Xinjiang Yining Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel Route, Let You Enjoy the Joy of Avoiding Crowds!

Today is our 7th day traveling in Xinjiang. Considering the severe traffic jam on the Yizhao Highway due to the Eid al-Adha festival, we decided to stay a few more days in Yining. We have become tourists stranded in Yining because of the festival! 😅 (It seems quite a few have had the same experience, see you in the comments! 🤫)

🗺️ Today's Travel Route:
Tohulasu Scenic Area → Jingyi Pastoral Road → Hulejia Hotel (Kazanchi Street Branch)

1️⃣ Tohulasu Scenic Area Experience
We originally did not plan to visit Tohulasu Scenic Area, but since we needed to pass through it to get to Jingyi Pastoral Road, the ticket was basically a toll fee. Fortunately, the ticket price is not expensive, only 20 yuan per adult, and it remains valid for the return trip, which is quite considerate and worth praising! 👍🏻

Due to limited time and a clear destination, we barely stopped along the way in Tohulasu Scenic Area, but the scenery was still nice. The area is mainly visited by local tourists, which to some extent reflects its off-the-beaten-path nature.

🐏 Jingyi Pastoral Road Experience
Jingyi Pastoral Road connects Jinghe and Yining, with a total length of about 160 kilometers. True to its name, after entering from Tohulasu Scenic Area, we saw herds of cattle, horses, and sheep along the way. They grazed on tender grass and drank snowmelt water, enjoying nature’s gifts. After driving for about half an hour, we stopped at a place covered with a sea of flowers.

This spot is truly picture-perfect, and the best part is that there are few people, so you can basically have the entire flower sea to yourself. The terrain is flat with thick grass, where children can run, chase, and play freely without worrying about getting hurt, and they can also observe the grazing animals. Even if you don’t take photos, setting up a canopy and camping here for a day is very comfortable.
Travel Tip: Pay attention to the signs. Jingyi Pastoral Road is unpaved, mainly dirt and gravel roads. It is recommended for off-road vehicles and SUVs. Make sure to fill up your gas tank and prepare food before setting off.

🏨 Hulejia Hotel Stay Experience
This hotel is a well-established upscale hotel in the area, with a prime location convenient for dining, shopping, and transportation. Due to the Eid al-Adha festival, accommodation prices soared and rooms were scarce, so we booked a deluxe twin room. The room has a water dispenser but no bottled water. The bathroom has a clothesline, which is quite thoughtful.

Currently, the hotel’s breakfast is outsourced to a noodle shop next door, offering only three simple meal options, which somewhat lowers the standard for a well-established upscale hotel. Although the hotel parking lot has charging stations, they are slow chargers. 🤣

Driving with kids on Jingyi Pastoral Road, although the journey was a bit bumpy, the kids really enjoyed the gentle shaking feeling. 😆 The bumpy dirt road became an adventure in their eyes. The stones they picked up and the lambs they fed have all become unforgettable memories for us.