A Great Summer Road Trip Destination — Northern Xinjiang

Driving in Northern Xinjiang is an adventure into a world of oil paintings. Starting from Urumqi, you cross the Gobi Desert to see the wind-eroded rocks of the Devil City, then pass the Colorful Beach to watch the sunset dye the riverbank red. Morning mist drifts over wooden houses in Hemu, and the waters of Kanas Lake change color with the light. When crossing mountains, you may encounter cattle and sheep blocking the road—stop the car and enjoy a cup of horse milk wine. The starry sky blankets the grassland at night, and the wind carries the poetry of the wilderness. Let the wheels take you through the days and fill your eyes with the summer of Northern Xinjiang.

There are various route options for a Northern Xinjiang road trip. Below is a classic Northern Xinjiang self-driving itinerary:

Route Planning

- Recommended route: Urumqi → Urho Devil City → Jimunai Grassland Shenshi City → Burqin Colorful Beach → Hemu → Kanas → Baihaba Village → Burqin → Fuhai Ulungur Lake → Koktokay → Guhai Hot Springs → Tianshan Tianchi → Urumqi.
- Trip arrangement: Approximately 2243 kilometers in total, recommended to allocate 8 days. Details are as follows:
- Day 1: Urumqi to Urho Town, with a stop at Shihezi Military Reclamation Museum and visit to Urho Devil City.
- Day 2: Urho Town to Jimunai County, visit Hoboksar Junggar Cultural Town and Jimunai Grassland Shenshi City.
- Day 3: Jimunai County to Hemu Township, enjoy the sunset scenery at Burqin Colorful Beach.
- Day 4: Hemu Township to Kanas Lake, after exploring Hemu, head to Kanas Lake.
- Day 5: Kanas Village to Baihaba Village to Burqin County, visit Baihaba Village then return to Burqin.
- Day 6: Burqin County to Fuyun Koktokay Town, stop at Fuhai Ulungur Lake to enjoy a fish feast.
- Day 7: Koktokay Scenic Area to Guhai Hot Springs, after visiting Koktokay, proceed to stay at Guhai Hot Springs.
- Day 8: Guhai Hot Springs to Urumqi, with a stop at Tianshan Tianchi.

Road Conditions and Vehicles

- Road conditions: Most roads in Northern Xinjiang are in good condition, but some mountain roads have many curves and steep slopes, such as the Duku Highway, requiring cautious driving. Additionally, national highways have section speed controls with limits between 40-80 km/h.
- Vehicles: It is recommended to choose an SUV or off-road vehicle to handle some rugged mountain roads. Before departure, carefully check tires, spare tires, antifreeze, and other essentials.

Notes

- Documents: Gas stations in Xinjiang require ID card scanning and facial recognition; keep all passengers' documents in the car. For border areas like Baihaba Village, apply for a Border Pass in advance.
- Clothing: Northern Xinjiang has large temperature differences between day and night. Even in summer, bring warm clothing such as a windbreaker and down jacket, and also prepare sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.
- Tickets: Popular scenic spots like Kanas require advance timed ticket reservations. During peak season, private cars are not allowed inside; visitors must take shuttle buses or charter vehicles.