7-day essential in-depth tour of Northern Xinjiang

Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi before evening and pack your luggage in the evening

I won’t arrange attractions on the first day, and I don’t recommend going to the night market or visiting the Grand Bazaar as soon as you land. The really tiring part of the 7-day trip to Beijiang is not the scenic spots themselves, but the continuous driving, changing accommodation, and entering the scenic spots for the next few days. The task on the first day was simple: get to Urumqi smoothly, sort out the car, accommodation, luggage, and documents, so that we can set off on time the next morning.

I usually control the flight or high-speed rail time toArrive in Urumqi before six o’clock in the evening. This time is relatively stable. After landing, the pace of picking up luggage, taking a taxi, checking in, and going out for dinner will not be too rushed. If you arrive after 9pm and have to leave early the next day, your sleep time will be compressed and you will be more likely to get tired later in the car.

time period	What I will do	Specific details
around 17:00	Arrived in Urumqi	Get your luggage first, don’t rush to eat, and charge your phone first
Around 18:00	Check in at the hotel	Check the hot water, air conditioning, and sockets in the room, and take out the clothes for the next day.
Dinner time	Eat a simple local meal	Noodles, pilaf, barbecue, and yogurt are all acceptable, but don’t order too much meat.
After dinner	Supply supplies on the road	Buy water, paper towels, wet wipes, fruits, bread, chewing gum
Before going to bed	Organize documents and bags	Put your ID card, power bank, jacket, sunglasses, and tissues where they can be easily accessed the next day

When staying in Urumqi, I will give priority to location, not just price. The next day we have to head towards Burqin. It will take time to leave the city in the morning, pick up people, and pick up the car. If you live too far away, an extra half hour of detour in the morning will magnify the fatigue of the whole day on the way. A more appropriate location isAlong the airport, near the high-speed rail station, and next to the main road in the city, it is convenient to take a taxi and the driver is easy to find.

When I book a hotel in Urumqi, I focus on three things: whether parking is convenient, whether breakfast can be eaten early, and whether there are convenience stores nearby. The trip to Beijiang is not about staying in a hotel. A clean, quiet, and convenient room for the first night is enough. No matter how beautiful the room is, if it’s difficult to park the car the next morning, inconvenient to eat, and takes a detour out of the city, I generally wouldn’t choose it.

When I arrived in Urumqi before, it was close to 8:30 in the evening. The hotel was located on a small road. It took the driver ten minutes more to find the entrance the next morning. This time may not seem like much, but we have to get to Burqin that day, and eating, resting, and refueling on the way will all be pushed back. So on the first night, I now pay more attention to “easy to pick up people, easy to get out of the city, and convenient surroundings”, not just looking at the hotel photos.

Don’t eat too heavy a meal. When I first arrived in Xinjiang, it was easy to want to order more when I saw barbecue, pilaf, and chicken. But on the first night, I usually only ordered one staple dish with a little meat and a cup of yogurt. You can try fried pork noodles, minced meat pilaf, baked buns, and barbecued meats, but don’t overeat your dinner. The next day we were traveling from Urumqi to Burqin. It took a long time to ride the bus, and gastrointestinal comfort was more important than a lively meal.

• The noodles are suitable for the first night. They are hot and filling. The fried noodles with oily meat are more stable.
• The portion of pilaf is usually not small, one portion is enough for one person, and it is not recommended to add too much meat or vegetables.
• You can order a few less skewers to taste the barbecue. Don’t order the small skewers from the Mainland.
• You can arrange a cup of yogurt. It has a thick taste but is a bit sour. People who are not used to it can taste it in small amounts.
• When buying supplies after dinner, you don’t need to buy too much water. You can also replenish it at the service area on the way the next day, so prepare two or three bottles first.

When packing your luggage on the first night, you need to prepare for taking a long car ride the next day. The big box can be put in the trunk of the car, and the carry-on bag should contain the things you will use that day. I will put my ID card, mobile phone, power bank, tissues, wet wipes, lip balm, sunglasses, and light jacket in one bag, so I don’t have to dig through the box when I get in the car the next day. There is a significant temperature difference between morning and evening in Xinjiang. Even if Urumqi is not cold at night, it will get colder later in the mountainous areas. Do not put your coat at the bottom of the box.

Documents must be placed in the most convenient location. ID cards will be required when entering scenic spots, staying in hotels, and inspecting some road sections on this northern Xinjiang line. Do not lock your ID card with your suitcase or put it in a small compartment that is not commonly used. My approach is to put the ID card in a fixed location in my mobile phone bag or small bag, and put it back immediately after use. This will save a lot of time in the next few days looking for it.

If you are renting or chartering a car, you must also confirm the departure information clearly on the first night. Rather than simply asking “what time will we leave tomorrow?”, we need to confirm the pick-up location, driver’s phone number, license plate, number of luggage, whether we need to pick up the car in advance, and whether we can arrive at the hotel door on time in the morning. It is crucial to start early in Northern Xinjiang. The journey from Urumqi to Burqin is long the next day. Whether you leave the city smoothly in the morning will directly affect your arrival time in the evening.

