and didn’t use any of the thick clothes I brought. For Sailimu Lake, I recommend wearing a white dress; for the desert, solid-colored outfits work best; and for the grasslands, bright colors look great in photos. As for shoes, my boyfriend and I wore Crocs the entire trip, and they were super practical. 👍🏻 Recommended activities: Try the professional horse-riding team in Nalati; it costs 180 RMB per person for two hours, and the young horse guides are hilarious and love joking around. In Xiata, there are friendly squirrels that aren’t afraid of people—bring some food for close-up photos. Sailimu Lake is a must-visit; its natural beauty is beyond what a phone camera can capture. Bring some bread to feed the swans and take pictures. 📷 Food: Don’t miss dishes like "mianfeizi" (noodle lung), spicy chicken, lamb, "dapanji" (big plate chicken), and stir-fried noodles.