Northern Xinjiang Grand Loop 14 Days

⏳Travel Time: August 2-16, 2025 👍In recent years, tourism in Xinjiang has been booming. This summer vacation, we took our two kids on a two-week self-driving tour around Northern Xinjiang. It was our first time experiencing a 14-day trip, with an average of 5-6 hours of driving per day. It was a test of both stamina and budget, but in the face of the magnificent Xinjiang, I can only say: it’s still not enough! 🗓Itinerary: 🌟Day 1: Shanghai to Urumqi. We rented a GL8 and officially started our Xinjiang journey. 🌟Day 2: Urumqi to Kuitun. Visited the Autonomous Region Museum, took the 101 National Defense Highway, passed Kenswat Reservoir and Anjihai Grand Canyon, stayed in downtown Kuitun. 🌟Day 3: Kuitun to Sailimu Lake. Took the Lianhuo Expressway, drove along the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains straight to Sailimu Lake, stayed at the west lake campsite. 🌟Day 4: Sailimu Lake to Yining. Took part of the Hu-Huo line, stopped at Guozigou Bridge viewing platform, then took the highway to Yining, visited Liuxing Street, stayed in Yining Old Town. 🌟Day 5: Yining to Xiata. Took the Yizhao Highway, visited Zhaosu Wetland Park, stayed outside Xiata Scenic Area. 🌟Day 6: Xiata to Tekesi. Xiata was temporarily closed, so we changed plans to visit Kuokesu Grand Canyon, stayed in Tekesi Bagua City. 🌟Day 7: Tekesi to Tangbula. Took National Highway 578, passed Xinyuan County, stayed outside Mengket. 🌟Day 8: Tangbula to Karamay. Passed Qiaorma, took the northern section of Duku Highway, then switched to Kui-A Highway, stayed in Karamay. 🌟Day 9: Karamay to Burqin. Visited Hei You Mountain and the World Devil City, drove part of the Aku line, then switched to Kui-A Highway, stayed in Burqin. 🌟Day 10: Burqin to Kanas. Took S232 to Jiadengyu, transferred to a shuttle bus into Kanas Scenic Area, stayed in Kanas New Village. 🌟Day 11: Kanas to Baihaba. Visited Kanas, took the scenic area shuttle bus to Baihaba. 🌟Day 12: Baihaba to Hemu Village. Took the scenic area shuttle bus back to Kanas, then transferred to Jiadengyu, drove the mountain road to Hemu transfer center, then took a shuttle bus to Hemu Village. 🌟Day 13: Hemu Village to Altay. Took the Ahe Highway to Altay City, visited the city museum, stayed in the city. 🌟Day 14: Altay to Urumqi. Took Kui-A Highway then Awu Highway, passed the Gobi Desert, arrived in Urumqi, returned the car, visited the Grand Bazaar, stayed near the airport. 🌟Day 15: Urumqi to Shanghai, end of return trip. ❤Reasons to Recommend: 🌟Overall, Xinjiang’s infrastructure and social security are excellent now. The self-driving experience is top-notch, the scenery is breathtaking, and the locals are warm and hospitable. If you have a holiday, just go for it. 🌟Regarding costs, after calculating the total price for 14 days, it’s honestly not high. Airfare accounts for about 40% of the total cost, and car rental (excluding tolls and fuel) can make up half. Other expenses like meals, tickets, and accommodation offer great value for money. 🌟The Northern Xinjiang Grand Loop roughly forms a figure-eight. Xinjiang is vast, and this 14-day itinerary already skips many places. For those short on time, it’s recommended to focus on either Kanas or the Ili River Valley area. 📝Tips to Note: 🌟For travel planning, don’t pack the schedule too tightly. Leave enough time for driving because most of the scenery is along the road. Having a relaxed schedule will make your mood better and avoid unnecessary speeding. Safety always comes first. 🌟Most homestays and hotels in Xinjiang allow cancellations before 6 PM. It’s recommended to book those to allow flexible adjustments in case of unexpected situations. 🌟Also, Xinjiang has a large temperature difference. Even in August, bring a thick jacket. Experience shows that warm clothes are very important! Vacuum compression bags are very useful for saving luggage space. 🌟Xinjiang is quite dry. As long as you choose hotels with laundry facilities, most clothes can dry overnight. 🌟Xinjiang cuisine is a major highlight. I’ve always liked Xinjiang food. The local beef and lamb, roasted naan, and hand-pulled rice are endlessly delicious and filling. Because of self-driving, it’s best to have a hearty breakfast at the hotel, have simple meals in the car or rest stops at noon, and enjoy some drinks and a good dinner in the evening. 🌟For this trip, we specially brought a drone for photography, and the results were excellent! The only regret is that the grasslands were already yellow in August. The grasslands in May-June would be another beautiful scene, which we look forward to experiencing again in the future.