Confirm items before departure	How will I confirm
Driver or vehicle	Can the license plate, phone number, car model, and luggage be put down?
Gathering time	It is recommended to set off around eight o’clock in the morning, and do not postpone it until after nine o’clock.
Boarding location	Is it possible to park in front of the hotel? If you can’t park, please make an appointment on the roadside.
Lunch on the road	Ask in advance where to eat. Don’t wait until you are hungry to find a place.
Number of bags	Don’t have too many large boxes, and the trunk space must be clearly stated in advance.

After returning to the hotel in the evening, I will put the clothes for the next day directly on the chair, put my bag near the door, plug in the charging cable, and charge my mobile phone, camera, and power bank together. The light in Xinjiang is strong during the day, there are many photos taken, and the battery of mobile phones is consumed very quickly. From the next day, I often switch between cars and scenic spots. Insufficient battery will greatly affect the experience.

It is not recommended to stay up late on the first night. Urumqi and many cities in the mainland have jet lag. It gets dark late and people easily mistakenly think it is still early. It looks like it’s still busy outside, but it’s actually time to take a rest. We are going to Kanas, Hemu, and Sailimu Lake later. The really best times are in the early morning and evening. Get enough sleep on the first night so that you won’t lose energy all day long on the long bus the next day.

Day 2: Depart from Urumqi in the morning and take S21 to Burqin

The second day was the first long journey into Northern Xinjiang. I will put the departure time inAround eight o’clock in the morning, don’t wait until after nine o’clock. Going out of Urumqi, refueling, taking the expressway, and resting in the service area all take up time. If you leave early, you can eat leisurely in Burqin in the evening without having to look for a hotel in the dark.

The route for this day is very clear: start from Urumqi, take the S21 Awu Expressway, which is what many people call the desert highway direction, go all the way to Altay, and finally reach Burqin County. On the way, we mainly saw the Gobi Desert, sandy fields, windmills, and distant mountain lines. The scenery was not as intensive as Kanas, but it felt like a road trip in Xinjiang. The color outside the car window will slowly change from urban gray to Gobi yellow. As we approach Burqin, there will be more greenery on the roadside.

time period	Itinerary	I will pay attention to the details
Around 7:30 in the morning	Get up, check out, and pack luggage	Put your ID card, tissues, water, and power bank in your carry-on bag. Don’t put your coat at the bottom of the box.
Around eight o’clock in the morning	Depart from Urumqi	Confirm the navigation route first, and then check the traffic flow and weather on the day
Around 10:30 a.m.	First service area break	Go to the bathroom, buy water, move your legs and feet, and don’t sit for too long at a time
Close to noon	Eat a light meal on the road	You can mix noodles, pilaf, or rice bowl, but don’t eat too oily or filling.
Three or four o’clock in the afternoon	Take another break	Replenish water, check the battery of mobile phones, and drivers should also relax
Around six-thirty in the evening	Arrive at Burqin	Check in first and then go to eat. It is not recommended to drag your luggage around.
Around eight o’clock in the evening	Burqin dinner	Grilled fish, barbecue, cold dishes, and kvass can be arranged

If I am driving by myself, I will fill up the tank in Urumqi city or before leaving the city. S21 road conditions are generally straight, but it is easy to get sleepy after driving on a straight road for a long time. Drivers must take turns to rest. Don’t rely on coffee all the time, stop at the service area when necessary. When traveling to northern Xinjiang for a long time, arriving comfortably is more important than being in a hurry.

If it is a chartered car, I will confirm the pick-up location with the driver the night before. Whether there can be a temporary stop in front of the hotel, and whether there will be a detour during the morning rush hour, these must be made clear. Many people think that the next day is just “taking a car”. In fact, the efficiency in the morning greatly affects the rhythm of the whole day. If you have a lot of luggage, you should tell the driver in advance, especially if you are traveling with more than four people. Too many large boxes will affect the trunk space.

When I walked this section of the road, the most obvious feeling was that the first half was like slowly entering the wilderness from the city, and the second half started to feel a little closer to the mountains of northern Xinjiang. Not every section of the road is suitable for parking and taking pictures, so get off the car when you see service areas and safe parking spots, and don’t park temporarily on the side of the highway.

I recommend having a simple lunch and not taking too long. Xinjiang noodles are very suitable for eating on long journeys. They are hot, filling and can be served quickly. You can also grab rice, but the portion is large and you will easily feel sleepy after eating it. There are not necessarily many restaurant choices on the road. Just find a place that is clean and has stable food supply. Don’t insist on looking for so-called Internet celebrity restaurants.

I will prepare simple supplies for the car and will not buy a big bag of snacks. Water, paper towels, wipes, lip balm, gum, fruit, and bread are enough. When taking a long car ride, eating too many snacks that are too sweet or too salty will make you thirsty and make you feel uncomfortable easily. The sunshine in Xinjiang is strong, so it doesn’t look hot in the car, but the lips and nasal cavity will be dry. Lip balm and water are more practical than snacks.

• Prepare two or three bottles of water in the car, and the rest can be replenished on the road. There is no need to buy too much in the morning.
• For fruits, choose apples, bananas, and oranges that are easy to eat. It is not recommended to buy fruits with a lot of soup and put them in the car.
• Keep paper towels and wet wipes within easy reach and do not stuff them into the trunk.
• Start using the power bank in the morning. Don’t wait for your phone to run out of power before looking for a cable.
• Put your coat next to the seat. It may be windy when you get off the bus in the service area.

