Ten-Day North Xinjiang Road Trip for National Day 2021

Overall Itinerary

Time: October 2021

Day	Date	Destination	Transport	Accommodation – not recommended except in Shihezi 😂
0	09.30	Shanghai → Ürümqi	—	Ürümqi South Airlines Pearl International Hotel
1	10.01	Ürümqi	—	Ürümqi South Airlines Pearl International Hotel
2	10.02	Ürümqi → Keketohai	400 km, ~3 h	Keketohai Kexin Hotel
3	10.03	Keketohai → Burqin	270 km, ~4 h	Burqin July Holiday Hotel
4	10.04	Burqin → Kanas	145 km, ~3 h	Kanas Xingyu Guesthouse
5	10.05	Kanas → Hemu	86 km, ~3 h	Hemu Qionglu Villa Guesthouse (budget‑friendly)
6	10.06	Hemu → Karamay	500 km, ~7 h	Karamay Mayitake Hotel
7	10.07	Karamay → Shihezi	300 km, ~3 h	Shihezi AIPAI International Hotel (highly recommended, best value)
8	10.08	Shihezi → Ürümqi	150 km, ~3 h	Ürümqi Mingyuan New Era Grand Hotel
9	10.09	Ürümqi	—	Ürümqi Airport Hilton Hampton Hotel
10	10.10	Ürümqi → Shanghai	—	—

Car‑rental rates are steep during the “Golden Week”; for two people in one car the cost is roughly ¥10,000 each. I’ll sort out the exact breakdown when I’m in the mood—this was a long time ago, and archaeology is hard 😂

Attached is a picture from Xiaohongshu

Day 0 Shanghai → Ürümqi

Day 1 Ürümqi

Days 1 and 9 were both spent inside Ürümqi city, without leaving the urban area. I visited parks, museums, an art gallery, and the Grand Bazaar.

The Xinjiang Museum houses mummies—highly recommended for the curious! The International Grand Bazaar was more fun than I expected, and I bought a few souvenirs.

The nearby Tian Shan Heavenly Lake is said to be beautiful, but due to time and weather we didn’t fit it in—maybe next time.

Hongshan Park

I had planned to photograph Ürümqi’s skyline and sunset from Hongshan Park, but the weather didn’t cooperate. Below is a classic spot: left is the “cinematic” shot I saw online (removed for copyright), right is my own photo 😄

Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum

In 2021 you had to book in advance via the official WeChat account; it’s hard to get a slot during peak season, so plan ahead.

Seeing mummies for the first time was surreal, and while gazing at them I felt a strange sense of time travel. Imagine: a person from a thousand years ago never imagined they’d be displayed for thousands of modern eyes, and we wonder who will remember us a millennium from now.

There were also some oddly shaped clay figurines. I’m no expert—just a layperson enjoying the spectacle 😄. I was also oddly fascinated by a dome and took many, many photos.

Xinjiang Art Museum

The art museum wasn’t on the original plan; after the museum bookings filled up, I wandered in here and was glad I did. The paintings can be summed up in one phrase: “Beautiful, beautiful, truly beautiful,” reminding me of Li Juan’s literary depictions of Xinjiang—though the real scenery is even more stunning 😂

Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar

“Bazaar” literally means market. I’d only intended a casual stroll, but it turned out to be far more entertaining, offering a glimpse of the various ethnic cultures.

• Naan Museum
• Minority‑style homes, décor, instruments
• “Avanti” and “Grandpa Ken” characters in the bazaar

Food Recommendations

• Skewers and yellow noodles

• Haierbag Restaurant Meidu (splendid décor)

Day 2 Ürümqi → Keketohai

Scenic Drive Northward

We set off in drizzling rain, even encountering a brief downpour; fortunately the rain eased as we headed north. Then the sky opened up to brilliant blue and white clouds—absolutely breathtaking.

Keketohai Scenic Area

Early the next morning we left for Keketohai. Just before entering the park, I snapped a quick photo while following the traffic flow to a parking spot.

The Keketohai area is extensive; a shuttle bus is required inside. When we first entered it was still autumn, but deeper into the park we encountered snow ❄️.

At the bus terminus, walking a bit further brings you to the most stunning scenery—definitely worth the extra trek.

