A short-term guide for a 5-day trip to Xinjiang

Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi before 18:00, stay in the city at night, and have your first Xinjiang meal

I won’t arrange distant spots on the first day. I will mainly arrive in Urumqi, check in, eat, buy supplies, and prepare things for the trip to Tianshan Tianchi the next day. A five-day trip may not seem like a long time, but there is driving every day. If you make yourself too tired on the first night, your condition will be significantly reduced when you enter the mountainous area the next day.

I suggest putting the arrival time inBefore 18:00. If you are flying to Urumqi Diwopu Airport, you will need to take a taxi into the city after picking up your luggage, and you usually have to allow time for the journey; if you are arriving by high-speed train at Urumqi Station, don’t go shopping directly with your suitcases. It is more stable to put your things in a hotel first. For accommodation, I would choose areas with convenient transportation such as Hongshan, Youyou, Railway Bureau, high-speed rail station, and the airport. It will be more smooth to set off to Tianshan Tianchi the next day.

I wouldn’t order too much for my first meal. The food in Urumqi is quite large. A portion of fried pork noodles, a few skewers of barbecued meat, and a cup of yogurt are enough for newcomers. You can also arrange rice pilaf, but one portion per person is very filling. Don’t order all the barbecue, platter of chicken, rice pilaf, and baked buns on the first night. It will make you feel uncomfortable in the car and walking the next day.

I paid more attention to the hotel location on the first night. Living close to the main road, being able to buy water downstairs, and being able to park your car in the morning are more important than whether the room looks good when taking photos. The next day we will go to Tianshan Tianchi from the city. If we avoid taking a few detours in the morning, the whole morning will be much easier.

If you want to go to the International Grand Bazaar after dinner, I suggest you only arrange to walk around the outer circle to see the architecture and atmosphere, and don’t go shopping very late. When buying something, check the price, material and weight first, and don’t rush to buy too much on the first night. During the 5-day trip, we have to change places, so the simpler the luggage, the more comfortable it will be.

• Put your ID card in a fixed location in your carry-on bag. You will need it later when you stay in a hotel or enter a scenic spot.
• Don’t put your coat on the bottom of the box. The Tianshan and Tianchi mountainous areas will be cooler than the urban area.
• Buy two or three bottles of water first, and you can replenish it on the way the next day.
• Charge your power bank, car charger, and data cable together before going to bed.
• Don’t stay up late on the first night, the real fun starts on the second day.

Day 2: Depart from Urumqi at 08:30, go to Tianshan Tianchi to see the mountain lakes and snow-capped mountains

I will arrange Tianshan Tianchi the next day. It is not too far from Urumqi and is suitable as the first stop for a short trip. Tianchi is not just about looking at a lake. What is really worth seeing is the picture of lake, snow-capped mountains, forests and mountains appearing together. When the weather is good, the color of the lake water is very clean, and when there are many clouds, the mountain layers will be more obvious.

I suggestDeparts from Urumqi around 08:30. Don’t wait until after ten o’clock. Parking in the scenic area, purchasing tickets, and transferring to other trains take time. Tianshan Tianchi cannot be played directly by driving to the lake. Scenic transportation is required from the visitor center to the core tourist area, so the play time must be set aside in advance.

The wind at Tianchi Lake is stronger than in the city. It is also recommended to bring a light jacket in summer. When taking photos, don’t just stand where there are the most tourists. If you walk a little further along the lake, there will be fewer people and the ratio between the lake and the snow-capped mountains will be better. If the weather is cloudy, don’t feel pity immediately. The color of the lake will change when the clouds disperse. Waiting for a few minutes will often give you a better picture.

I will arrange a simple lunch. There are limited choices in the scenic area, and prices will be higher than in the city. Eat a solid breakfast, a bowl of hot noodles, a light meal for lunch, or eat after leaving the scenic spot. Don’t spend too long on lunch, there is still time to walk around the lake in the afternoon.

When I go to Tianchi Lake in Tianshan Mountain, I will first see the entire main lake area before deciding whether to go further. Many people take a few photos and leave as soon as they enter the scenic spot. In fact, if you walk around the lake for more than ten minutes, the view will be more comfortable. The most beautiful thing about Tianchi is not a fixed location, but the changing angles of the lake and the mountain.

After returning to Urumqi in the evening, I will have a formal meal. Pepper chicken, rice pilaf, noodles and barbecue are all available. We are going to Turpan on the third day. The weather will be hotter. In the evening, you should prepare hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, water bottles and light clothes.

• The temperature difference in Tianchi Mountain is obvious, so you should bring a coat with you.
• Scenic area transportation time must be taken into account, don’t just look at the time from the city to the entrance of the scenic area.
• Wear comfortable shoes when walking around the lake, don’t wear new shoes.
• Stay in Urumqi that night, and it will be more convenient to go to Turpan the next day.
• On the third day, the sun in Turpan was strong, so I put on sunscreen before going to bed.

