[Introduction]: ✨ 10-Day Grand Tour of Ili, Xinjiang — The Ultimate Travel Guide | Duku Highway + Yizhao Highway + Sayram Lake + Nalati Grassland
🔥 Essential travel tips | No backtracking | Covering the highlights | Seasonal versions available | Save this guide for your trip

⛺ Essential Travel Information

▪️ Trip duration: 10 days / 9 nights (round trip from Urumqi + airport transfers)

▪️ Best time to travel: September–October (Yizhao Highway and the full Duku Highway are open, while the grasslands are at their most scenic)

▪️ Getting around: A private SUV with up to 5 or 7 seats is recommended, or you can drive yourself (some popular scenic highways have strict vehicle restrictions)

▪️ Suitable for: Families with children, friends travelling together, photography enthusiasts, self-drive travellers, and first-time visitors to northern Xinjiang

▪️ Time difference: Xinjiang is 2 hours behind eastern China. Meal times, sightseeing and rest periods can be adjusted accordingly.

▪️ Trip highlights: Visit ten of Xinjiang’s iconic landscapes in one trip, including Tianchi Lake, Sayram Lake, Guozigou, Yizhao Highway, Zhaosu’s Heavenly Horses, Xiata, Qiaxi, Nalati, the Duku Highway and S101.

🗓️ Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary | Full Version for the Peak Season (June–October)

Day 1 Urumqi Arrival · Your First Look at Western China

✈️ Itinerary: Arrive in Urumqi → private airport transfer → check in to your hotel and rest
🌟 Must-see: Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, Liuxing Street Cultural and Creative District
🍜 Local specialties: Hand-pulled rice, baked buns, grilled lamb, big-plate chicken, yoghurt zongzi
🏨 Overnight: Urumqi city centre (Beijing Road / Youhao business district, with convenient transport)
💡 Tip: Drink plenty of water when you first arrive in Xinjiang, avoid strenuous exercise, allow your body to adjust to the dry climate, and bring moisturiser and sun protection.

Day 2 Urumqi → Tianchi Lake → Kuitun

🚗 Driving distance: Approx. 300 km | Driving time: 4 hours
🏞 Main attraction: Tianchi Lake (Heavenly Lake, traditionally associated with the Queen Mother of the West)
🎫 Entrance ticket + shuttle bus: RMB 155
Highlights include the Dinghai Needle, Bogda Snow Peak and lakeside boardwalk. The combination of snow-capped mountains, alpine lake and forest creates stunning scenery.
In the evening, drive to Kuitun for your overnight stay. The city offers good-value accommodation and dining options.

Day 3 Kuitun → Sayram Lake → Guozigou Bridge → Yining

🚗 Driving distance: Approx. 450 km | Driving time: 5.5 hours
💎 Top highlights:
✅ Sayram Lake: Known as the “last tear of the Atlantic”. Take time to explore the approximately 90-km lakeside route and visit highlights such as Kele Yongzhu and West Sea Grassland. The deep-blue lake is incredibly scenic and ideal for photography.
✅ Guozigou Bridge: A popular photography location and an impressive engineering project spanning the mountain valley. The surrounding snow-capped mountains make for spectacular views.
🏨 Overnight: Yining
🍜 Local food: Yining handmade ice cream, mianfeizi and rice sausage, Ili milk tea

Day 4 Yining → Yizhao Highway → Heavenly Horses in the River → Zhaosu

🚗 Driving distance: Approx. 120 km | A scenic mountain-road adventure
🛣 Scenic highway: Yizhao Highway (S237)
Open from June to October and generally limited to vehicles with 7 seats or fewer. The route crosses Baishi Mountain and passes through grasslands, cliffs and snow-capped mountains, with scenery changing continuously along the way. It is often referred to as the “Little Duku Highway”.
🐎 Popular experience: Zhaosu Heavenly Horses in the River. Watch horses galloping through the river, creating a spectacular scene that is especially photogenic in the late afternoon.
🏨 Overnight: Zhaosu County

Day 5 Zhaosu → Xiata Ancient Trail → Tekes Bagua City

🚗 Driving distance: Approx. 150 km | Driving time: 4 hours
🏔 Explore the hidden gems:
▪️ Xiata Ancient Trail: Enjoy close views of the Muzart Glacier surrounded by primeval forests, river valleys and alpine meadows. You can choose a light hike or horseback ride. It is a peaceful and scenic destination away from the crowds.
▪️ Tekes Bagua City: A distinctive ancient city designed according to the principles of the I Ching, famously known for having no traffic lights. An aerial view from a drone offers a panoramic perspective, while strolling along Lijie Street allows you to experience the local culture.
🏨 Overnight: Tekes County

