When traveling to Xinjiang, the pure driving time on most travel days is about 3-6 hours, and on a few cross-regional transfer days it can reach 7-9 hours.Ili is usually relatively easy; there will be one or two long-distance days in the direction of Kanas and Hemu; southern Xinjiang is not a daily rush, but the road sections from Kashgar to Taxian and Hotan to Aksu usually take up most of a day. Yili belongs to northern Xinjiang geographically. In order to facilitate the comparison of ordinary tourists, this article divides common Xinjiang routes into three categories: Northern Xinjiang mainly refers to Urumqi, Burqin, Kanas and Hemu; Ili includes Sailimu Lake, Yining, Zhaosu, Tekes and Nalati; Southern Xinjiang mainly refers to Kashgar, Taxian, Yarkand, Hotan, Aksu and Kuqa.
The time in this article is calculated based on common summer travel routes and normal road traffic, and is not a real-time navigation result. Car models, weather, traffic jams, eating, taking photos, and transferring to scenic spots will all change the actual time of the day. Before you prepare to go, you can also check the existing ones on the official websiteXinjiang travel routes, and then use the method in this article to determine whether the route is too rushed.
Let’s look at the comparison first
| Line | General transfer day | Long transition day | Common long-distance number of days | Overall experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Altay Line | 3-6 hours | 7-9 hours | About 2 days | The scenic spots are far away and traveling to and from Urumqi is tiring. |
| Ili Small Ring Line | 2-5 hours | 5-7 hours | About 1-2 days | It will be easier after staying in separate accommodations |
| Kashgarta County | Rarely take the bus on urban days | 5-6 hours | About 2 days | The plateau transition day is tiring, and the rest of the time is relaxing |
| Southern Xinjiang long line | 4-6 hours | 7-9 hours | About 3-4 days | The city has a large span and is suitable for long vacations |
| Northern Xinjiang plus Yili | 4-7 hours | 8-9 hours | About 3 days or more | Less than 10 days, easy to rush |
This table cannot replace a detailed daily itinerary. It’s also 5 hours, and the riding experience is completely different on a smooth high-speed, continuous winding mountain road and plateau highway. To determine whether a route is suitable for you depends on the type of road, the number of transfers and the amount of activity after arrival.
How to calculate time
Pure driving time
Pure driving time only counts the normal driving of the vehicle and does not include eating, resting, taking photos, refueling and queuing. The navigation shows 5 hours, which is usually the approximate time when the vehicle does not stop midway.
Time in transit
The transit time is the total time from the hotel to the next hotel or scenic spot. After 5 hours of pure driving, plus two breaks, lunch and photography, it may actually take 7 hours.
Scenic area time
In scenic spots such as Kanas, Hemu, Xiata, Kalajun and Nalati, after arriving at the parking lot, you still have to check in, line up, transfer to the shuttle bus and walk. If the itinerary says “arrive at the scenic spot”, it does not mean that the tour has started.
When looking at an itinerary, the most useful question is not “how many hours does the map show?” but “what time do you leave the hotel in the morning and what time do you actually check in at night?”
How to look at intensity
Within 3 hours
Relatively easy. Departing in the morning, you can arrive around noon, and there is still enough time to visit in the afternoon. It is suitable for the elderly, children and people who are prone to motion sickness.
3-5 hours
Acceptable to most tourists. With one or two breaks along the way, you can usually save half a day of sightseeing time. This is also a relatively comfortable travel pace in Xinjiang.
5-7 hours
There will be obvious fatigue that day. Including eating and parking, you may be outside for 7-9 hours. If you arrange it like this for two consecutive days, you will easily lose energy on the third day.
More than 7 hours
is a long-distance transition. It is suitable for eating, checking in and taking a short walk after arrival. It is not suitable for continuing to arrange large-scale scenic spots, long-term hiking or activities that require climbing.
The driving distance must be determined based on the road. The expressway is relatively stable, and curved sections such as Yizhao Highway and Panlong Ancient Road are more likely to cause motion sickness; the journey from Kashgar to Ta County also involves altitude changes; repeated transfers in the scenic area will also consume physical strength.
How tired is Northern Xinjiang?
The northern Xinjiang mentioned here is mainly in the direction of Altay, including Burqin, Kanas and Hemu. The most tiring part is usually not between scenic spots, but the long journey to and from Urumqi and Altay.