Day 3: 08:00 from Urumqi to Turpan, walking through Karez, Flame Mountain and Grape Valley

I will arrange Turpan on the third day. This day is completely different from Tianchi in Tianshan. What we see in Turpan is the hot and dry climate, ancient water conservancy, red mountains, grape trellises and oasis life. It is very suitable to include one day in Turpan in the 5-day short term. The scenery is very different and the content of the article is richer.

I would rather recommend this dayStay in Turpan for one night, don’t rush back and forth on the same day. You can take a car from Urumqi to Turpan, or you can take a train to Turpan North Station and then pick up transportation to scenic spots. No matter which way, the attractions need to be connected and cannot just look at the intercity transportation time.

Turpan is hot during the day, especially from June to August, and it is not suitable to stand outdoors for a long time in the afternoon. So I will do Qanat in the morning, a short stop at Huoyan Mountain, and Grape Valley in the second half of the afternoon. There are green shades and grape trellises in Grape Valley, which makes the experience more comfortable than in open areas.

Qanez is worth looking at carefully. It is not just a photo spot, but a traditional way for Turpan people to utilize groundwater in a hot and dry environment. When writing an article, you can relate it to the climate of Turpan, so that the content will be more informative and not just “been there”.

I will not rush my schedule in Turpan. It’s hot here and the pace is slower. Watch the karez in the morning, eat and rest at noon, stop at the Flame Mountain in the afternoon, then go to Grape Valley, stay at night and have a local meal, which is much more comfortable than rushing back to Urumqi the same day.

For dinner in Turpan, you can eat noodles, pilaf, baked buns, barbecue, cold skin, and you can also try grapes, cantaloupe, and raisins. Don’t drink too much cold drinks at one time. After being exposed to the sun all day, your stomach needs to be more stable at night. Accommodation is in Turpan city, which is convenient for eating, buying water, and setting off the next day.

• Sun protection in Turpan must be taken seriously, and you must wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
• Flaming Mountain is suitable for a short stop, but it is not recommended to stay for a long time in the afternoon.
• Carry water with you, but don’t drink ice water all the time.
• Grape Valley is more suitable to go in the second half of the afternoon, as it will feel more comfortable.
• Turpan hotels depend on air conditioning, sanitation, parking and nearby restaurants.

Day 4: Return to Urumqi from Turpan at 09:00, and go to Tianshan Grand Canyon in the afternoon

On the fourth day, I will return from Turpan to the direction of Urumqi, and then arrange the Tianshan Grand Canyon. In this way, you can go from the dry and hot basin of Turpan to the mountain canyon of Urumqi County in one day, and the landscape changes obviously. In the short term of 5 days, this kind of transformation is very meaningful.

I will be thereDeparts from Turpan around 09:00, returned to the vicinity of Urumqi around noon, had lunch and then went to the Tianshan Grand Canyon. It is more suitable to enter the scenic spot in the afternoon. The light is not as strong as at noon, and the mountains, forests and grasslands look more comfortable.

The rhythm of the Tianshan Grand Canyon is completely different from that of Turpan. Here you will see mountains, canyons, forests, meadows and streams, and the air will be much fresher. The wind will get cooler in the afternoon, so put your coat in your carry-on bag and don’t leave it in the car. When visiting, follow the traffic and physical strength of the scenic spot, and don’t go to every point.

When taking pictures, don’t just take pictures of nearby trees. You can put mountains, canyon lines, wooden planks and distant grassland into the picture. Choose comfortable shoes. There are many trails and steps in the mountainous area, and you will get tired after walking for a long time. When the weather changes, there may be moisture on the ground, so walk steadily.

I like to put the Tianshan Grand Canyon behind Turpan. The day before we saw red mountains, grape trellises and dry heat oasis. When we returned to the mountains on the fourth day, the temperature and scenery became refreshing. In the short term of 5 days, this difference will make the itinerary more layered.

After returning to Urumqi in the evening, we continued to choose an urban location with convenient transportation. We are going to Nanshan Grassland on the 5th day, and we have to consider returning or staying for one more night. Staying too far away will affect the arrangement. For dinner, you can have peppercorn chicken, meatball soup, noodles, pilaf, or choose a few hot dishes from a local restaurant.

• On the day you return to Urumqi from Turpan, don’t add too many small attractions.
• Tianshan Grand Canyon will be cooler than the city in the afternoon, so bring a coat with you.
• You need to walk in the scenic area, and your shoes must be comfortable.
• Stay in Urumqi at night so that we can go to Nanshan on the 5th day.
• If your physical strength is average on the fourth day, you can change the Grand Canyon to the city to rest and eat.

Day 5: Go to Nanshan Grassland at 09:00 and return to Urumqi in the afternoon to end the trip

On the fifth day, I will arrange the direction of Nanshan Grassland. Nanshan is close to the urban area of Urumqi and is suitable for the 5-day short-term ending. Here you can see grass slopes, mountain forests, pastures, yurts and snow-capped mountains in the distance. The driving pressure is much less than that of Tianchi and Turpan. If you have a late flight or high-speed train that day, Nanshan can also control your time better.

