Itinerary · 7 days · active
Xinjiang — Tianchi Lake and Northern Grasslands, 7 days
Urumqi and the Kazakh grasslands north of the Tian Shan: Heavenly Lake Tianchi, Nalati meadows, Kanas Lake in the Altai, and the night-market culture of Urumqi.
China Visit Guide
Xinjiang — Tianchi Lake and Northern Grasslands, 7 days
Northern Xinjiang (北疆) is a different world from the desert Silk Road to the south. The Tian Shan mountains shelter alpine meadows grazed by Kazakh herders; Kanas Lake in the Altai Mountains forms part of a nature reserve that borders Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. This seven-day itinerary covers the alpine north before returning to Urumqi.
Day by day
Day 1 · urumqi
Arrival Urumqi, Xinjiang Regional Museum, Grand Bazaar
Arrive Urumqi (乌鲁木齐). Xinjiang Regional Museum — the star exhibit is a set of Bronze Age Tarim Basin mummies with European-adjacent physical features and plaid textiles, now dated to around 2000 BCE. International Grand Bazaar: the largest bazaar in Northwest China, with Uyghur bread (naan), dried fruit, and spice stalls.
Stay in: Urumqi city centre.
Day 2 · urumqi
Day trip to Heavenly Lake Tianchi
Day trip by bus to Tianchi (天池, Heavenly Lake) — an alpine lake at 1,910m in the Tian Shan, surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Cruise option across the lake. Kazakh yurt camps on the western shore offer horse riding and lunch. Return to Urumqi by evening.
Attractions: heavenly-lake-tianchi
Stay in: Urumqi.
Day 3 · yining
Fly west to Yining, Kazakh cultural area
Morning flight west to Yining (伊宁, also called Ghulja) near the Kazakhstan border. Yining is known for its lavender fields (June–July), the oldest Kazakh cultural districts, and its Russian-influenced early 20th-century architecture. Afternoon in the old city.
Stay in: Yining city.
Flight Urumqi → Yining, 1h, ¥300–500.
Day 4 · nalati
Drive to Nalati Grassland
Road east to Nalati Meadow (那拉提草原) — alpine grassland at 1,600–3,000m grazed by Kazakh families on summer migration. Cable car for panoramic views. Afternoon horse riding across genuine open meadow. Dinner in a yurt.
Stay in: Nalati yurt camp or nearby guesthouse.
Road Yining → Nalati, 2.5h.
Day 5 · kanas
Fly north to Kanas Lake
Fly or road north to Kanas Nature Reserve in the Altai Mountains. Kanas Lake — a glacially carved lake of notable depth with turquoise water; the area has endemic wildlife and borders the three-country corner with Russia and Mongolia.
Stay in: Kanas scenic area lodge.
Flight Yining → Kanas (Burqin), 2h; or road via Altay, 5h.
Day 6 · kanas
Kanas boat, Hemu village, Tuvan community
Boat across Kanas Lake. Walk to Hemu Village (禾木) — a Tuvan community (Russian-adjacent Turkic people) living in log cabins and herding reindeer. The village has the highest concentration of white birch trees visible from a single viewpoint in China.
Stay in: Kanas or Hemu village guesthouse.
Day 7 · urumqi
Return to Urumqi, night market, departure
Fly back to Urumqi. Evening at the Erdaoqiao Night Market — Xinjiang lamb skewers, pomegranate juice, and Uyghur samsa pastry. Depart from Urumqi Diwopu International Airport.
Flight Kanas/Burqin → Urumqi 2h, ¥400; then international or domestic onward.
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥5500 |
| Mid-range | ¥12000 |
| Comfortable | ¥22000 |
Per person 7 days. Internal flights approximately ¥2,500–3,000. Kanas area entrance ¥200. Yurt accommodation ¥150–400/night. North Xinjiang is geographically large — private vehicle for Kanas is cost-effective for groups.
Cities covered
Attractions covered
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