After arriving in Burqin, I will check in at the hotel first, put my luggage away, and then go out for dinner. Burqin County is not big, so it is very convenient to stay near the main street. The first night in Urumqi was about transportation, and the second night in Burqin was about meals and supplies. You don’t have to choose a particularly expensive hotel, but you should look at recent reviews for hot water, cleanliness, parking and noise. We have to go to Kanas the next day, so sleep quality is very important.

Burqin can have local grilled fish for dinner. Before ordering fish, you should first ask about the type, weight, cooking method and price of the fish, and order according to the number of people. Usually one fish and a vegetarian dish are enough for two people, and grilled meat or cold dishes can be added for four people. The atmosphere of Burqin Night Market is good, but I won’t eat here too late. I have to go to Jiadengyu and Kanas the next day, and I have to continue my journey in the morning.

Dinner options	Suitable for the crowd	My point method
Grilled fish	People who come to Burqin for the first time	One fish for two people, plus a cold dish or vegetarian dish
Barbecue	Those who want to eat simply	Take a small amount and taste it first. If there is not enough, add more.
Noodles	People who don’t want to be too complicated	One staple food is enough and the meal is served quickly
Kvass	Those who want to drink local drinks	Order a cup first to taste. Some people may find it too sweet.
Yoghurt	Those who want to refresh themselves after dinner	You can taste a small amount. It is not recommended to drink too much ice.

After returning to the hotel in the evening, I will sort out the things I will use when entering Kanas on the third day in advance. Your ID card, ticket reservation information, jacket, sunglasses, rain gear, and power bank should all be put into your carry-on bag. There are many transfers in Kanas Scenic Area, so don’t bring too much luggage. The next day we go from Burqin to Jiadengyu and then enter the scenic spot. The time will be divided by the distance and transfers. In the morning, we can do as little as possible.

There is no need to pursue seeing many small scenes on this day. Its focus is to smoothly transport people and vehicles to Burqin and allow the body to adapt to the journey in northern Xinjiang. Eat well and sleep well at night. Only when you enter Kanas on the third day can you have the energy to see the lake and the fish viewing platform.

Day 3: Depart from Burqin in the morning and visit Kanas Lake in the afternoon

On the third day, we began to enter the direction of Kanas. The rhythm of this day was more detailed than that of the second day. The journey from Burqin to Kanas does not simply end at the gate. In the middle, you have to go to Jiadeng Valley, and then change to scenic spots to enter Kanas. In the morning I will set the departure timearound eight-thirty, it is not recommended to sleep until you wake up naturally. Because entering the scenic spot, transferring, queuing, and having lunch all take time, the real time left for Kanas Lake and the Fish Viewing Platform in the afternoon can be saved in the morning.

From Burqin to Jiadengyu, the scenery on the road will gradually become richer. The first half is still a transition between the county town and the mountain road. The closer you get to Kanas, the forests, river valleys, and hillsides will become more and more obvious. The color outside the car window began to change from the openness around Burqin to the green and dark mountain shadows in the Altai Mountains. When the weather is good, this section of the road itself is very beautiful, but I will not get off the car frequently to take pictures. The focus of the third day is still reserved for the scenic spots.

time period	Itinerary	I will pay attention to the details
Around 8:30 a.m.	Departure from Burqin	Have a full breakfast and put your ID card and coat in your bag in advance
Around 10:30 a.m.	To the vicinity of Jiadengyu	Check the parking and transfer arrangements first, and don’t stop at the door for a long time
around noon	Enter Kanas Scenic Area	Scenic area transportation time must be taken into account, do not regard noon as the official play time
Around 1:30 p.m.	To Kanas Lake	Go to the lakeside first to adapt to the rhythm of the scenic spot
Around three o’clock in the afternoon	Go to Fish Viewing Platform	If you have normal physical strength, walk slowly. Don’t walk too fast at the beginning.
around evening	Return to accommodation	If you stay in the scenic area, eat early, and if you stay in Jiadengyu, reserve time for transfers.
Evening	Organize Day 4 Supplies	The next day we have to visit Sanwan and Quhemu, so put your coats, rain gear, and power banks in advance

On the day you enter Kanas, your carry-on bag should be streamlined. There are many transfers and people in the scenic area, so it would be inconvenient if the bag is too big. I will bring my ID card, mobile phone, power bank, tissues, wet wipes, sunglasses, light jacket, rain gear and a bottle of water. You can bring some snacks, but don’t bring too many. Both Kanas Lake and the Fish Viewing Platform require walking, so the lighter the backpack, the more comfortable it will be.

The weather in Kanas changes rapidly, especially the clouds in the mountains move significantly. It was sunny when we set off, but that doesn’t mean it will always be sunny in the afternoon; it may feel hot when you first enter the scenic area, but it may be windy when you get to the lake or the mountains. Therefore, your coat must be placed in your carry-on bag and not left in the car. It is also recommended to bring lightweight rain gear, as short-term rains are not uncommon in the mountains.

When I walked this day by myself, the most obvious feeling was that “time is gone without even realizing it.” Starting from Burqin, going to Jiadengyu, transferring to the scenic spot, and then to the lake, the whole process seems smooth, but each section takes time. Therefore, I will not schedule the third day too fullly. Kanas Lake and the Fish Viewing Platform look solid, which is more practical than adding a few small spots.

