Self-driving around Xinjiang
Starting from Urumqi——————
Urumqi-Turpan-Hami-Barkol-Fukang City-Tianchi-Wucai Bay - Altay City - Kanas - Karamay - Alashankou Port - Horgos Port - Yining - Nalati - Bayinbuluk - Swan Lake - Kuqa - Aksu City - Kashgar - Taxkorgan - Kashgar - Hotan City - Tazhong-Korla City-Bosten Lake-Urumqi
Recommended itinerary: 26 days
Reference mileage: about 8935 kilometers
Day 1: Urumqi-Turpan< /p>
National Highway 312 is 185 kilometers long. Along the way, you can enjoy the scenery of the Tianshan Mountains, the Baili Wind Area, the largest wind power station in Asia, Chaiwobao Lake, the famous Salt Lake of the Little Dead Sea, the ancient city of Daban, and the ancient Baishui Stream Road.
Turpan: Visit Karez, Jiaohe Ancient City, Flame Mountain, Grape Valley, Bezeklik Thousand Lakes Cave, Astana Ancient Tombs, Sur Pagoda, and Emin Pagoda.
From Urumqi Xiahetan Expressway, head east to Tuwu Expressway and go straight to Turpan City. Along the way, you can see the Tianshan Phoenix, Baili Wind Area, Asia’s largest wind power station, Chaiwobao Lake, and the Little Dead Sea. The famous Salt Lake, Daban Ancient City, and Baishui Stream Ancient Road. After entering Turpan city, just follow the route map. Overnight in Turpan City.
The next day: Turpan-Hami
Along the way, visit the ancient city of Gaochang, the twin holy sites of Buddhism and Islam, the Tuyugou Grand Canyon Thousand Buddha Caves, the Seven Sacred Temples, and the Shanshan Kumutag Desert Park, Lappchok Ancient City, Ancient Beacon Tower Group, Wubao Tomb Group, and Hami City.
Go along National Highway 312 to the Flame Mountain, turn right, and walk a few kilometers along the way to the ancient city of Gaochang. After visiting, you can go east along the road and reach the Tuyugou Grand Canyon Thousand Buddha Caves, the twin holy sites of Buddhism and Islam. Seven Saints Temple, go east along the urban-rural highway and turn onto the 312 National Highway in Lianmubi Town. Go east to Shanshan County. After entering the city for lunch, go south through Shanshan County to reach the Shanshan Kumutage Desert Park. After the tour, return to the 312 National Highway. Drive about 300 kilometers east to reach Hami, visit the ancient city of Lapuchok on both sides of the Kalluk Ancient Canal in Sibao Township, visit the ancient tombs near Wubao, and then enter the urban area of ??Hami. Stay in Hami City.
The third day: Hami - Barkol
Visit the Tomb of King Hui, the Tomb of Gaisi, Han Monument, Nanshan Pass, Tianshan Temple, Koumenzi, Baishitou, Mingsha Mountain , Military Racecourse, Barkol Beacon Tower, Barkol River Tangcheng, Ancient City Monument, and Barkol County.
You can search for the Hui Wang Tomb and the Gas Tomb in and around Hami City. From Hami City, head north towards the Tianshan Mountains, about 36 kilometers to Nanshan Pass, and visit Nanshan Pass, Tianshan Temple, and Koumenzi San Scenic spots. Continue northbound, enter the Baishitou Scenic Area, visit Songshutang, Mingsha Mountain, and Baishitou, then return to the main road and head north to the Yiwu Army Racecourse, and travel northwest along the Tianshan Mountains for more than 50 kilometers, visiting the Barkol Prairie, Beacon Tower, Dahetang City in Shirenzi Township, and ancient monuments enter Barkol County. Stay in Barkol County.
