The Ultimate Guide to Self-Driving in Xinjiang: The Beautiful Grasslands from June to September
Let’s get to the point
On this self-driving trip in Xinjiang, I turned the best route in Yili from June to September into a 9-day itinerary: Urumqi—Kuitun—Nalati—Tekes—Zhaosu—Yining—Sayram Lake—Jinghe—Urumqi. Grasslands + canyons + snow-capped mountains + big bridges all in one go, driving 2 to 6 hours each day, feels best with 4 people, just need a map and a checklist to set off. Here’s a snapshot of us waiting to pick up the “black tank 300, choose one” at Urumqi airport:
Let’s talk about the preparation: rental car + team + gear
- Rental car: Once you land at Urumqi airport, book an SUV/Tank 300 on the app, definitely call to confirm the color; the black I picked does not photograph well, I suggest white/orange/military green.
- Team: We had 4 people, 2 could drive, so we could switch it up on the road; if only one driver, I recommend a 7-seater van, so the back can be used for sleeping.
- Gear: Sunglasses, a rain jacket, disposable bed sheets, a thermos, a drone, a car air pump. The temperature in Xinjiang varies greatly, from 26°C during the day to 10°C at night in June to September, so a rain jacket is essential.
I’ll write down the actual sequence of pitfalls I experienced.
Day 1 ｜Urumqi → S101 → Kuitun/Dushanzi
Picked up the car at 10 AM and headed straight to S101 National Defense Road. The total distance was 308 km, took 8 hours of driving—full of bumpy roads + yardang landforms, we stopped at Deer Horn Bay Ranch for free parking and photos; the scenery is 5-star, but there's almost no cell signal.
- 🏨 Stay: Choose Kuitun, it's convenient with more hotels and restaurants; Dushanzi is closer but has fewer and pricier options.
- 💡 Book in advance, peak season in July and August fills up fast.
Day 2 ｜Kuitun → North section of Duku Highway → Nalati
"Expect traffic on the first day of the north section." Follow the "Wusu Traffic Police" on Douyin for real-time updates. We left at 6:30 AM and ended up taking 7 hours for the 260 km drive, finally reaching Nalati Town at 1 PM. There’s a must-stop at Hashilegen Pass for an ice wall photo op, the wind is as sharp as a knife, so bundle up well.
- 🏨 Stay in Nalati or Jiomlama:
- Want to visit Tangbula Grassland? Stay in Jiomlama;
- Want to see the Sky Grassland? Stay in Nalati Town; prices start from around 200 yuan a night, it's a bit pricey but convenient.
Here’s a quick shot from the 8 km traffic jam on Duku Highway:
Day 3 ｜Nalati vs Tangbula, which to choose?
For the money spending route (which we took): self-drive to the Sky Grassland in the morning, entry fee is 200 yuan; then at 2 PM, cross 4 mountain passes on the Duku middle section and get to Tekes Bagua City by evening; total distance is 250 km / 4 hours.
- Save? Not really: skip Nalati the next day and take a detour to Tangbula Grassland, then head straight from Tangbula to Tekes on the third day, overall saving 600 yuan+, plus the scenery is wilder.
Day 4 ｜Tekes → Kalajun → Zhaosu
In the morning, navigate to “Kalajun self-drive entrance,” entrance fee is 160 yuan; this 160 km grassland loop lets you snap pictures of cows and horses along the way.
In the afternoon, add a visit to Kokesu Grand Canyon (another 75 yuan), aerial shots of the canyon are like a green silk ribbon tied in knots.
After dinner at Tekes, we headed to Zhaosu; during the Zhaosu Tianma Festival, hotel prices double, book a week in advance.
Day 5 ｜Zhaosu
In the morning, visit the Xiata Ancient Road: round trip via shuttle + electric vehicle + 4 km of hiking, the snow-capped mountains are in your face, the drone can fly, but don’t forget your ID.
