12 Days Xinjiang G219 Road Tour: A Scenic Northern Xinjiang Itinerary from Urumqi to Ili

Your guide meets you at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport or the railway station and drives you to the hotel in the city center. After settling in, step outside and feel the dry Xinjiang air on your skin. Your guide recommends the best local restaurants for dinner — try the lamb kebabs and hand-pulled noodles at the night market. Rest well; twelve days on China's longest national highway start tomorrow.

After breakfast, drive northwest along the S21 Desert Highway across the Gurbantunggut Desert. The straight road cuts through endless sand dunes for over 200 kilometers. Your guide shares the geological history of the ancient seabed that became this desert and points out rare wildlife — gazelles and bustards that roam the dunes. Stop at Ulungur Lake to watch fishing eagles skim the water and photograph the sunset over the reeds. Arrive in Altay by evening.

Drive south along the Ahe Highway, one of Xinjiang's most scenic mountain roads. Pine forests cling to steep valleys and wildflowers carpet the roadside. Your guide pulls over at viewpoints to share stories of the Kazakh herders who migrate through these valleys each summer. The three-hour drive passes through increasingly dramatic landscapes. Arrive at Hemu Village as smoke rises from traditional Tuwa wooden houses. Your guide walks you through the village at dusk.

Rise early to walk the village boardwalk as morning mist fills the valley. Your guide leads you past the traditional wooden houses and explains the Tuwa people's centuries-old traditions. Drive to the Three Bays of Kanas — Moon Bay, Wolong Bay, and Shenxian Bay — each revealing a different perspective of the emerald river valley. Continue to Kanas Lake and walk the shoreline boardwalk. Your guide helps you find the best spot to watch the water shift from emerald to sapphire blue.

Drive west to the Grassland Stone City, an ancient archaeological site where weathered stone spires rise from the open steppe. Your guide explains the site's history as a former Silk Road outpost and points out petroglyphs carved into the rock faces. After lunch, continue through Hoboksar County, where the landscape shifts from desert to pastoral steppe. Arrive in Tacheng by late afternoon. Your guide leads an evening walk through the border town's relaxed streets and evening market.

Drive south from Tacheng through the Little Baiyang Outpost into increasingly arid terrain. Your guide shares stories of the border communities that live between China and Kazakhstan. Pass the Alashankou border crossing — one of China's key trade gates to Central Asia. The landscape shifts from desert to rolling hills as you approach Wenquan County. Arrive by late afternoon and soak in the natural hot springs that give the town its name. Your guide recommends the best public spring pools.

Drive west to Sayram Lake, one of Xinjiang's largest and clearest alpine lakes. Your guide drives you around the lake shoreline, stopping at the best viewpoints to photograph the snow-capped Tianshan reflections on the turquoise water. In the afternoon, visit the lavender fields near Yining — purple rows stretching toward the foothills. Your guide explains how the region's climate mirrors Provence. Arrive in Yining by evening and explore the Old Town bazaar.

Drive south from Yining to Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, home to the Xibe people — descendants of Qing Dynasty garrison soldiers. Your guide introduces you to their unique culture and leads you through the small cultural museum. After lunch, continue along the Yizhao Highway through the Ili River Valley, where wheat fields and sunflower patches stretch to the foothills. Arrive in Tekes County by late afternoon. Your guide takes you to the local market to try regional specialties.

Drive north to Kalajun Grassland, a UNESCO-recognized alpine meadow. Your guide leads you on a hike across the rolling green hills, pointing out wildflowers that bloom from June to August and explaining the nomadic traditions of the Kazakh herders who summer here. Ride horseback across the emerald expanse with snow-capped peaks on the horizon. Your guide packs a picnic lunch and finds the perfect hilltop spot. Return to Gongliu County by evening.

Drive east through Qiaxi Scenic Area into the Tangbula Grassland. The landscape shifts from green valleys to wild steppe as your guide points out the yurt camps and grazing herds that dot the plain. Walk along the Kunes River through the Tangbula Gorge, where the water runs cold and clear from the surrounding snowmelt. Your guide identifies wild herb patches and explains the traditional Kazakh medicine made from mountain plants. Stay overnight at a grassland camp.

Rise early for the long drive back to Urumqi via the Duku Highway — one of China's most dramatic mountain roads. Your guide navigates the hairpin passes and points out snow peaks, alpine meadows, and the changing landscapes through the Tianshan range. Stop at the Iron Gate Pass, the highest point, where prayer flags snap in the wind. The road descends through canyons and across high plateaus before reaching the desert basin where Urumqi sits. Arrive by late afternoon.

After breakfast, your guide drives you to Urumqi Diwopu International Airport or the railway station for your departure. Along the way, your guide shares final stories and travel recommendations for the rest of your China journey. Board your flight or train with a warm farewell, carrying memories of twelve days across Xinjiang — from the Gobi Desert and Kanas Lake to the grasslands and the dramatic Duku Highway.