Kanas Lake I suggest starting from the lakeside. When you first arrive at a scenic spot, don’t rush to higher places immediately. The lakeside trail is more suitable for slowly entering the state. The water color, hillsides and woods are all in front of you. You can feel the level of Kanas after walking for a while. The lake water is brighter on a sunny day, and deeper on a cloudy day. The photo effects are different, but they all look good. When taking photos, don’t just stand in one place. Walk more to both sides of the lake. There will be fewer people and the picture will be cleaner.

The fish viewing platform is one of the highlights of the third day. It is suitable for seeing the overall shape of Kanas Lake, but you need to walk up the steps. People with average physical strength should not rush for speed. It is more comfortable to walk a few sections and stop for a while. After reaching a high place, the wind will be stronger than at the lakeside, so the jacket can be used immediately. It is recommended to take photos between three and five o’clock in the afternoon. The light will not be as hard as at noon, and the color of the lake surface will be more layered.

• It is suitable to visit the lakeside when you first arrive in the afternoon, as walking pressure is less and it is easier to get used to the scenic spot first.
• It is suitable to stay at the Fish Viewing Platform for one to two hours, including queuing, going up, staying and returning.
• Don’t take too long for lunch. There are limited choices in the scenic area. Just eat as much as you want.
• If you live in the scenic area, you can go for a short walk to the lake in the evening, as there will be fewer tourists.
• If you live in Jiadengyu, pay attention to the time of the last shuttle bus and don’t arrange your return too late.

Think through your accommodation choices in advance. The advantage of staying in Kanas Scenic Area is that it is more convenient to see the scenery in the morning and evening. The disadvantage is that the price is high and the room conditions are limited. The advantage of living in Jiadengyu is that there are more hotels, the price is relatively easy to control, and eating is more convenient. The disadvantage is that it takes more time to enter and exit the scenic spot. This is my first time taking this route. If the budget is sufficient, I would prefer to stay in the scenic area; if the budget needs to be controlled, Jiadengyu is also acceptable, but I have to leave early the next day.

Accommodation location	Suitable for the situation	My opinion
In Kanas Scenic Area	I want to see the lakeside and quiet scenery in the morning and evening	Good location, but the price is higher. Book early in peak season.
Jiadenyu	Pay attention to room selection and budget	There are many accommodation options, so you need to reserve more time when entering and leaving the scenic spot.
Burqin returned to live	Not recommended	It will be tiring to go back and forth on the same day, and the rhythm of going to Hemu the next day will not be smooth.

You don’t need to pursue a particularly rich meal on the third day. The prices of restaurants in scenic spots are generally higher than those in county towns, and there are not as many choices as in Burqin. I will choose simple hot foods, such as rice soup, noodles, pilaf, stir-fries with rice. If you stay in the scenic area at night, it is enough for two people to order a staple food and a hot dish; if you stay in Jiadengyu, you will have slightly more choices and can eat more leisurely.

The most important thing on this day is to slow down. Kanas is not a place that ends after just one look at the lake. It needs to leave time for the light, wind, clouds and water color to change. Don’t arrange too many extra things on the third day. Focus on Kanas Lake and the Fish Viewing Platform, and pick up Sanwan and Hemu on the second day, so that the entire Northern Xinjiang section will be smooth.

Day 4: Visit Kanas Sanwan in the morning and go to Hemu Village in the afternoon

On the fourth day, I will focus on Kanas Sanwan and Hemu Village, and will not add too many places temporarily. The three bays of Kanas refer to Shenxian Bay, Moon Bay and Wolong Bay. These three points are all on the shuttle bus line from Kanas to Jiadengyu. They are not the same scenery. Shenxian Bay is more suitable for seeing the morning fog, Moon Bay is more suitable for seeing the curved shape of the river, and Wolong Bay is suitable for seeing the river valley and forest connected together.

If I had stayed in Kanas Scenic Area the night before, I would have gone out earlier. The light in the morning was soft and there were relatively few people. If you live in Jiadengyu, you must include the transportation time into the scenic spot, and don’t take the morning too lightly. We have to go to Hemu on the fourth day. We can’t leave too late in the afternoon, otherwise we will delay our stay in the cabin and dinner.

time period	Itinerary	I will pay attention to the details
Around eight o’clock in the morning	Depart from accommodation	Put your coat, ID card, water, and power bank in your carry-on bag
8:30 to 9:30 a.m.	Shenxian Bay	Stop for a while when there is morning fog. It is also suitable to see the river valley without morning fog.
Around ten o’clock in the morning	Moon Bay	You can stay here longer, the river lines are the clearest
Around 11:30 am	Wolong Bay	Look at the overall field of vision and pay attention to your feet when walking on the boardwalk
Around 12:30 noon	Simple lunch	It is not recommended to eat for too long as you have to go to Hemu in the afternoon
Around two o’clock in the afternoon	Go to Hemu from Kanas direction	Reserve time for transfers at scenic spots and on the road
around six o’clock in the evening	Arrive at Hemu Village	Check in first, then go for a walk and eat in the village
Around eight o’clock in the evening	Hemu Dinner	You can choose from local hot pot, rice soup, barbecue, and hand-picked rice.

