Recommended Routes
8-Day Xinjiang Tour Including the Ili River Valley
Jul
Xinjiang’s Surreal Summer
If you visit Xinjiang in summer, the Ili River Valley must be the top destination to enjoy Xinjiang’s natural beauty.
West of Urumqi, nestled between the “two arms” of the Heavenly Mountains, the Ili River Valley boasts extremely beautiful scenery: flowers, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, and forests. There, you will encounter landscapes as perfect as a painting, which even exceed your dreams and imagination. It is also the homeland of many ethnic minorities, and you can meet people of various ethnic groups such as the Uyghur, Kazakh, Mongolian, and Kyrgyz…
During this 8-day Xinjiang tour, starting from Urumqi, you will drive westward and immerse yourself in the dreamlike Ili River Valley.
Suggested 8-Day Itinerary
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| 1-2 Urumqi | Tianshan Mountain and Heavenly Lake |
| 3 Sayram Lake | Sayram Lake |
| 4-5 Tekes | Lavender Oceans and Kalajun Grassland |
| 6 Nalati | Nalati Sky Grassland |
| 7-8 Yining | Uyghur Living Community |
Urumqi-Sayram Lake-Ili Tour Map
Tour ‘Wow’ Points
Enjoy the Blue of “the Atlantic’s Last Tears”
Have a relaxing walk on the banks of Sayram Lake. Warm moist air from the Atlantic Ocean travels more than 5,000 km (3,000 miles), but no further, to leave this beautiful sapphire-like lake.
Witness a Huge “3D Grassland” formed by the Snow Peaks, Forest, and Meadow.
Run or lie down freely on this vast grassland and understand why Tianshan Mountain is listed as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Encounter the Romantic Purple in Ili River Valley
Visit the biggest lavender plantation in China. Dive in the ‘ocean’ of purple flowers
Stray into a Scene from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Walk along the little stream formed by the melting snow of the Tianshan Mountains. Discover a yurt on the slope and a flower meadow hidden in the forest.
Explore the Only City in the World without Traffic Lights.
Enjoy a relaxing walk along the alleys with exotic buildings and intriguing paintings.
Meet Friendly People in a Lovely Town
Take a horse-drawn carriage to tour a traditional district where the Uyghur people live. Have a chat with local people under the grape terraces in their garden.
Enjoy a Sumptuous Uyghur Feast Filled with Song and Dance
How can you visit Xinjiang without savoring its local cuisine and enjoying the most passionate Uyghur songs and dances? Let delicious food, music, and dance become a beautiful memory of your journey here.