Urumqi to Burqin
The S21 Awu Expressway has a total length of 342.5 kilometers, shortening the time from Urumqi to Altay. Urumqi goes to Burqin via S21. The common route is about 500-550 kilometers. It usually takes 6-7 hours to drive a small car. Tour buses and multi-person groups usually take longer.
Including hotel pick-up, service area, lunch and stops along the way, the whole day’s travel time may reach 8-10 hours. This day is not a good time to visit attractions that require a lot of walking.
Burqin to Kanas
This section of kilometers is not particularly long, but the speed will decrease after approaching the mountainous area. After arriving at the entrance of the scenic spot, you may also need to park, check in, queue, and transfer to the shuttle bus.
In peak season, it may take half a day from Burqin to the actual start of the tour. Shenxian Bay, Moon Bay, Wolong Bay, Guanyutai and Kanas Village are not suitable to be squeezed into one afternoon.
Kanas to Hemu
Kanas and Hemu appear to be very close on the map. In reality, mountain roads, transfers and accommodation locations must be considered. If you stay in Hemu Village, at the entrance of the scenic area or outside the scenic area, the final check-in time will be different.
A more comfortable arrangement is to leave Kanas in the morning, visit Hemu in the afternoon and stay one night, instead of rushing back to Burqin on the same day.
Return to Northern Xinjiang
If you take the Urumqi round-trip route, there will be a long distance in the second half. On the last day, you can catch a flight directly from Hemu or Kanas, and the risk is greater when you encounter traffic jams or traffic control.
Entering Urumqi and leaving Altay, or entering Altay and leaving Urumqi, can save one road turnaround. Tourists who are comparing basic routes can checkComplete guide to Xinjiang 7-day tour, focus on checking how many days require continuous long distance.
How many days to spend in Northern Xinjiang?
Only go to Burqin, Kanas and Hemu. It is recommended to arrange 7-8 days. If you want to join Keketuohai, Karamay or World Devil City, it is recommended to prepare for 8-10 days.
If you want to join the Sailimu Lake, Nalati and Duku highways, it is best to arrange 10-14 days. If Kanas and the complete Ili loop are squeezed into 7-8 days, there will usually be continuous early starts, late arrivals at hotels and insufficient stay at scenic spots.
If you want to know more about how Kanas, Hemu and Bayinbuluk are put into the same route, you can refer toXinjiang 8-day tour guide. If you pay more attention to the stay time and accommodation experience, about 10 days will be more leisurely than 8 days.
How tired is Yili?
Ili is usually easier than the northern Altay route, but there is a premise: it is best to start from Yining and stay in sections between Sailimu Lake, Zhaosu, Tekes and Nalati.
If you take a car from Urumqi to Ili, or join the Duku Highway in a short period of time, the Ili trip will also have a long transition.
Urumqi to Yining
Taking a car directly will take up most of the day. Short-term vacation, family and elderly tourists can consider taking a plane or train to Yining first, and then start visiting Yining.
This can save one inter-regional highway transfer and avoid sitting in a car for six or seven hours straight after landing on the first day.
Yining to Sailimu Lake
One way trip is usually about 2 hours. The day trip to and from Yining takes about 4 hours of pure driving, plus stops around the lake, Guozigou, eating and queuing, it still takes a full day.
It is not recommended to start from Urumqi on the same day, visit Sailimu Lake and then rush to Yining. Although it can be included in the itinerary, there may be very little time to actually stay at the lake.
Yining to Zhaosu
When taking the Yizhao Highway in summer, the total distance is about 122 kilometers. The road needs to go through mountainous areas with many curves and slopes. It usually takes 3-4 hours to prepare after stopping to take photos along the way.
The Yizhao Highway is affected by snow and mountainous weather, and there are seasonal controls. Don’t just look at the navigation results from the previous day, but also check real-time traffic conditions on the day of departure.
Zhaosu to Tekes
This section itself is relatively easy. If you don’t go to more distant scenic spots, you can usually complete the transition in half a day.
If we go to Xiata first and then rush to Turks that day, we may actually spend more than 8 hours outside. The reason is not only the road distance, the Xiata Scenic Area itself also requires transfer and walking.
Tex to Nalati
Usually takes half a day. If you depart from Turks in the morning, you can enter the Nalati Scenic Area in the afternoon.
If you travel to Kalajun in the morning and then rush to Nalati in the afternoon, your arrival time is likely to be late. The two large scenic spots are more suitable to be split into two days.
How many days to spend in Yili?
