Summer is coming, and it's time to experience the fresh scent of grass on the grasslands!!

From May to August, Yili boasts not only grasslands, snow-capped mountains, forests, streams, flocks of cattle and sheep, and galloping wild horses, but also adorable little squirrels. It has attracted the attention of many travelers, who are looking forward to visiting! However, many people choose to visit between July and August, perhaps because that's the only time they have available. But in my opinion, this period is not the best time to visit. During this time, most of the grasslands start to turn yellow, and the number of visitors peaks, often leading to overcrowding and long queues, diminishing the overall travel experience. 📙 July and August are peak seasons. While it's the peak season, it doesn't mean it's the best time to travel. Peak season means the highest number of visitors, which leads to increased hotel prices and other expenses, adding unnecessary costs. 📙 The UV rays in Xinjiang during summer are very strong. From May to June, the temperature ranges from 15°C to 25°C, similar to spring, without excessively strong UV rays, making travel much more comfortable. 📙 Greening and Yellowing Times for 8 Major Grasslands🌿: Kalajun, Qasi, and Kurdening turn green in late April, with early May being the best time to visit. Nalati, Zhongkushtai, Tangbula, and Bayinbuluk turn green in early May, with mid-May being the best time to visit. Xiata turns green in mid-May, with June being the best time to visit. Kalajun, Qasi, and Kurdening start to turn yellow in July. By mid-to-late August, almost all grasslands begin to turn yellow. 🚘 Route Planning When traveling to Yili, Xinjiang, it is not recommended to start from Urumqi, which should only be used as a transit point. Although Urumqi has many culinary specialties, the prefectures and counties offer more authentic local and ethnic experiences. Xinjiang is vast, with Urumqi being 500km from Altay, 700km from Yili, and about 1500km from Kashgar. Starting from Urumqi not only increases travel time but also adds to driving fatigue. If you are planning an in-depth trip, it's important to set realistic expectations. However, if the Duku Highway is open, starting from Urumqi is perfectly fine. The Duku Highway typically opens around early June, but it's essential to check for official announcements. You can plan your itinerary based on your needs. ① Yining - Liuxing Street/Kazanqi - Food Exploration - Ethnic Experience ② Yining City - Sayram Lake - Guozigou - Yining ③ Yining - Xiata - Zhaosu ④ Zhaosu - Zhongkushtai - Tekes ⑤ Tekes - Qasi - Xinyuan ⑥ Xinyuan - Nalati - Nalati Town ⑦ Nalati - Tangbula - Yining Lastly, remember to wear sunscreen! Sunscreen!