Among the three bays, the one I personally want to spend more time on is Moon Bay. The river in this place is beautifully curved, and the shape is complete when viewed from a high place. Many people go to the observation deck and leave after taking pictures. In fact, you can walk down the plank road for a while, the angle will be more natural and there will be fewer people. There is no need to rush when you leave. The beauty of Sanwan lies not in the number of check-ins, but in the fact that the river, woods and hillsides appear in one picture at the same time.

Shenxian Bay depends on the weather. When there is fog in the morning, the scenery will be very soft; when there is no fog, it is not impossible to see, but the atmosphere will be weaker. I won’t stand there waiting for the fog, because the time in the morning is limited, and Moon Bay and Wolong Bay later are more worthy of a stable stop. There is a significant temperature difference in the Kanas Mountains. It will be cold if you stop for a long time in Shenxian Bay in the morning, so be sure to bring a jacket with you.

When I walk around Sanwan, I usually don’t take the same kind of photos at every point. Shenxian Bay takes photos of fog and water in the distance, Moon Bay takes photos of river lines, and Wolong Bay takes photos of the overall feeling of forests and river valleys. In this way, at the end of the morning, the content of the photos will not be repeated, and it will be easier to write travel notes later.

Wolong Bay is suitable to be viewed last among the three bays. The view here is relatively wide, and you can see the river and the forest together. You don’t need to stay for too long, but you should give yourself ten minutes to take a look. Many people are already a little tired on the fourth day and want to leave quickly when they see the observation deck. In fact, this section reflects the level of the mountains in Kanas and is worth stopping for a while.

• Don’t wear too thin clothes when visiting Sanwan. The wind and humidity are obvious in the morning, so a thin coat is more important than clothes for taking photos.
• Choose shoes that are comfortable for walking. There are many wooden planks and steps. Soles that are too hard will make you tired.
• You don’t need to carry too much water with you. One bottle is enough. Carrying too much weight will affect your walking.
• Lunch should be as simple as possible, such as rice soup, noodles, or rice. Don’t make lunch a big meal.
• Before going to Hemu from Kanas, confirm your transfer and vehicle arrangements in advance. Don’t wait until just before departure to find a vehicle.

Go to Hemu Village in the afternoon, and the rhythm will change from sightseeing to a stay in the village. Hemu is not the kind of place that is only suitable for a glance during the day. Its focus is in the evening and the next morning. When entering the village in the evening, wooden houses, rivers, hillsides, horses and cooking smoke will slowly enter the picture. Don’t walk too fast, put your luggage down first, and then go out lightly.

For Hemu accommodation, I recommend giving priority to wooden houses in the village. Prices in the village are usually higher, but it’s convenient for a walk in the evening and to the observation deck the next morning. When making a reservation, I not only look at the photos, but mainly look at the hot water, cleanliness, heating and location in recent reviews. The soundproofing of the wooden house itself is average, which is normal. If you want to sleep well, don’t choose a room too close to the restaurant or the main road.

Accommodation options	Suitable for the crowd	My opinion
Wooden house in Hemu Village	Those who want to see the scenery in the evening and early morning	Better location, higher price, book early in peak season
Accommodation near the village entrance	People who want to walk less and have easier access	The transportation is convenient and the village atmosphere will be weaker.
Accommodation outside the village	People on a tight budget	Not suitable for the first time, the experience will be much less in the early morning and evening

Hemu can eat local hot pot, rice soup, barbecue, and hand-picked rice for dinner. Prices in the village are higher than in Burqin, so check the menu and portions before ordering. It is not recommended to order too many dishes for two people. One staple dish and one hot dish, or one small pot is enough. If you are traveling with a group of people, you can order the local hot pot, which tastes hot and is also suitable for cooling down at night.

Don’t schedule it too late in the evening. The street lights in Hemu are not as bright as those in the city after dark, and some small roads in the village are not suitable for walking too far. I usually take a walk near the main road and the river to see the cabin lights and mountain shadows, and then go back early to rest. You have to get up early on the second day to see the morning view, sleep well on the fourth night, and have the energy to view the viewing platform in the morning on the fifth day.

Day 5: Visit Hemu Village in the early morning, leave Hemu in the morning, and arrive in Urhe in the evening

On the fifth day, I will put getting up early first. The most worthwhile time to see Hemu is not at noon, but in the early morning. At dawn, the wooden houses, birch forests, river valleys and distant mountains in the village will slowly light up. There is smoke near the roofs. There are not many people on the road, and the whole village looks quieter. The advantage of staying in the village the night before is that you don’t have to take a car into the village very early, you can just put on your coat and go out.