Only go to Sailimu Lake, Yining and Nalati. It is recommended to arrange 5-6 days. Joining Zhaosu, Xiata, Tekes and Kalajun, it is recommended to prepare for 7-9 days.
If you still want to take the Duku Highway, you can add another 2-3 days. The Duku Highway is 561 kilometers long and passes through mountains, canyons, grasslands and deserts. It cannot be completed in one day as an ordinary highway.
Duku Highway is affected by snowfall, ice, construction and traffic management. The opening date and traffic requirements may be adjusted, and the announcement of that year shall prevail.
When traveling with your parents, you should not only reduce walking, but also control the time spent in transition every day. official websiteXinjiang Elderly Slow Tour 8-Day Route, can be used as a reference for arranging connected accommodation, reducing walking and reducing the intensity of driving.
How tired is Southern Xinjiang?
Southern Xinjiang can be divided into two categories. The first type is the short-term line in Kashgar Gata County, and the second type is the long-term line consisting of Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu and Kuqa.
Kashgarta County does not sit for a long time every day. You can stay in Kashgar city for two or three consecutive nights, but the really tiring part is traveling to and from Ta County. The long-distance route in southern Xinjiang has a larger urban span and more long-distance days.
Kashgar to Ta County
The highway distance is close to 300 kilometers. If you don’t stop for a long time, you usually need to prepare for 5-6 hours of pure driving. Ordinary tourists will also stop at Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake and other places, so it often takes a whole day to travel from Kashgar to Ta County.
This day’s journey itself is the content of the tour. A more reasonable arrangement is to start in the morning, stop along the way, check in in the evening, and only eat and rest in the evening.
It is not recommended to make a one-day round trip to Ta County. The round-trip driving time may exceed 10 hours, leaving very little time for scenic spots, and the driver may get tired easily.
Document preparation
The documents, opening range and vehicle requirements in Ta County and some border areas may be adjusted. Before departure, you should confirm with the relevant local departments, travel agencies or chartered drivers, and do not deal with it temporarily when you arrive in Kashgar.
Inspection and procedures also take time. When traveling to Ta County on the same day, you should leave room for gathering, certificate processing and inspection.
Panlong Ancient Road
The Panlong Ancient Road is about 36 kilometers long and has a large number of continuous curves. Although the mileage is not long, the fatigue of driving and riding is significantly higher than that on ordinary roads.
People who are prone to motion sickness should not just look at the mileage. One hour on the mountain road and one hour on the highway, the physical feeling is very different.
If you want to know more about the arrangements of Ta County, Waqia Township, Bandil Blue Lake and Panlong Ancient Trail, you can refer toTasha Trail and Bandil Blue Lagoon 8-Day Route。
Kashgar to Hotan
When traveling directly on the highway, you can usually prepare for 4-5 hours of pure driving. Including meals, rest and getting in and out of the city, it usually takes 5-6 hours.
If you also need to visit Yarkand, Zepu or Yecheng on the way, it may take 8-10 hours on the day. If you want to seriously see the cities along the way, it is best to stay in Yarkand for one night instead of just stopping at each place for a few dozen minutes.
Hotian to Aksu
The G580 Ahe Highway is 424 kilometers long and is an important desert highway connecting Hotan and Aksu regions. Normal pure driving usually takes 5.5-6.5 hours to prepare.
Including resting, eating, windy and sandy weather, and taking photos along the way, the whole day’s travel time may reach 7-9 hours. This day is more suitable as a pure transit day, and it is not appropriate to arrange large-scale attractions after arriving in Aksu.
Aksu to Kuqa
This section is relatively easy and can usually be controlled in half a day. You can arrange to visit Kuqa Old Town in the afternoon, and then go to distant scenic spots such as the Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountain the next day.
How many days to spend in southern Xinjiang
Only visit Kashgar and Ta County, it is recommended to arrange 5-6 days. To join Yarkand and Hotan, it is recommended to prepare for 8-10 days.
From Kashgar to Hotan, Aksu and Kuqa, it is recommended to arrange 10-13 days. When it is less than 9 days, continuous long distances often occur, and only short stops in ancient cities and urban areas are possible.
Continue walking towards Qiemo, Ruoqiang and Loulan, and the distance between cities will further increase. This type of route is more suitable for in-depth tourists with sufficient time, you can refer to8-day route to Qiemo, Ruoqiang and Loulan ruins, to understand the actual transition rhythm in eastern southern Xinjiang.