Day 6 Tekes → Qiaxi Forest Park → Xinyuan

🚗 Driving distance: Approx. 200 km | Driving time: 4.5 hours
🌿 Hidden gem: Qiaxi Forest Park
Less crowded but rich in scenery, with spruce forests, streams and meadows. The fresh natural environment is ideal for photography, picnics and a relaxed stroll, away from the crowds at more popular attractions.
Arrive in Xinyuan in the evening and rest before exploring Nalati.
🏨 Overnight: Xinyuan / Nalati Town

Day 7 Full-Day Exploration · Nalati Aerial Grassland

Spend the entire day exploring Nalati Scenic Area.
🎫 Entrance ticket + shuttle bus: RMB 135
Key highlights: Tianjietai on the Aerial Grassland, offering panoramic views across the layered grassland landscape, wildflowers covering the hillsides and endless spruce forests.
You can also enjoy horseback riding and visit a local Kazakh family to experience the culture and lifestyle of the grasslands.
🏨 Overnight: Nalati Town
Tip: Accommodation should be booked well in advance during the peak season.

Day 8 Nalati → Northern Duku Highway → Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery → Dushanzi

🚗 Driving distance: Approx. 300 km | Driving time: 6 hours
🛣 A Must-Drive Route: Northern Section of the Duku Highway
Experience four seasons in a single day and dramatically changing landscapes within a short distance as you travel through snow-covered mountain passes, forests, grasslands and deep valleys.
Along the way, visit the Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery, where snow-capped mountains and mountain streams accompany the journey. Its scenery rivals some of Xinjiang’s most famous grassland destinations.
🏨 Overnight: Dushanzi city centre

Day 9 Dushanzi → Anjihai Grand Canyon → Kenswat Reservoir → S101 Danxia Scenic Route → Urumqi

🚗 Driving distance: Approx. 300 km | Driving time: 6.5 hours
🌈 A Day of Dramatic Landscapes:
▪️ Anjihai Grand Canyon: A spectacular landscape of colourful geological formations and layered terrain, making it an excellent destination for photography.
▪️ Kenswat Reservoir: Turquoise-blue water set against red Danxia landforms, offering a quieter and photogenic stop.
▪️ S101 National Defence Highway: A long stretch of Danxia landscapes forming a remarkable geological corridor through the Tianshan Mountains.
Return to Urumqi in the evening and check in to your hotel.

Day 10 Urumqi Airport Transfer · End of Your Journey

Rest at the hotel and, if time permits, shop for local dried fruits, lavender products and other souvenirs.
Private airport transfer → departure from Urumqi → end of your Grand Tour of Ili, Xinjiang.

⚠️ Essential Travel Tips

🔹 Transportation
✔️ Yizhao Highway and Duku Highway: Only vehicles with 7 seats or fewer are permitted on these routes; larger vehicles are not allowed.
✔️ S101: Some sections are unpaved. An SUV is recommended, while sedan drivers should proceed carefully and at a slower speed.
✔️ Mountain areas: Mobile signal can be limited. Download offline maps from Amap or Baidu Maps in advance and make sure your vehicle has enough fuel before setting off each day.

🔹 Clothing & Sun Protection✔️ Large temperature differences: Daytime and nighttime temperatures can vary considerably throughout the region. Even in summer, bring a waterproof or windproof jacket, a light down jacket, sun-protective clothing and long trousers.
✔️ Sun protection: Sunglasses, a sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen are essential, as ultraviolet radiation can be particularly strong around grasslands and lakes.

🔹 Tickets & Reservations
✔️ Sayram Lake, Nalati and Xiata: It is recommended to make real-name ticket reservations through the official WeChat accounts one day in advance.
✔️ Popular highways: Check the latest traffic and road conditions before departure, as temporary traffic controls may be introduced during rain or snow.

🔹 Local Customs & Etiquette
✔️ Respect local ethnic customs and avoid photographing local residents or religious sites without permission.
✔️ When entering a mosque, avoid wearing short skirts or shorts, and dress and behave respectfully.

🔹 Food Guide | Local Specialties Worth Trying
✔️Urumqi: Big-plate chicken, hand-pulled rice, naan
✔️Yining: Handmade ice cream, milk tea, local snacks
✔️Along the grassland routes: Hand-pulled lamb, naan-pit roasted meat, traditional Kazakh cuisine

If you are not sure how to plan your Xinjiang trip, feel free to contact us. We can help you create a professional and customised Xinjiang travel itinerary based on your travel dates, interests and preferred travel style.