I usually doAbout 40 minutes before sunriseSet off for the observation deck. The sunrise time is different in different months. You can ask the B&B owner about the best time to go out the night before. The temperature in Hemu is low in the morning, so don’t dress too thin just for taking pictures. It takes a while to get to the observation deck, so you don’t have to go too fast. When you look back at the village halfway, the picture is also very good.

time period	Itinerary	Specific methods
Early morning	Go to Hemu Observation Deck	Wear a thick coat, bring a mobile phone, camera, tissues and a small amount of water
Breakfast time	Go back to the B&B or village for breakfast	Milk tea, steamed buns, eggs, porridge, and naan are all acceptable. It is more comfortable to eat hot ones.
Around 10:30 a.m.	Leave Hemu Village	Confirm the luggage is loaded into the car before leaving the village
noon	Passing supplies near Burqin	Eat a simple lunch and buy water and fruit
Afternoon	Go to Urho	The journey is long and a break will be arranged along the way.
Evening	Arrive at Urho	Check into the hotel first and have a hot meal in the evening

Hemu Observation Deck does not only have one seat. When there are many people, I will not squeeze in the middle position, but will walk a little further to both sides. The beauty of Hemu is not only the “panoramic view of the village”, but also the paths between the wooden houses, the trees by the river, and the light on the hillside. When taking photos in the early morning, don’t keep zooming in on the wooden house. Take a little bit of the sky, hillsides and woods, and the picture will be more complete.

My favorite rhythm in the early morning in Hemu is to go up to the observation deck to see the panoramic view, and then slowly walk back to the village. On the way back, the wooden houses, fences, and small bridges on the roadside are all suitable for a stop. There is no need to rush at this time. The village is just starting to get lively and you can see a more natural life.

Breakfast does not need to be too complicated, the focus is on eating hot food. The temperature in Hemu is low in the morning, so a bowl of hot porridge, a cup of milk tea, and a few steamed buns are more comfortable than cold bread. The price of breakfast in the village is usually a little higher than that in the county town, and the portion is not necessarily large. It only needs to be enough to fill you up, and there is no need to pursue a rich meal.

Before I leave Hemu, I will reorganize my bag. Because we have to go all the way from the mountainous area to Urho on this day, the scenery will change from forest villages to open roads, and the ride time is relatively long. You can put your coat next to you first, but don’t put water, wet wipes, power bank, and lip balm in the trunk.

• When Hemu goes to the observation deck early in the morning, the soles of his shoes must be stable, as both the wooden plank road and the dirt road may be wet.
• Check the charger, ID card, and headphones before checking out of the B&B. Small items are most likely to be left behind.
• Go to the bathroom before leaving the village. There are not always convenient stopping points on the road behind.
• Lunch should be as simple as possible. Don’t eat too long. You have to rush to Urho in the afternoon.
• After arriving in Urho, rest first. It is not recommended to arrange too much at night.

At noon, you can eat noodles, pilaf, and rice soup when passing through Burqin or at a suitable location along the way. My choice is usually noodles, which come out quickly and don’t feel uncomfortable after eating. You can buy some fruits, such as apples, oranges, and bananas, which are easy to store in the car. Don’t buy too many juicy fruits.

For my stay in Wuerhe this night, I would choose a regular hotel and not pursue special features. In the first few nights in the scenic spots and villages, the accommodation conditions may be up and down. It is better to take a bath, tidy up clothes and go to bed early in Wuerhe. When choosing a hotel, you mainly look at parking, hot water, sanitation, and quietness. It doesn’t matter whether the room has a special design.

Accommodation highlights	My judgment
Convenient parking	You have to leave early the next day. It’s important to save trouble by parking.
Hot water is stable	Walking and riding in cars for several days in a row, it is necessary to take a hot bath
It is convenient to eat nearby	I don’t want to worry about it anymore at night. It would be better if I could eat on foot.
The room is quiet	On the 6th day, the journey is long and sleep is more important than decoration.

Wurhe can have a large plate of chicken, noodles, barbecue, and rice soup for dinner. The dining here is more down-to-earth than in the scenic spot, and the choices are more everyday. When eating for two people, I would order a small or medium portion of a large plate of chicken, plus a vegetarian dish; if I just want something simple, a portion of noodles and a few skewers of barbecued meat would be enough.

On this day from Hemu to Urhe, the first half of the day was spent in villages and forests, and the second half was spent traveling and resting. Don’t write down Day 5 as simply rushing. It is actually the day before the transition from the Altay mountainous landscape to the western lake scenery. Take good care of Hemu in the early morning and adjust your physical condition well, so that you will be more comfortable going to Sailimu Lake on the 6th day.

Day 6: Depart from Wuerhe in the morning and arrive at Sailimu Lake in the afternoon

Day 6 is a day walking from the northern route of Beijiang to Sailimu Lake. The journey is relatively long, so I will regard it as a “long-distance transfer + watching the lake in the evening”. Don’t put it off too late in the morning,Departure around eight o’clock in the morningis relatively stable. That day we will pass through the Karamay and Kuitun areas, and then head towards Sailimu Lake. Please allow time for meals and rest along the way.

The most common problem on this day is that everyone focuses on “getting to the lake in the afternoon” but ignores the journey in the morning and noon. Don’t sit hard on a long train ride. Get off when it’s time to get off and do some activities. Drivers also need to rest, especially if they drive on straight roads and highways for a long time, people will get tired. My approach is to arrange a short stop every two or three hours. I don’t necessarily have to eat every time, but I must move my legs and feet.