Different modes of transportation
Group bus
The bus needs to pick up people from different hotels, and rest and gatherings along the way must also be arranged in a unified manner. When there are a large number of people, getting on and off the bus, waiting for people and entering the scenic spot will all increase the time.
Chartered small group
Pick-up and parking are more flexible and usually require less waiting than buses. However, taking frequent photos along the way will also make the actual time exceed navigation.
When choosing a 7-seater car, you need to ask about the actual number of passengers, the location of luggage, and whether adults need to be seated in the third row for a long time. Tourists who are comparing small group options can check outNorthern Xinjiang 8-day small group tour route, compare the daily accommodation points and the number of long distances.
Self-driving
Self-driving is the most free, but the driver cannot rest in the car. For the same 6-hour drive, the driver’s fatigue is usually higher than that of the passengers.
It was my first time to walk on Xinjiang mountain roads, and I had to spend time looking for gas stations, parking spaces, restaurants and hotels. If the navigation display exceeds 7 hours a day, it is not suitable to arrange multiple attractions.
Planes and trains
Planes and trains are suitable alternatives for inter-regional long distances. For example, first go to Altay or Yining, and then start the local loop route, which can reduce the round trip time from Urumqi.
But you can’t just compare flight times. Traveling to the airport, going through security, waiting for your flight, collecting your luggage and being picked up from your car also count. Generally, the advantages are only obvious when replacing a road transfer of more than six or seven hours.
How to choose among the three places?
Want to take less car rides
Prioritize Yili and try to start from Yining. After segmented accommodation, the pure driving time can be controlled to 2-5 hours on most days.
Must see Kanas
Choose the Altay Northern Xinjiang route and accept one or two long-distance days. When the vacation is only 7-8 days, don’t join the complete Ili Loop.
I like ancient cities and humanities
Select Southern Xinjiang. Stay at least two nights in Kashgar and preferably two nights in Taxian County. Do not change hotels every day.
Take care of the elderly and children
Give priority to Yili, or choose Kashgarta County short-term. Try to limit pure driving to about 4 hours on most days, and arrange a consecutive stay day every two or three days.
For most families with preschool children, it is difficult to arrange for more than 6 hours of driving on consecutive days, and they need to add parking and rest and stay in a hotel.
The holiday is only 5 days
Do not force your way to Kanas, Hemu, Sailimu Lake and Nalati areas. It is more suitable to arrange short-term routes such as Tianshan Tianchi, Turpan and Nanshan with Urumqi as the center. Can refer toXinjiang 5-day short-term travel guide。
How to judge if you are in a hurry
After getting the route, you can focus on checking the following six items:
- On some days during the whole journey, pure driving exceeded 7 hours;
- Whether it exceeds 6 hours for two consecutive days;
- Whether there are any large scenic spots after arriving on a long-distance day;
- Whether you change hotels almost every day;
- Whether to catch a flight directly from a distant scenic spot on the last day;
- Whether the scenic transfer time has been included in the calculation.
If an 8-day route has more than three days and more than 7 hours, changes hotels continuously, and arranges large scenic spots after a long trip, it is usually necessary to increase the number of days or reduce the destination.
Common travel arrangements include:
- Visit Kanas, Hemu, Sailimu Lake and Nalati at the same time in 7-8 days;
- After swimming around Sailimu Lake in one day, continue to Nalati;
- Day trip from Kashgar to Ta County;
- Visit multiple counties on the way from Kashgar to Hotan;
- Pure driving for more than 6 hours for three consecutive days;
- After a long transfer, continue to arrange a three- to four-hour walk.
What should I ask when signing up for a group tour?
- How long does it take to drive purely every day:Requires the starting point, end point and estimated kilometers.
- What time do you check into the hotel:Don’t just accept “full-day tour” or “sightseeing along the way”.
- How many people are seated in the vehicle:Confirm seats, luggage space and third-row availability.
- Whether transfers are included:Confirm the shuttle bus times for scenic spots such as Kanas, Hemu and Xiata.
- What to do if the road is closed:Learn about alternative routes, added time and fees.
- Whether to change hotels every day:The elderly, children and families with a lot of luggage should carry less luggage.
Allow time when driving by yourself
Self-driving cannot completely copy the tour group time. When I go to Xinjiang for the first time, I have to deal with navigation, refueling, parking, picking up and returning the car.
Try to drive mountainous roads during the day, and do not drive at night for a long time in order to catch up with the hotel. Drivers should stop and take a rest when they feel sleepy. Do not rely on opening the window or drinking coffee to continue to hold on.
