The Enjoyment of Beauty, the Tremor of the Soul—A Record of a Self-Driving Tour in Xinjiang

First of all, I would like to thank Old Xinjiang for giving me this opportunity and for his chivalrous duty as the main driver! Thanks to Beidou for providing the vehicle 'Beidou Star' and serving as the co-driver! They tirelessly drove our group of four through the beautiful mountains and rivers of Xinjiang, crossing three icy passes four times, traversing treacherous and rugged cliffs, over 13 days and nearly 6000 kilometers, safely and without incident. Itinerary: June 5-18 Arrive in Urumqi, Xinjiang from various places, and Old Xinjiang arranged for pickup to Yining. June 5: Yining—Sailimu Lake, overnight at Sailimu Lake June 6: Morning at Sailimu Lake—Urho, overnight at Urho June 7: Morning at Urho Ghost City, via Burqin to Kanas, overnight at Kanas June 8: Hiking and driving tour in Kanas, overnight at Kanas June 9: Return to Urumqi from Kanas, overnight at Urumqi June 10-11: Erdaoqiao and International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, overnight at Urumqi June 12: From Urumqi to Turpan, visit Karez, Jiaohe Ancient City; via Flaming Mountains to Shanshan, watch the sunset in Kumtag Desert, overnight at Shanshan June 13: Sunrise in Kumtag, Tuyugou Grand Canyon, Tuyugou Thousand Buddha Caves, Tuyugou Folk Customs; via Turpan, through Toksun, to Bosten Lake to visit Golden Beach; via 218 to Baluntai to Huang Temple, arriving in Korla overnight! June 14: Drive along the Tarim Desert Highway, visit Luntai Populus Euphratica Forest Park, overnight at Korla June 15: From Korla along 218 via Baluntai crossing Aiken Pass into Gongnaisi Valley, forward to Qietemairike crossing Nalati Pass, into Bayinbuluke Swan Lake! Overnight at Bayinbuluke June 16: Tour the grasslands, watch swans, stay in Swan Lake cabins. June 17: Leave Bayinbuluke to Nalati zero kilometer point, cross Yuximolege Pass to Qiaerma, via Tangbula along 315 line back to Yili Huocheng. End of the 13-day self-driving tour in Xinjiang, full of joy. I sincerely feel: only with Old Xinjiang's first-class driving skills could we enjoy the trip so freely; it was Old Xinjiang's carefully planned route that gave me the enjoyment of beauty and the tremor of the soul! This will be an unforgettable self-driving tour for me!