Day 4: Barkol - Fukang City
80% of this section is highway, about 560 kilometers, along the way we visit Barkol Lake (Puleihai), Barkol Prairie, Kizikuduk watershed, Sepikou, Dashuishou, Baiyang River (with the Tianshan Mountains landscape to the west, Tianshan ice peaks and snow ridges to the left and Gobi desert scenery to the right), Mulei County, Qitai County, Jimusar County, Fukang County.
Exit Barkol County and go west on the newly built Bamu Highway (first-class road) to Mulei County. Continue westward along the main road through Qitai and Jimusar counties to Fukang City. Su Fukang City.
Day 5: Fukang City - Tianchi - Wucai Bay
Visit the eight scenic spots of Tianchi, enter the Junggar Basin and Jiangjun Gobi to visit Huoshao Mountain, Wucai City, Cainan Oilfield, and Wucai Bay spa.
From Fukang, take the Tianchi Highway and go straight to the Tianchi ticket office. Change to a shuttle bus or take the cable car. After visiting the lake area, return to the Tuwu Expressway, turn right and drive east to the Xingfu intersection. Travel north along National Highway 216 to Cainan Oilfield and visit Colorful City. Return to Wucaiwan Hot Spring and stay overnight at Wucaiwan Hot Spring.
Day 6: Colorful Bay - Altay
Visit the Gurbantunggut Desert, Kalamaili Mountain Ungulate Nature Reserve, desert wonders, and Ulun along the way Ancient River, Irqis River, Ulungu Lake (Brento Sea), Altay City.
Line 216 passes through the Gurbantunggut Desert and the Ulungu River directly to Beitun. It goes straight northwest for 22 kilometers to reach the 188th Group Field, visits the Brento Sea, and then returns to Beitun for 22 kilometers. Go northeast along Route 217 to Altay City. Overnight in Altay City.
Day 7: Kanas Nature Reserve in Altay City
Line 217, about 360 kilometers, along the way you can enjoy forests and grasslands, large meteorites, ancient tombs carved in Chemulche, Grassland stone figures, grassland rock paintings, Kanas Lake.
Go northwest out of Altay City and visit Hualin Park. The Kelan River divides the park into six small islands in the middle of the river, where you can enjoy hiking, photography, and sketching; drive 12 kilometers southwest from Altay City. On the right side of the road, visit the large meteorite and the ancient tombs carved in Chemulche; continue on to visit the grassland stone figures, grassland rock paintings, and go straight to Burqin.
Day 8: Tour of Kanas Nature Reserve
Buddha’s light in the sea of ??clouds, color-changing lake, driftwood embankment, lake monsters, and Tuva villages.
It is recommended to visit on foot. Overnight in Kanas.
Day 9: Kanas Nature Reserve - Karamay
Route 217, about 420 kilometers, along the way visit Urho Devil City, Urhe Wind City, and Heiyou Mountain , Gobi Oil City - Karamay City.
From Kanas, return to Burqin County and drive 69 kilometers southwest, cross the black stone and get on the 217 National Highway, continue to drive about 120 kilometers southwest, enter Urho District, Karamay City District, and visit Urho Devil City and Urho Wind City; continue traveling southwest to Karamay City and visit the Heiyou Mountain and Oil City on the outskirts of the city. Overnight in Karamay City.
Day 10: Karamay City-Alashankou Port
Line 217-312, about 580 kilometers, passes through Kuitun City, Wusu City, and Jinghe County, and visits Oasis Farm along the way. I would like to learn more about the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Dalet Ancient City (Shuanghe Protectorate in the Tang Dynasty), Bortala River Secondary Forest, Aobao, Bole City, and Alashankou Port.
Go south along Route 217 to Kuitun City, then go west along National Highway 312 or Kuisei Expressway, pass Wutai and go 27 kilometers north to Bole City, then turn east and north for 86 kilometers to Alashankou. Overnight at Alashankou.