⟟TOK23⟧

Bonus – What “goose‑feather” Snow Looks Like

After arriving in Keketohai town we stopped at a small shop for fried noodles; stepping outside we were greeted by snowfall ❄️. The “goose‑feather” snow fell so heavily that within minutes it coated the car windows, giving me, a northerner, my first real taste of such snow.

Day 3 Keketohai → Burqin

Hitting the Road to Burqin

After finishing the Keketohai park in the morning, we headed straight for Burqin. The greatest surprise of a Xinjiang road trip is the ever‑changing scenery; you never know what view awaits around the next bend.

Bonus – A Different Kind of Guesthouse

We booked a “Starry Night” guesthouse that looked great but was uncomfortable (cold weather, limited heating, insufficient hot water, and even some spiders 🕷️).

We also tried a caravan‑style stay; the distant houses were part of a guesthouse zone, and staying there made me marvel at the spectacular landscape.

The surroundings of the guesthouse were quite picturesque.

Bonus – Unexpected Charcoal Fire

A spontaneous shot of a restaurant’s charcoal fire revealed a uniquely striking look.

Day 4 Kanas – “God’s Eye”

From the guesthouse area we took a ferry to Kanas Scenic Area; we visited twice, once in the afternoon and once in the morning. I personally think the afternoon light is more beautiful, while the morning’s lingering mist gives a softer feel.

Guanyutai (Fish‑Viewing Platform)

After buying tickets we took the ferry to Guanyutai. I thought the climb up offered great views, but the lake itself was less striking due to the lighting.

Moon Bay

Moon Bay is Kanas’s most famous and photogenic spot; it convinced me that the stunning photos are not Photoshop tricks. There are two additional bends, but in my opinion the first bend is enough—the others are less essential.

Bonus – The Motorbike‑Riding Camper

Early morning at the parking lot I met a guy packing up his tent, only to discover he’d been touring Xinjiang on a motorcycle. I admired his freedom and his courage to camp out in near‑freezing temperatures.

Day 5 Hemu, Oh Hemu

After leaving Kanas we drove to Hemu; the distance isn’t huge, but the drive still takes a while.

Snow‑Covered Hemu

Snow transforms Hemu into a misty wonderland. These photos are among my favorites of 2023.

Bonus – Snow‑Streaked Journey Out of Hemu

Leaving Hemu amid a snowy landscape.

Bonus – Let’s Eat First

The lamb hot‑pot at this village restaurant is truly delicious.

Day 6 Karamay

“Wild” Devil’s City

We didn’t go into the official Devil’s City scenic spot; instead we roamed the surrounding area, jokingly calling it a “wild Devil’s City.”

Black Oil Mountain

When in Karamay, a visit to the oil fields is a must.

Colorful Beach

To catch the sunset at Colorful Beach you must time it right. We missed it; the picture below is from a friend’s social‑media post, so let’s pretend I was there 😄

Bonus – Cotton Fields

Endless rows of cotton fields—makes me want to pick a boll myself.

Day 7 Shihezi

Our original plan was to go to Nalati, but due to the pandemic we rerouted to Shihezi and then back to Ürümqi. Shihezi once served as the headquarters of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, you know the drill.

Day and Night in Shihezi

We drove straight through with no sightseeing stops, so no photos of attractions. We arrived after dark; the city’s size and bustle were only faintly perceptible until sunrise revealed its true character.

In the distance the snow‑capped mountains are the Tian Shan range. A hotel staff member proudly told me, “That’s our Mother Mountain—Tian Shan.”

Day 8 Shihezi → Ürümqi

The return trip to Ürümqi was another day on the road, but the scenery along the way was a welcome consolation, washing away the fatigue.

Four Seasons in One Drive

From snow‑capped peaks down to grazing livestock at the foothills, we passed through all four seasons in a single day.

Day 10 Views from the Plane

Day 9 was a full day exploring Ürümqi city.

Day 10: Homeward bound!!

The aerial scenery was stunning; I kept filming nonstop.

Final Bonus

A wave of nostalgia! The itinerary card captured everything about Xinjiang.

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Originally written by Estela Young and published in Chinese on 一只产品汪的自白. Translated and edited for DriftSeas with permission.