Time	Arrangement	Description
08:00	Departure from Urhe	If you can eat breakfast at the hotel, eat it. If you can’t eat it, bring some bread and hot drinks.
10:30	Take a short break midway	Go to the bathroom, replenish water, and stretch your legs and feet
13:00	Lunch	Choose a restaurant that serves food quickly, including noodles, pilaf, and rice bowls.
15:30	Continue to Sailimu Lake	Drink less iced drinks in the car and stay comfortable
around 17:30	Arrived near Sailimu Lake	Decide whether to go around the lake first or stay first depending on the weather and time.
Evening	View of the lake at Sailimu Lake	The light is soft, suitable for staying and taking pictures

Sailimu Lake is not just a lake suitable for a glance. Its scenery is composed of lakes, snow-capped mountains, grasslands, cloud shadows, and wind. The effect is completely different in the afternoon and evening. When I first arrive at the lake, I won’t rush to take many portraits. I will first check the wind direction and light. When the wind is strong, stand firmer and secure your hat and scarf. The lakeside looks calm, but when the wind blows, it actually feels a lot worse.

If you arrive early, you can take a route around the lake first. Don’t park your car in the first crowded spot as soon as you enter the scenic area. If you walk forward, you can often encounter a wider lake surface and a cleaner angle. Photos of Sailimu Lake do not necessarily have to be taken close to the water. Taking the snowy mountains, grassy slopes and lake shoreline in the distance will give a sense of space.

The first time I took a serious look at Sailimu Lake was in the evening. The lake is very bright during the day, but in the evening the lake will sink a little, and the lines of the distant mountains will be clearer. You don’t need to run a lot at this time. It’s more comfortable to find a place with less wind and a wider view to sit for a while than to keep rushing to take pictures.

I will make two arrangements for accommodation. If you want to watch the sunset and the next morning, stay near Sailimu Lake; if room conditions, dining options and budget are more important, stay in Bole. Both are fine, there is no need to choose the most expensive location. However, if you stay in Bole, you will have to drive some distance after seeing the lake that night, so you need to calculate your physical strength in advance.

Accommodation location	Who is more suitable for	My suggestion
Near Sailimu Lake	Those who want to see the lake view in the evening and early morning	The location is more convenient and housing prices fluctuate greatly.
Bole	People who want to live comfortably and have many dining options	The price-performance ratio is more stable. I will go to the lakeside area the next day.
B&Bs around the scenic area	Those who want to experience the night by the lake	Read the hot water, heating, and hygiene reviews before booking a room

If you stay near the lake for dinner, there won’t be many choices, and the price will be higher than in the city. I will prepare some bread, fruit and water in advance to prevent the restaurant from having few choices when I arrive. If you really want to eat nearby, you can order hot soup, noodles, stir-fry rice, etc. Don’t order too complicated. After a day’s drive, a hot meal and a good night’s sleep are more important than a rich menu.

Also pay attention to what you wear on the 6th day. It may not be cold when you set off from Wuerhe, but the wind is strong near Sailimu Lake and the temperature will be significantly lower in the evening. I would put my thick coat next to the seat instead of in the trunk. When you get off the car and look at the lake, you can use sunglasses, sunscreen, and a jacket. Don’t just wear short-sleeved shirts and stand by the lake in summer, especially if you are planning to take pictures of the sunset. You will feel cold if you stay for a long time.

• The journey is long in the morning, so you need to have breakfast, but don’t eat too much.
• Don’t sleep in the car all the time. Look out the window and move your shoulders and neck every once in a while, you will feel much better.
• After arriving at Sailimu Lake, first check the wind and light, and then decide where to stop.
• Don’t be too close to the water when taking photos at the lake. When the wind is strong, hold your phone and camera steady.
• Where to stay that night, it’s best to confirm it the night before and don’t go to the lake to look for it on the fly.

The highlight of this day is Sailimu Lake in the evening. The morning and afternoon journeys are just to save time for the most comfortable stretch of light by the lake. As long as we can get to the lake before evening that day, the itinerary will be relatively stable.

Day 7: Continue to tour Sailim Lake in the morning and return to Urumqi in the afternoon

On Day 7, I will not leave Sailimu Lake early in the morning. Now that we’ve come this far, it’s worth taking another look at the lake in the morning. The color of the lake in the morning is different from the evening before. It will be clearer when there are fewer clouds, and the lake will be quieter when the wind is light.Around nine o’clock in the morningIt’s better to start playing without getting up too hard, but don’t delay until noon.

If you stayed near the lake the night before, you can go directly to the lake after breakfast. If you stay in Bole, you need to add the travel time into it and start earlier. We have to return to Urumqi in the second half of the seventh day. The journey is not short. We need to control the time we spend at Sailimu Lake in the morning. I will arrange the lakeside tour to end before noon, and start the return trip after eating a simple lunch.

The rhythm of day 7 can be arranged as follows:

time period	Arrangement
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.	Breakfast, packing, and check-out
9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.	Continue to visit Sailimu Lake and take a look at the lakeside plank road and the open lake surface
Around 12 noon	Simple lunch, ready to return
Around one o’clock in the afternoon	Return to Urumqi from the direction of Sailimu Lake
Evening to evening	Arrive in Urumqi, check in or transfer to leave

When I see Sailimu Lake in the morning, I will give priority to lakeside boardwalks, grassy slopes and parking spots with wide views. There is no need to pursue a full circle at this time. You have already seen part of it the day before, and today is more suitable to catch up on your favorite angles. You don’t have to stand in the same position all the time when taking pictures. You can walk along the plank road for a while and find a place where the lake, grassland, and distant mountains are in the same picture.

