Xinjiang 8-Day Travel Guide

**Itinerary Overview**
**Route**: Urumqi → Yining → Sailimu Lake → Kalajun Grassland → Nalati → Bayinbuluke → Kuqa Old Town → Kashgar
**Theme**: Northern Xinjiang Grasslands and Lakes + Southern Xinjiang Exotic Culture
**Suitable for**: Photography enthusiasts, cultural experience seekers, nature lovers

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**Daily Detailed Itinerary**
**Day 1: Gather in Urumqi**
- **Accommodation**: Budget hotel in the city (150-200 CNY/night)
- **Activities**:
- Visit the 【International Grand Bazaar】 during the day (free), try roasted buns and hand-pulled rice.
- In the evening, climb 【Hongshan Park】 for a panoramic city view (free).
- **Tips**: Buy snacks and sunscreen; Xinjiang has large temperature differences between day and night, bring a jacket.

**Day 2: Urumqi → Yining (High-speed train 5h, ticket 128 CNY)**
- **Accommodation**: Youth hostel or homestay in Yining (100-150 CNY/night)
- **Activities**:
- Visit 【Kazanchi Folk Village】 in the afternoon (free), photograph the blue streets and Uyghur houses.
- Dinner recommendation: 【Ailekasier】 restaurant, about 50 CNY per person for authentic mixed noodles.

**Day 3: Yining → Sailimu Lake → Guozigou Bridge (Charter/shared car about 300 CNY/person)**
- **Accommodation**: Mongolian yurt inside Sailimu Lake scenic area (about 150 CNY/person, book in advance)
- **Activities**:
- Drive around the lake (ticket + self-drive 145 CNY), recommended hiking at the south gate Pine Tree Head for full views.
- Sunset photography at Guozigou Bridge (free).

**Day 4: Sailimu Lake → Kalajun Grassland (Shared car 200 CNY/person)**
- **Accommodation**: Hotel in Tekes County (150 CNY/night)
- **Activities**:
- Photograph the "Human Grassland" at Kalajun Grassland (full area ticket 275 CNY, buying the West Kalajun ticket is cheaper).
- Night aerial photography of Tekes Bagua City (free).

**Day 5: Tekes → Nalati Grassland (Shared car 150 CNY/person)**
- **Accommodation**: Homestay in Nalati Town (200 CNY/night)
- **Activities**:
- Visit Nalati Sky Grassland (ticket 95 CNY + shuttle 40 CNY), focus on the 【Nomad Family】 stop.
- Evening Kazakh family visit (80 CNY per person including dinner).

**Day 6: Nalati → Bayinbuluke (Southern section of Duku Highway, shared car 200 CNY/person)**
- **Accommodation**: Budget hotel in Bayin Town (180 CNY/night)
- **Activities**:
- Watch the sunset at Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns and 9 other spots (ticket + car 140 CNY), bring a thick jacket.

**Day 7: Bayin → Kuqa (Shared car 150 CNY/person) → Kashgar (Night train hard sleeper 200 CNY)**
- **Activities**:
- Morning visit to 【Kuqa Old Town】 (free), photograph colorful wooden doors on Hestan Road.
- Afternoon visit to 【Kuqa Grand Canyon】 (ticket 41 CNY) to photograph red cliffs.
- Take the train to Kashgar at night.

**Day 8: One-day tour in Kashgar**
- **Accommodation**: Homestay in Kashgar Old Town (150 CNY/night)
- **Activities**:
- Morning visit to 【Kashgar Old Town】 (free), watch the city opening ceremony, photograph century-old tea houses.
- Afternoon visit to 【Xiangfei Garden】 (ticket 120 CNY) or 【Id Kah Mosque】 (20 CNY).
- Evening at 【Khan Bazaar Night Market】 to eat roasted pigeon and yogurt rice dumplings (about 30 CNY per person).

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**Budget Breakdown** (per person)
1. **Transportation**: about 1800 CNY
- Urumqi → Yining high-speed train 128 CNY
- Shared/charter cars about 1000 CNY total
- Kuqa → Kashgar train 200 CNY
- Local taxis/buses about 200 CNY
2. **Accommodation**: 7 nights about 1100 CNY (budget standard)
3. **Tickets**: about 900 CNY (Sailimu Lake, Kalajun, Nalati, Bayinbuluke, etc.)
4. **Meals**: 80 CNY/day × 8 days = 640 CNY
5. **Others**: Snacks, souvenirs, etc. reserved 560 CNY

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**Money-Saving Tips**
✅ Prioritize shared cars over charter cars; shared meals at hostels are more cost-effective.
✅ Student/teacher/guide ID discounts on tickets.
✅ At Nalati, you can just visit the Sky Grassland; buy the west section ticket for Kalajun.
✅ Take the night train from Kuqa to Kashgar to save on accommodation.

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**Notes**
1. Security checks in Xinjiang are strict; carry your ID at all times.
2. Some scenic areas have weak signals (like Duku Highway); download offline maps in advance.
3. Respect ethnic minority customs; no photography inside mosques.

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This guide balances Northern Xinjiang’s natural scenery with Southern Xinjiang’s cultural experiences. Although 8 days is tight, it covers Xinjiang’s highlights. If you have more time, extending to 10 days or more is more relaxed! For detailed charter driver or homestay recommendations, feel free to message me~ 🌄