Xinjiang Yili Summer Itinerary: Escape the Heat and Admire Flowers (June–September)

Once a northern route of the ancient Silk Road, it bears witness to Zhang Qian's expeditions to the Western Regions. Today, the Duku Highway's precipitousness, the Yili River Valley's splendor, and the smoke rising from Kazakh herdsmen's yurts together weave a beautiful tapestry of Sayram Lake, "the last tear of the Atlantic," and the Narat Grassland, the "sky grassland." If you travel between June and August, you'll encounter purple lavender fields, golden rapeseed flower fields, and the Duku Highway's seasonal changes, experiencing the magical "four seasons in a day, different scenery every ten miles." —— 🛬【Itinerary】 D1: Arrive in Urumqi D2: Urumqi – Baili Danxia Provincial Road S101 – Anjihai Grand Canyon – Stay in Kuitun D3: Kuitun – Duku Highway Qiao'erma – Narat Sky Grassland – Snow Lotus Valley – Stay in Narat D4: Narat – Kuerdening Spruce Forest – Afternoon Tea – Bagua City Liji Street – Tekes D5: Qiongkushitai (Horse riding + Wusun light hiking + Visiting Kazakh families) – Stay in Kazakh wooden house D6: Qiongkushitai – Tianma Bathing River – Zhaosu Rapeseed Flowers (July and August) – Zhaosu County D7: Zhaosu – Shata Ancient Road Light Hike – Yizhao Highway (July and August) – Kazanqi Old Town – Yining D8: Yining – Huocheng Lavender (June and July) – Sayram Lake – Stay at Sayram Lake D9: Sayram Lake – Bole/Urumqi Return Trip —— ⛺【Must-Visit Attractions】 ⭐Duku Highway: China's most beautiful highway, experience desert, snow mountains, and grasslands in a single day. Play in the snow in midsummer at the Halziger Daban, and listen to the stories of 168 martyrs told by the road-building veterans at Qiao'erma. ⭐Narat Sky Grassland: One of the world's four largest alpine grasslands. Ride a horse through Snow Lotus Valley to touch the glaciers, and in the evening, watch the light and shadow spill onto the Kazakh yurts like an oil painting. ⭐Qiongkushitai Back Mountain: An uncommercialized, primitive village. Hike for 2 hours to reach the snow mountain swing, as if stepping into a scene from the movie *Heidi*. ⭐Sayram Lake: The final stop for warm and humid air currents from the Atlantic Ocean. The lake water changes from blue to green with the light. Drive around the lake and encounter swans, flower seas, and S-curve highway blockbusters. ⭐Shata Ancient Road: An ancient glacier road that Xuanzang traveled through to obtain scriptures. Hike to Xianhua Terrace, where Muzart Glacier is close at hand, as shocking as *The Lord of the Rings*. —— 🍩【Must-Eat Foods】 🔴Urumqi Roasted Buns: Crispy crust and tender meat, the crust is soaked in mutton fat, bursting with juice in one bite, paired with brick tea to relieve greasiness. 🔴Kuitun Shawan Big Plate Chicken: Soft potatoes soaked in gravy, the belt noodles dipped in chili sauce are the soul, a benchmark for Xinjiang cuisine portions. 🔴Tekes Mutton Chop Noodles: Mutton chops stewed until tender, hand-pulled noodles, refreshing and appetizing sour radish soup base. 🔴Zhaosu Grassland Yogurt: No additives, thick milk skin on the surface, sprinkled with white sugar or jam, sweet and sour. —— 🚌【Transportation Guide】 👉Recommended methods: Chartered car or group tour 👉Vehicle selection: Priority given to Tank 300/5-seater SUV (Qiongkushitai dirt road, Duku has many bends requiring a high chassis); 👉Refueling strategy: Fill up at every gas station! There are no gas stations on the 200 km section from Narat → Bayinbuluke; 👉Navigation tools: Gaode Map (download Xinjiang offline package in advance) + local driver WeChat groups for directions. ⚠️Dangerous road sections: Duku Highway: Drive slowly when meeting cars on the Halziger Daban bends, and do not overtake against traffic; Yizhao Highway: Many rockfalls on the Bai Shifeng cliff section, do not stop at will; Qiongkushitai: The last 30 km is a corrugated road, which is easy to slip on in rainy weather. New drivers are advised to charter a car. —— 🧡【Tips】 ❗Documents: Bring your ID card with you (checked 5+ times a day), no need to apply for a border pass (Shata is now open); ❗Clothing: Short sleeves + windbreaker + sunscreen clothing, wear a light down jacket in the early morning at Sayram Lake; ❗Time: Xinjiang time is 2 hours later, most scenic spots close at 20:00, but sunset is around 22:00; ❗Culture: Do not take pictures inside mosques, and do not step on the threshold when visiting Kazakh yurts; ❗Emergency: Bring cash (no signal in Shata), stomach medicine (mutton is greasy), and lip balm (dryness).