In the evening at 7 PM, catch the Tianma River Bathing Horse performance at Zhaosu Wetland Park, it’s free but you have to grab a spot starting at 5:30; if you don’t want to be in the sun, you can skip this one.
Day 6 ｜Yizhao Highway → Yining
Yizhao Highway is slightly smaller than Duku, 100 km in 3 hours, it's winding but offers great views. In the afternoon, check out Han Street in Yining, I recommend 3 spots:
- Qingzhi Kou·Xinjiang General Cuisine for hand-grabbed lamb + black rice filled you up;
- Aibaosake for milk tea with handmade buns;
- Maimaitisha’s son for a rice dish restaurant, 8 yuan a bowl.
- 🏨 Stay in Yining City: can get a suite for around 200 yuan, great value.
Day 7 ｜Lavender Fields → Guozi Gorge Bridge → Sayram Lake
Left at 9 AM; the lavender fields are right next to Yining, Worry-Free Princess Farm entrance fee is 35 yuan, so purple it gives you a headache.
By noon, went to Guozi Gorge Golden Peak Viewing Platform to shoot the big bridge, but it was so windy that the tripod wouldn't even stand.
In the afternoon, settled in at Sayram Lake east gate yurt/wood cabin, in peak season from June to September it’s 500 yuan+, or if you think that's too expensive, you can stay in Jinghe for 150 yuan.
Day 8 ｜Sayram Lake deep relaxation
Drive a leisurely 90 km around the lake, going counterclockwise for fewer people: take pictures of swans at the water’s edge, sailboats at Moon Bay, and panoramic views from Pine Tree Hill.
Head out before 10 AM to catch the soft light of the rising sun. At 5 PM, drive 150 km to Jinghe; at night, enjoy big plate chicken in Jinghe, then hit the highway back to Urumqi at 9 AM, 500 km/7 hours.
Here’s a shot of Sayram Lake at 5 PM, the mirror-like blue is even more stunning in real life:
Day 9 ｜Half a day in Urumqi
Catch an early bus to Urumqi, return the car in the morning (take a picture as a record, fill the tank before return).
At noon, go to Linguan Alley for Masen BBQ + Hotan Ice Yogurt, and grab some local specialties: dried apricots, black goji berries, naan. In the afternoon, you can either catch a flight or stay one more night.
Summary table: 9-day self-drive itinerary
| Day | Route | Distance/Time | Where to Stay | Ticket/Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | Urumqi-S101-Kuitun | 308 km/8h | Kuitun budget hotel | S101 free |
| Day2 | Kuitun-Duku North-Nalati | 260 km/7h | Nalati Town | Duku Ice Wall |
| Day3 | Nalati-Tekes | 250 km/4h | Bagua City specialty guesthouse | 200 yuan Sky Grassland |
| Day4 | Tekes-Kalajun-Zhaosu | 300 km/6h | Zhaosu county hotel | 160 yuan Kalajun |
| Day5 | Zhaosu-Xiata Ancient Road-Yining | 150 km/3h | Yining City | Free Tianma River Bathing Horse |
| Day6 | Yining-Lavender-Guozi Gorge-Sayram Lake | 230 km/4h | Yurt in scenic area or Jinghe | 35 yuan Lavender, free photos at Guozi Gorge |
| Day7 | Sayram Lake loop | 90 km/1d | Same as above | 100 yuan entrance fee |
| Day8 | Jinghe-Urumqi | 500 km/7h | Hotel near airport | 120 yuan highway toll |
| Day9 | Within Urumqi | Flexible | Can book or fly | Return car + food |
Three final reminders
- Fuel: Fill up, gas stations are 1.5 hours apart, carry cash.
- Speed limit: The cameras are dense across the region, navigation speed warnings are more accurate than looking at the speedometer.
- Drones: No flying in cities, but you can fly freely in grasslands and snow mountains, just remember to bring extra batteries.
Take this list and you’re all set to go!