Day 11: Alashankou Port - Horgos Port
Line 312, about 320 kilometers, visit the magical Qishiyu, the Pearl of Tianshan Sailimu Lake 10 Jing, Guozigou and Horgos Port. Return to Bole from Alashankou, visit Qishiyu Scenic Area, enter Bole City, go south for 27 kilometers back to Wutai, go west along National Highway 312 for 58 kilometers to Santai, visit Sailimu Lake Scenic Area and then go west along the way to arrive Tour the Guozigou section of the Wuyi Highway. After the tour, continue westbound along the Wuyi Highway until you reach the end of Line 312 at Horgos Port.
Day 12: Horgos Port - Yining
About 280 kilometers, visit Huiyuan Ancient City, Yili General Mansion, Alima Ancient City, Tuhei Lutie Murhan Mazar, Jinding Temple ruins, Yining Hui Temple, Fire Dragon Cave, Ili River Bridge, Baitula Mosque, Big and Small Jincheng, Tomb of the 11th generation grandson of Genghis Khan - Sutanwai Sihan Mazar, night tour in the Garden City Yining City.
Day 13: Yining-Nalati Forest Park
Line 218, about 320 kilometers. Along the way, you can visit the Ili River Valley and the living fossils of broad-leaved forests - Small Leaf Ash Nature Reserve, Gongliu Wild Walnut Nature Reserve, Snow Ridge Spruce Nature Reserve, Nalati Prairie, Ili Black Bee Nature Reserve, and Nalati Forest. garden.
Leave Yining City and head east-south along Route 218, viewing the Ili River Valley along the way. From Huocheng, travel 97 kilometers east along Route 218 to Dunmazha Town in the southeast of Yining County to visit the living fossils of the broad-leaved forest. ——Small-leaf Fraxinus Nature Reserve, then go south from Dunmazha, cross the magnificent Yamadu Bridge near the mouth of the Kashgar River, and go southeast along Provincial Highway 316 to Gongliu County, a total journey of about 70 kilometers. Visit Gongliu Wild Walnut Nature Reserve. Travel 96 kilometers southeast from Gongliu Town to Kuledening Snow Ridge Spruce Nature Reserve. Continue 67 kilometers to Nalati Town, and visit the Nalati Prairie along the way. . Overnight at Nalati Resort.
Day 14: Nalati-Bayinbuluke
National Highway 218-217, about 157 kilometers. Climb the Nalati Mountain watershed at an altitude of about 2,800 meters and enter the vast Yurdos Basin, Bayinbuluke Prairie, Kaidu River, and Swan Lake.
Go along Route 218 for 21 kilometers and turn at the intersection of Route 217. Route 217 goes south for 42 kilometers, crosses Nalati Mountain, and continues southwest for 19 kilometers to Bayinbuluke Town. Travel 45 kilometers to Bayinbuluke Swan Lake. Stay at Lakeside Resort.
Day 15: Swan Lake-Kuqa
Line 217, about 288 kilometers. Climb the Tielimaideda Ban at an altitude of 4,000 meters in Kokteke Mountain, spiral down 1,000 meters through 12 sharp turns, and enter the Kuqa River Valley. Along the way, you can see the Big and Small Dragon Ponds, Chisha Mountain, the Mysterious Grand Canyon of the Tianshan Mountains, and the Salt Water Ditch of the Ancient Silk Road. , the ruins of ancient beacons, and enter Kuqa, the important town in southern Xinjiang, the capital of the ancient Qiuci Kingdom.
Return to Bayinbuluke Town and head southwest along Route 217, crossing the Tielimai Dedaban at an altitude of 4,000 meters, and spiraling down for more than 10 seconds through the approximately 2-kilometer-long Tielimai Dedaban Tunnel. Kilometers, we arrived at the famous tourist resort - Xiaolongchi, located in the upper valley of Kuqa Lake. After visiting, we continued southbound along Route 217 through Chisha Mountain to visit the Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon, the Salt Water Ditch of the Ancient Silk Road, and the Ancient Bee Sui Site. Enter Kuqa, the important town in southern Xinjiang, the capital of the ancient Kucha Kingdom. Overnight in Kuqa County.
