I have just returned from a trip to Xinjiang and, after staying up all night, I have finally organized a detailed travel guide. If you’re planning to visit Xinjiang to see the snow between January and February, be sure to read this guide carefully. Below is the itinerary I’ve compiled, which includes routes, travel preparations, and ways to enjoy the trip. I highly recommend saving this guide to avoid not being able to find it next time.
Group Tour Experience
My sister and I chose a small group tour for 6 days with 4 people, costing over 4k per person. This included a private car (a Tank SUV), hotel accommodations, scenic spot tickets, and travel routes (of course, you can communicate with the driver). Finding the right travel group was not easy, but after some selection, we found a qualified team that provided travel insurance, signed contracts, and had their own fleet of vehicles. The driver was also very enthusiastic, making our trip very enjoyable and comfortable.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart from home to Urumqi – Tianshan Tianchi – Cross the S21 internet-famous desert highway – Burqin
Day 2: Burqin – Hemu snow appreciation, intoxicating starry sky – Hemu snow scene log cabin
Day 3: Hemu sunrise mist – Hemu skiing – Kanas snow scene log cabin
Day 4: Kanas – Kanas snow mushrooms – Devil’s City – Wuerhe 5-diamond hot spring hotel
Day 5: Wuerhe – Dushanzi Grand Canyon – Sayram Lake, stay in a standalone apartment by the lake
Day 6: After a round trip around Sayram Lake, return to Urumqi to end the journey, and head home
Travel Impressions
This trip fully satisfied my desire to see snow, and I hope next time I can fulfill my wish to see the grasslands. During this trip, my sister and I enjoyed the snow as well as the local cuisine. We were also fully energized in the car, just to capture perfect photos. The tour leader was very considerate, finding us less crowded spots that were more suitable for photography, which was truly professional! For those who don’t want to self-drive, choosing a group tour like this is really very relaxing and comfortable.
Lastly, a share of Xinjiang’s delicacies:
Xinjiang’s Big Plate Chicken, Lamb Skewers, Roast Lamb Chops, Racks of Meat, Roasted Buns, and others are not to be missed. Also, Old Yogurt, Cold Water Fish, Hand Grab Rice, Baorou (meat wrapped in dough), and Latiaozi (pulled noodles) will make you linger and forget to return.