5-Day Yili Adventure Guide: A Soul-Stirring Collision of Grasslands, Snow Mountains, and Baked Buns

📅 Itinerary

D1: Yining → Sayram Lake → Guozigou Bridge → Yining
- Morning: Head straight to Sayram Lake for a scenic drive around the lake—the water is so blue it’ll make you question reality💧 (Entrance: ¥70, self-driving vehicle: ¥90).
- Afternoon: Stop by Guozigou Bridge on the way—its S-shaped curves winding through the valley are perfect for epic road-trip photos📸 (Free viewing platform).
- Stay in Yining: Six-Star Street homestay (e.g., Ziyan Jina), featuring Russian-style buildings and accordion serenades, ¥150/person/night.

D2: Yining → Xiate Ancient Trail → Zhaosu
- All day: Hike the Xiate Ancient Trail! Snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and wildflowers frame a scene straight out of *Heidi*🎬 (Entrance: ¥40 + shuttle: ¥60).
- Stay in Zhaosu: Grassland stargazing homestay with Milky Way views🌌 (¥200/person/night).

D3: Zhaosu → Kalajun Grassland → Tekes Bagua City
- Morning: Explore Kalajun’s "3D grasslands" on horseback through flower fields🐎 (Entrance: ¥70, horseback riding: ¥80/hour).
- Evening: Climb the Bagua City observation deck to see streets laid out like a giant "Bagua formation"🌀 (Free).
- Stay in Tekes: "Dream·Long Song" homestay with a pool and golf—luxury at ¥300/person/night.

D4: Tekes → Nalati Grassland
- All day: Drive through Nalati’s Panlong Valley and encounter the iconic "sheep traffic jam"🐑 (Entrance: ¥95 + self-driving vehicle: ¥200).
- Stay in Nalati: "Secluded There" homestay, close to the scenic area with heartwarming millet porridge breakfasts💛 (¥180/person/night).

D5: Nalati → Duku Highway → Yining
- All day: Drive the northern section of Duku Highway! Experience four seasons in one day❄️→🌿, with a stop at Tangbula Fairy Lake (Free).

🍽️ Foodie Radar
- Breakfast: Bayandai baked buns (¥3 each! Crispy skin, juicy filling) + Xibo pancakes (paired with pickled veggies, tangy and spicy).
- Lunch: Kazakh hand-pulled rice in Xiate Scenic Area (tender lamb, ¥45/serving).
- Dinner: Tekes’ "Mabai Kailai Lamb Rib Soup" (rich broth, ¥80/bowl) + Gulandanmu ice cream (¥25/bowl, unlimited toppings!).

👍 Highlights & 😅 Challenges
👍 Why it’s awesome:
- Scenery overload! Sayram’s blue waters, Xiate’s snow peaks, and Kalajun’s flower fields will fill your phone’s storage📷.
- Next-level homestays: Tekes’ pool villas and Yining’s Russian-style lodgings feel like time travel.
- Cheap, hearty eats: ¥3 baked buns and unlimited ice cream freedom.

😅 Heads-up:
- Daily drives average 3 hours—motion-sickness sufferers, bring bags🚗.
- Nalati’s self-driving fee is steep (¥200/car) but worth the freedom.
- Peak-season homestays sell out—book Tekes’ luxury stays 1 month ahead.

💡 Quick Tips
- Transport: Rent a car with driver for ease (SUV ~¥1000/day, includes gas).
- Outfits: Summer wear + sun hat by day, windbreaker by night (15°C swings!).
- Budget: ~¥3500/person (all-inclusive)—outshines international trips!