I will be thereDepart from Urumqi around 09:00. Nanshan can choose Shuixigou, Xibaiyanggou, Juhuatai, and Nanshan Ranch, depending on the season, road conditions and time of day. Don’t change areas frequently throughout the day. It’s more comfortable to choose a key place and play slowly.

Nanshan is not suitable for driving. Its characteristics are not a fixed seat, but its proximity to the city, comfortable mountain scenery, and suitable for a leisurely stay. It is easier to find a location with a wide view, walk on a grassy slope, and have a hot meal than to keep changing places. When encountering areas where herders live, do not enter private areas or approach livestock at will.

For lunch, you can eat local food near Nanshan. Barbecue, noodles, hand-picked rice, and mutton soup are all available. Check the price and portion before ordering, and don’t order too much for two people. The wind in the mountains is cooler than in the city, so it will be much more comfortable to eat warmer. You can drink milk tea if you want, but you have to go back to the city in the afternoon, so don’t delay too late.

I put Nanshan on day 5 because it is suitable for the ending. We have already seen the mountain lakes, Turpan Oasis and Tianshan Canyon, so we don’t need to take a long car ride on the last day. Go for a walk in Nanshan in the morning and return to the city to pack your luggage in the afternoon. The rhythm will be relatively stable in 5 days.

If you leave Urumqi on the same day, it is best to arrange your flight or high-speed train in the evening. Although it’s not too far from Nanshan to the city, you have to allow time for traffic conditions, return traffic, baggage pickup, and going to the airport or station. Don’t squeeze too much time into your return trip in the afternoon.

• Nanshan will get cold sooner or later, so you should bring a coat with you.
• Choose a key area to play and don’t change places frequently.
• Lunch is ordered based on the number of people. For two people, order less.
• On your return trip on the same day, you should reserve time for returning to the city, picking up your luggage, and going to the airport or station.
• If you don’t have to catch the traffic, you can have a finishing dinner after returning to Urumqi.

Keep Reading

• How long does it take to travel by car every day in Xinjiang | Comparison of driving intensity in northern Xinjiang, Yili and southern Xinjiang
• 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

Urumqi — — Key Facts

Tickets & Booking

• Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake): Tickets: peak season (Apr 1–Oct 31) CNY 95 per person; winter/spring (Nov 1–Mar 31 of the following year) CNY 45 per person; shuttle bus: CNY 60 round trip (same price in peak and winter/spring seasons). Half-price tickets: peak CNY 47.5, off-peak CNY 22.5 (seniors 60–64, children over 1.3 m and minors under 18, full-time undergraduate students and below). Free admission: children aged 6 and below or 1.3 m and below, and seniors aged 65 and above.; advance booking required (Tianshan Tianchi scenic area official channels (WeChat account/mini-program), OTA (Ctrip/Tongcheng and others with timed reservation))^[src]

Transport & Schedules

• Urumqi → Turpan (Turpan North station) | EMU/intercity (C/D trains): Intercity/EMU trains such as C4362: Urumqi–Turpan North about 1 h 17 min–1 h 18 min, second class about CNY 44–51.5; e.g., D8808 departs 13:45 and arrives 14:46 (1 h 1 min), second class CNY^[src]
• Urumqi → Kashgar | Direct express (all-sleeper): Z6516/Z6517 is an all-sleeper direct express: departs Urumqi 20:40 and arrives Kashgar 08:10 the next day, 1453 km total, 11 h 30 min running time, no intermediate stops, overnight; hard sle^[src]
• Urumqi → Altay/Beitun (toward Kanas) | Conventional night train (K/Y series): K9735 (departs Urumqi 17:36, arrives Altay 07:00 the next day), K6709 (departs 22:06, arrives 08:38 the next day), Y995 (departs 23:40, arrives 09:08 the next day); hard sleeper about CNY 18^[src]

Where to Stay · Room Type · Nearby

• City center/near the Grand Bazaar (Tianshan district) | Room tip: As the hub for entering Xinjiang and the transfer point for north and south Xinjiang, suitable for the first 1–2 nights | Nearby add-ons: Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, Erdaoqiao, Lingguan Lane, Hetian Second Street, Shaanxi Great Mosque, Xinjian^[src]
• Around the museum/Youhao Road (Shayibak district) | Room tip: Near the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum (No. 581 Xibei Road), convenient for a museum itinerary | Nearby add-ons: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, Hongshan Park, People’s Park^[src]

Typical Climate & Packing (Past Years)

• January: -15.1–-5.3 °C, 1991–2021 average (climate-data.org); urban station figures differ s
• February: -11.5–-1.7 °C
• March: -4.9–7.5 °C
• April: 2.2–15.9 °C
• May: 8.9–21.5 °C
• June: 14.8–26.5 °C