Huo City Lavender Sea of Flowers is open! A dreamy purple paradise

Yili is known as the "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall," boasting diverse natural landscapes including grasslands, snow-capped mountains, lakes, and seas of flowers. Here is a concise travel guide for Yili to help you plan your trip.

🎯 Highlights of the itinerary

· Rich natural scenery: Grasslands, snow mountains, lakes, flower seas, and canyons all in one trip.
· Unique cultural experiences: Experience the customs of ethnic minorities such as Kazakhs and Uyghurs.
· Distinct seasonal features: Different seasons offer vastly different natural beauty.

📅 Best time to visit Yili is beautiful all year round, with the best travel period from May to October.

· June to August: Summer is the golden season for grasslands, lush and green. Huo City lavender (blooming from mid-June to early July) and Zhaosu rapeseed flowers are in full bloom.
· April to May: Apricot blossoms bloom.
· September to October: Autumn colors are brilliant, and fruits are fragrant.
· December to February: Winter offers the blue ice spectacle of Sayram Lake.

📍 Must-visit attractions

1. 🌿 Nalati Grassland: One of the world's four great river valley grasslands, covered with wildflowers in June.
2. 💧 Sayram Lake: The highest alpine lake in Xinjiang, with crystal blue waters. Golden lotus flowers bloom on the lakeshore in June, and the blue ice spectacle appears in winter.
3. 🍃 Kalajun Grassland: The world's most beautiful "three-dimensional grassland," with wildflowers like a carpet in May and June.
4. 🥾 Shata Ancient Trail: A paradise for hiking enthusiasts, offering close-up views of glaciers.
5. 💜 Huo City Lavender: China's largest lavender base, with peak bloom from mid-June to early July.
6. 🏡 Qiongkushitai: A primitive pastoral village with wooden houses beneath snow mountains.
7. ☯️ Tekes Bagua City: The world's only large-scale, architecturally intact Bagua (Eight Trigrams) city.
8. 🌉 Guozigou Bridge: A spectacular canyon bridge, an excellent spot for photographing snow mountains and the bridge together.

🚗 Transportation

· Major transport: Fly to Yining Airport, or first arrive in Urumqi and then transfer by plane or train (about 12 hours) to Yining.
· Local transport: Attractions in Yili are scattered; renting a car for self-driving (about 300 RMB/day) or hiring a car with a driver (7-seat business van about 800 RMB/day) is more convenient. Some scenic spots have shuttle buses, but the frequency is limited.

🍜 Food recommendations

· Hand-pulled mutton: Boiled lamb in clear water, original flavor.
· Baked buns: Crispy pastry wrapped with lamb chunks, fragrant and delicious.
· Peppery chicken: Local specialty, spicy and numbing.
· Handmade ice cream: Rich milky flavor, often served with jam and nuts.
· Kvass: A special honey-fermented drink.

📝 Itinerary suggestions

· Classic 5-day tour:
· Day 1: Gather in Yining - Kazanqi Folk Village - Liuxing Street
· Day 2: Yining - Circle Sayram Lake - Guozigou Bridge - Stay in Yining
· Day 3: Yining - Huo City Lavender - Tekes Bagua City
· Day 4: Tekes - Kalajun Grassland / Nalati Grassland
· Day 5: Return or choose to explore Qiongkushitai, Shata Ancient Trail, or other places for an in-depth experience.
· 7-day in-depth tour: Based on the 5-day itinerary, add Qiongkushitai, Shata Ancient Trail, Tangbula Grassland, or Duku Highway.

💰 Budget reference (per person per day, for reference only)

· Economy: 400-600 RMB (hostels/standard guesthouses, public transport, simple meals)
· Comfortable: 600-900 RMB (comfortable hotels, some car hire or carpooling, local food experiences)
· Premium: Over 900 RMB (specialty guesthouses or high-standard hotels, car hire with driver, in-depth experiences)

⚠️ Notes

· Required documents: Always carry your ID card; some border areas (such as Horgos Port) require a border pass.
· Climate and clothing: Xinjiang has large temperature differences between day and night; even in summer, bring warm outerwear (such as a windbreaker or light down jacket). Strong sunlight means you must protect yourself from sunburn (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses).
· Cash preparation: Some remote grassland areas or scenic spots may have poor signal; it is recommended to carry sufficient cash.
· Respect customs: Respect local ethnic minority customs, for example, do not bring or eat pork in halal restaurants, and do not take photos of local residents (especially women and elders) without permission.
· Eco-friendly travel: Protect the environment and do not litter.

I hope this guide helps you preliminarily plan your Yili trip. If you want to know more about any aspect, such as detailed activities at a specific attraction, detailed introductions to local delicacies, or seasonal clothing advice, just let me know.