Enchanting Xinjiang, North-South Tour—9-Day 8-Night Complete Travel Guide

A 561-kilometer highway connects northern and southern Xinjiang, combining canyons, grasslands, snow mountains, glaciers, deserts, and gobi all in one route with endless scenery: from canyon grasslands to magnificent plateaus, enjoy the different landscapes of northern and southern Xinjiang with this detailed 9-day 8-night guide. Save it now!!! 🛬【Itinerary】: D1: Gather in Urumqi D2: Urumqi-Hundred-Mile Danxia S101 Scenic Highway-Anjihai Grand Canyon-Stay in Kuitun D3: Kuitun-Northern Section of Duku Highway-Qiaoerma-Bayinbuluk Grassland-Stay in Bayin Town D4: Bayin Town-Southern Section of Duku Highway-Kuqa Grand Canyon-Stay in Kuqa D5: Kuqa-Kuqa King's Palace-Wensu Grand Canyon-Stay in Aksu D6: Aksu-Visit Guli's Home in Kashgar-Kashgar Old City (Trip Moments)-Stay in Kashgar D7: Kashgar-White Sand Lake-Karakul Lake-Taheman Wetland-Stay in Tashkurgan D8: Tashkurgan-Pamir Scenic Area (Golden Grassland, Stone City)-Panlong Ancient Road-Visit a Tajik Family-Stay in Kashgar D9: Explore Kashgar Old City-Free Time-Departure According to Flight Schedule ⛺【Must-Visit Attractions】: Cross the Duku Highway: Known as the "Hero's Road," the Duku Highway stretches 561 kilometers from Dushanzi to Kuqa. Like a giant dragon crossing the Tianshan Mountains, it connects snow mountains, forests, grasslands, and deserts, allowing travelers to experience four seasons in one day, making it one of China's most magnificent highways. Stroll through Bayinbuluk: The Nine Curves and Eighteen Bends formed on the Bayinbuluk Grassland create winding river channels. At sunset, the river reflects the sun's rays, forming the magnificent "Nine Suns" spectacle. Visit Kuqa King's Palace: The palace blends Han Chinese culture with Uyghur architectural styles of Xinjiang, plus Russian architectural elements, showcasing a fusion of diverse cultures. It was once the residence of 12 generations of hereditary "Kuqa Kings," where visitors can learn about the kings' historical lives and local history and culture. 🍩【Must-Try Foods】: 🍛Big Plate Chicken: Definitely Xinjiang's signature dish, with tender and juicy chicken intertwined with potatoes, green peppers, and other ingredients, creating a rich flavor that lingers. 🍲Spicy Numbing Chicken: Fragrant with pepper and moderately spicy-numbing, each bite is an ultimate temptation to your taste buds, making it hard to resist. 🍖Roasted Meat: Lamb rolling over charcoal fire, with aroma spreading everywhere, slightly charred on the outside and juicy inside. One bite fills your mouth with the flavor of meat, creating an overwhelming sense of happiness. 🍮Yogurt Zongzi: A Xinjiang specialty dessert, a perfect combination of glutinous rice and yogurt, paired with homemade jam. It's sweet and sour, soft and sweet—definitely a blessing for glutinous rice lovers. 🍝Fried Rice Noodles: Xinjiang rice noodles are famous for their unique texture and rich ingredients. Not eating rice noodles means you haven't truly visited Xinjiang! 🏨【Photo Spots】: Hundred-Mile Danxia Viewing Platform: The most colorful section of Provincial Road 101, where you can capture the seven-colored rocks; there's also a viewing platform in the middle to see the Camel Peak (highly recommended to bring a drone for shooting) White Sand Lake Viewing Platform: Enjoy the scenery where the lake surface and snow mountains reflect each other, with layers of clouds in the sky casting shadows on the distant snow mountains, gradually changing with the wind Karakul Lake Viewing Platform: Karakul Lake is known as the "Color-Changing Lake." To the east is the majestic Muztagh Peak, and to the west are the rolling Sarikol Mountains. The color of the lake changes with seasons and time, from blue to black, offering a new surprise every moment! 🚌【Transportation Tips】: Vehicle Restrictions: Only vehicles with 7 seats or fewer are allowed, with speed limits of 40-60 km/h throughout the journey The Duku Highway has complex road conditions, so stay alert while driving and avoid driving when tired or at night 🧡【Tips】: ⚠️Xinjiang's climate is changeable with large temperature differences between day and night. Even in summer, nights can be quite cool. So be sure to bring a thick jacket 🧥 just in case. During the day, the sun is strong, so sun-protective clothing, sun hats 👒, sunglasses 🕶, and sunscreen are essential. ⚠️Xinjiang has many delicious foods, but some travelers might not be used to the taste of beef and lamb. You can try small portions first and gradually adapt. Also, pay attention to food hygiene and avoid buying and eating uncertified food products. Drink plenty of water, as Xinjiang's climate is dry and can cause internal heat 😜. ⚠️Xinjiang is a region where multiple ethnic groups live together, and it's very important to respect local religious beliefs and customs. When entering mosques and other religious sites, follow relevant regulations and avoid wearing revealing clothing 🙅‍♀️.