If you want to take multi-regional routes such as Kanas, Sailimu Lake, Nalati and Duku Highway, it is recommended to prepare for at least 10 days. official websiteNorthern Xinjiang 10-day deep loopdemonstrates the segmented accommodation method, which can be used to check whether you are compressing multiple areas too tightly.
Sedentary and plateau
Sedentary for long periods of time
After riding for several hours, ordinary tourists are prone to backache, leg numbness and lower limb discomfort. Stop and move every 1.5-2 hours. Get out of the car and walk for 5-10 minutes. Moving your ankles and calves in the car will be more comfortable than sitting all the time.
People with a history of blood clots, recent surgery, limited mobility, pregnancy or other health problems should consult a doctor before traveling long distances. If you experience significant swelling of one leg, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical attention promptly.
Plateau section
When traveling from Kashgar to Ta County, the altitude will rise significantly throughout the day. On the day of arrival, do not immediately arrange running, jumping, drinking or high-intensity hiking. Eat, rest and observe your body’s reaction first.
People with cardiopulmonary disease, unstable high blood pressure, or other underlying diseases should consult a doctor before departure. If you experience severe difficulty breathing, severe headache, or abnormal consciousness, seek medical advice immediately and do not continue to higher altitudes.
Arranged according to holidays
| Holiday length | Suitable range | Driving Suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 days | Surrounding Urumqi, Yiningjia Sailimu Lake, Kashgar Gata County | Select only a small area |
| 7-8 days | Ili Small Ring Line or Kanas Hemu Line | Long distance days shall not exceed two days |
| 9-10 days | Complete Ili Line, Slow Tour in Northern Xinjiang or Kashgar to Hotan | Arrange to stay for at least one day |
| 11-13 days | Northern Xinjiang plus part of Ili or southern Xinjiang long line | Schedule recovery time after crossing regions |
| More than 14 days | Add Ili to northern Xinjiang or in-depth tour to multiple places in southern Xinjiang | Avoid long distances for three consecutive days |
When the vacation is only 7-8 days, it is best to choose only one area. Pure driving is limited to 3-5 hours on most days. Arranging consecutive stays or breaks between long-distance days is usually more comfortable than adding two more attractions.
When checking the route, not only look at the total kilometers, but also the number of long-distance days, estimated check-in time, road type and scenic spot transfers. Only by putting these times together can we judge whether a Xinjiang route is a real tour or whether it is spent most of the time traveling.
Information description
The driving distance in this article is the planning range of common tourist routes. The actual time will be affected by departure location, vehicle type, weather, construction, traffic flow, scenic spot transfers and temporary controls.
Road basic information reference:
- Xinjiang Department of Transportation: S21 Awu Expressway Information
- Xinjiang Department of Transportation: G580 Ahe Highway Information
- Xinjiang Department of Transportation: Yizhao Highway Information
- Xinjiang Department of Transportation: Duku Highway Information
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tips for sitting for long periods of time during long-distance travel
Mountain roads, border area requirements and traffic in scenic spots may be temporarily adjusted. Before departure, you should check the information released by the traffic management department, scenic spots and relevant local departments again.
You May Also Like
- Do you need to bring a down jacket in summer in Xinjiang: Dressing suggestions for Kanas, Sailimu Lake and Taxian County
- Is it easy to get motion sickness when traveling in Xinjiang: Comparison of driving difficulty on Duku Highway, Yizhao Highway and Panlong Ancient Road
- How big is the temperature difference between morning and evening in Xinjiang: How to dress in layers in northern Xinjiang, Ili, southern Xinjiang and high-altitude areas
- How many sets of clothes to bring when traveling in Xinjiang: 7-day, 10-day and 15-day luggage lists
- Xinjiang 5-Day Itinerary Guide: Avoiding Rushed Routes, Repeated Sights, and Hotel Issues
Ili — — Practical Data
Where to Stay · Room Type · Nearby
- Xinyuan county/Nalati town | Room tip: For Nalati/Apricot Blossom Valley, stay in Xinyuan county town or Nalati town, where hotels and guesthouses are plentifu | Nearby add-ons: Nalati Grassland, Tuergan Apricot Blossom Valley[src]
- Tekes Bagua City | Room tip: The world’s only ancient town laid out in a bagua pattern; staying inside lets you enjoy the night view; a transfer poin | Nearby add-ons: Kalajun Grassland, Qiongkushitai, Tekes Bagua City Ferris wheel[src]