If the weather is good, the blue color of Sailimu Lake will be brighter in the morning; if there are clouds, the lake surface will change in light and shade. Don’t be disappointed if you encounter cloudy days, the cloud shadows will actually make the lake surface more layered. My habit is to take pictures of big scenes first and then people. Record the location and light of the big scene, and put the portrait at the end to avoid spending time on repetitive movements from the beginning.

I think the most comfortable arrangement for the seventh day is not to treat Sailimu Lake as a “stop to see before returning”. Stay carefully for two hours in the morning, walk slowly to the lakeside, and then leave. In this way, the ending of the entire 7-day line will be more complete, and you won’t feel like you didn’t see enough when you arrived at Sailimu Lake.

Before preparing to return at noon, it is best to sort out the items in the car. Water is placed in the front row, charging cables are plugged in, trash is bagged, and jackets are kept handy. It’s easy to feel sleepy on a long return journey. A fresher environment in the car will make people more comfortable. If you have a flight to catch on the same day, I don’t recommend booking a flight too early. The road from Sailimu Lake to Urumqi takes a long time, and rest breaks, weather, and traffic may affect the arrival time.

• Don’t postpone your lake tour until too late in the morning. Be ready to return around noon.
• Go to the restroom before returning. The service areas on the way may not be exactly spaced.
• On the day, dress comfortably. Don’t wear clothes that are not suitable for long car rides just for taking pictures.
• Download music or offline content on your mobile phone in advance, and the signal may not always be stable on the way back.
• Arrange a big meal after you return to Urumqi, and don’t eat your return lunch for too long.

After returning to Urumqi, if you have enough time, you can end your visit with a formal Xinjiang dish. I would choose safe dishes like pepper chicken, rice pilaf, barbecue, yogurt, and noodles. In fact, I have eaten a lot of meat in the past few days. I can add a vegetable dish or soup to the last meal to make it more comfortable.

The seventh day is not to simply end the trip, but to see all of Sailimu Lake before returning to Urumqi safely. The Northern Xinjiang 7 antenna has gone from the city, desert highway, Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, and Urho all the way to Sailimu Lake. The scenery has changed a lot. Don’t rush on the last day so much that you lose the experience. Leave the morning to the lake and the afternoon to the return journey, and the whole thing will go more smoothly.

 

Keep Reading

• Xinjiang 8-day tour guide: Kanas, Hemu, Bayinbuluk attractions and food arrangements
• A guide to must-visit attractions during a 7-day trip to Xinjiang: grasslands, lakes, snow-capped mountains and cultural experiences of ethnic minorities
• Complete guide for 7-day Xinjiang tour: Depart from Urumqi and enjoy the grasslands and lakes of northern Xinjiang
• A short-term guide for a 5-day trip to Xinjiang: Recommended must-see attractions around Urumqi
• How long does it take to travel by car every day in Xinjiang | Comparison of driving intensity in northern Xinjiang, Yili and southern Xinjiang

Kanas Scenic Area —: Numbers to Check

Tickets & Booking

• Kanas scenic area: Ticket CNY 160 per person; shuttle bus first entry (1 round trip) CNY 70 per person, second entry (2 round trips) CNY 110 per person; first-entry package CNY 230, second-entry package CNY 270. Shuttle bus all-day pass (3 days) CNY 180 per person. Peak season is May 1–Oct 15 each year.; advance booking required (Timed reservation tickets via Kanas scenic area official channels (OTA synchronized))^[src]
• Baihaba scenic area: Ticket CNY 30 per person; Kanas–Baihaba shuttle bus round trip CNY 45 per person; Terekti–Baihaba shuttle bus round trip CNY 45 per person. Baihaba gate + bus total CNY 75.; advance booking required (Kanas scenic area official channels)^[src]
• Hemu scenic area: Ticket CNY 50 per person; Hemu shuttle bus round trip CNY 52 per person (Jiadengyu ticket station–Hemu ticket station round trip CNY 50 per person); Hemu gate + bus total CNY 102.; advance booking required (Kanas scenic area official channels)^[src]

Transport & Schedules

• Kanas transfer center → Baihaba village | Scenic-area shuttle bus: Kanas ↔ Baihaba 9:00–18:30; Terekti ticket station → Baihaba 9:00–20:00; Baihaba → Terekti 9:00–18:30.^[src]

Where to Stay · Room Type · Nearby

• Jiadengyu | Room tip: Kanas’s main tourist reception area, where almost all tourist facilities are concentrated; about 35 km from Kanas Lake a | Nearby add-ons: Kanas scenic area transfer center, Jiadengyu National Forest Park^[src]
• Kanas village/Hemu village (wooden cabins) | Room tip: Small wooden cabins in the villages; in Hemu village you can see morning mist, chimney smoke and sunrise; both villages | Nearby add-ons: Hemu viewing platform, Hemu River, Kanas old village/new village^[src]

Typical Climate & Packing (Past Years)

• January: ?–-16.0 °C, Kanas has a cold temperate climate with an annual average temperatur
• July: ?–15.9 °C, July, the hottest month, averages about 15.9 °C (even at noon only a