Day 16: Kuqa-Aksu
National Highway 217-314, about 387 kilometers. Visit the ancient city of Qiuci, the Great Temple of Kuqa, the Tomb of Merana Hezhuo, the Kizil Thousand Buddha Cave, the Thousand Tears Spring, and then pass through Baicheng to Aksu City.
After visiting the ancient city of Kucha, the Great Temple of Kuqa, and the tomb of Merana Hezhuo, drive 20 kilometers north from Kuqa along National Highway 217 and 32 kilometers west to reach Dakizil Township and visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves. , Thousand Tears Spring, and then directly to Aksu City via Baicheng. Overnight in Aksu City.
Day 17: Aksu City-Kashgar
National Highway 314, about 463 kilometers. Along the way, you can enjoy the Uyghur village customs, the city of Atush, the capital of the ancient Shule Kingdom, and the night view of Kashgar.
Leave Aksu City and drive southwest along National Highway 314, pass through Atush City and reach Kashgar City, where you will stay overnight.
Day 18: Kashgar City-Tashkorgan
China-Pakistan Highway, about 543 kilometers. Along the way, you can admire the majestic Gezi River Valley, the Gonggeer Sister Peaks at an altitude of 7,579 meters, Lake Karakul, the Tomb Tage Peak at an altitude of 7,555 meters, the father of icebergs, and appreciate the grandeur of the Pamir Plateau, the ancestor of all mountains. The wonders of mountain ice and snow and the plateau grasslands full of cattle and sheep, visit the Taxkorgan Stone City (originally the Puli King City of the 36 Western Regions in the Han Dynasty), the Tajik customs of the Plateau Eagle, and the Khunjerab Port, and then return to Taxkorgan County.
Go southwest along the China-Pakistan Highway and enjoy the majestic Gezi River Valley, the Gonger Sister Peaks at an altitude of 7579 meters, Lake Karakulli, and the father of icebergs - Mututage at an altitude of 7555 meters. After entering Taxkorgan County, visit Stone City and continue 128 kilometers southwest to reach Khunjerab Daban (more than 4,700 meters above sea level). After the visit, return to Taxkorgan County. Overnight in Tashkul County.
Day 19: Taxkorgan-Kashgar
China-Pakistan Highway, about 430 kilometers, enter Kashgar city and visit Xiangfei Tomb, Id Kah Mosque, and Grand Bazaar .
After returning to Kashgar along the China-Pakistan Highway, visit the Tomb of Xiangfei, the Id Kah Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar in the city. Overnight in Kashgar City.
Day 20: Kashgar - Hotan
National Highway 315, about 580 kilometers, passing through Shule and Yingjisha (the hometown of Uyghur swords), and visiting Yarkand, an important town in southern Xinjiang (Yarkand) Tomb of Princess Jieyou of the Han Dynasty, Hancheng, Huicheng, Tomb of King Sache, Mazar of the Seven Sages, Gami Mosque with an area of ??15,000 square meters, which can be used for worship by ten thousand people), Zepu in the oil field, Yecheng, the hometown of pomegranates, The Uyghur oasis town Pishan (Pishan Kingdom of the 36 Kingdoms in the Ancient Western Regions), Moyu (Feudal Serf Manor: Xiaheleke Manor), etc., arrived at Hotan, the "Buddhist Kingdom of Khotan" in the 36 Kingdoms of the Ancient Western Regions.
Start from Kashgar and travel southeast along the 315 National Highway, passing through Shule and Yingjisha to Yarkand. After the tour, continue along the 315 National Highway through Yecheng, Pishan, and Moyu to Hotan City. Overnight in Hotan City.
Day 21: One-day trip to Hotan
About 100 kilometers. Visit the 500-year-old Fig King, Walnut King, Yotgan Ruins, Malikwat Ancient City, Zanmu Temple, Hotan Silk Factory, Carpet Factory, and Jade Picking in the Yulong River.
How is it?