Snow Fairy Tale of Xinjiang｜11-Day Winter Tour: Kanas, Hemu, Sayram Lake & Nalati
I. Basic Travel Information
- Duration: 11 days and 10 nights, starting and ending in Urumqi.
- Group size: Small-group arrangements for 2–6 travelers.
- Accommodation: Locally rated 4-diamond hotels and guesthouses, including one night in a Hemu wooden cabin and one guesthouse night in Kanas / Jiadengyu.
- Transportation: A private vehicle for nine touring days, plus arrival and departure airport transfers. Scenic-area shuttles are used where required.
- Service: Driver coordination and brief introductions. A dedicated tour guide is not included; English-language support requires separate confirmation.
- Highlights: Heavenly Lake, Jiangjun Mountain, Hemu, Kanas and its three bays, Wuerhe Ghost City, Sayram Lake, Yining and Nalati’s winter grassland.
II. Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 · Arrival in Urumqi
Route: Urumqi Airport → hotel → free time
Arrive in the gateway to northern Xinjiang and ease into the rhythm of your winter journey.
Arrival: Meet your arranged airport transfer and check into your hotel. The first day is reserved for rest, acclimatization and any supplies you need for the days ahead; no guided sightseeing is scheduled.
Your First Taste of Xinjiang
If your flight arrives early, you may independently visit the Xinjiang Museum or explore the International Grand Bazaar, subject to opening hours and any reservation requirements. Brick towers, busy stalls and the aroma of baked buns offer a first introduction to Urumqi. Local yogurt and freshly baked bread are suggestions for your own dining time.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
Day 2 · Heavenly Lake & Jiangjun Mountain Sunset
Route: Urumqi → Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) → Altay → Jiangjun Mountain cable car
A day of alpine lake scenery and a journey north toward the snowy mountains of Altay.
Lake visit: Travel to Tianchi to see the winter landscape beneath the Tianshan Mountains. Snow-dusted spruce trees and mountain slopes frame the alpine lake. The scenic-area admission and shuttle are included in the planned arrangements.
From Snowy Peaks to Blue Hour
Later: Continue to Altay and take the Jiangjun Mountain cable car when operating. The planned experience includes the summit sunset atmosphere and evening music gathering, according to the resort’s schedule.
This day combines substantial road travel with sightseeing. Departure time, the lake visit and the cable-car slot must be coordinated with winter road conditions and daylight; sunset and events depend on actual arrival and resort operation.
Meals: Hotel breakfast included; lunch and dinner at your own expense.
Day 3 · Jiangjun Mountain Skiing & Hemu Village
Route: Altay → Jiangjun Mountain → Hemu scenic-area shuttle → Hemu Village
Move from the ski slopes of Altay to an overnight stay among Hemu’s wooden houses.
Morning: Spend approximately half a day at Jiangjun Mountain. Skiing is optional, and ski admission, equipment and any coaching are paid separately. Travelers who prefer not to ski may spend time nearby and meet the group at the agreed departure time.
A Village Wrapped in Snow
Afternoon: Continue to Hemu and transfer to the scenic-area shuttle. Walk among wooden cabins, snowy lanes and birch trees, with the river adding a quiet contrast to the winter scene.
Evening: Settle into your Hemu wooden cabin. Join the village bonfire gathering if it is held; the exact time and availability follow scenic-area announcements.
Meals: Hotel breakfast included before departure from Altay; lunch and dinner at your own expense.
Day 4 · Hemu Morning Mist, Photography & Sleigh Ride
Route: Hemu sunrise → light travel photography → horse-drawn sleigh → Kanas / Jiadengyu
Make time for Hemu’s morning light before continuing toward the Kanas region.
Morning: Look for mist and sunrise over the village, weather permitting. The included light photography experience offers one set of ethnic-style clothing; makeup and styling are not included.
Across the Snowfields
Experience a traditional horse-drawn sleigh ride, planned for approximately one hour. The photography and sleigh activities are complimentary items and are not refundable if unused; operation depends on local conditions.
Afternoon: Leave Hemu and travel toward Kanas / Jiadengyu for a guesthouse overnight. The next day is devoted to Kanas Lake and its river bays.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at your own expense.
Day 5 · Kanas Lake, the Three Bays & Burqin
Route: Jiadengyu → Kanas Lake by shuttle → Fairy Bay → Moon Bay → Wolong Bay → Burqin
Follow the river through one of northern Xinjiang’s most memorable winter landscapes.
Morning: Enter the Kanas scenic area by shuttle and visit Kanas Lake. Continue to the viewpoints of Fairy Bay, Moon Bay and Wolong Bay. Morning mist, flowing water and snow-covered forests offer different scenes as the light changes.
Along the Kanas River
When paths are open and conditions permit, the walking route between Moon Bay and Wolong Bay is a rewarding way to take in the river. Use accessible viewpoints and the shuttle where winter restrictions apply.
Afternoon and evening: Travel to Burqin. Explore the town’s evening atmosphere and, if operating, its riverside night market. Local cold-water fish is a suggested specialty; dinner is at your own expense.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at your own expense.
Day 6 · Wuerhe Ghost City & the Road to Kuitun
Route: Burqin → Wuerhe Ghost City → Karamay oilfield scenery en route → Kuitun
Trade snowy forests for the sculpted earth and open horizons of western Xinjiang.
Sightseeing: Explore Wuerhe Ghost City, where wind erosion has shaped the yardang landscape into towers, ridges and fortress-like silhouettes. The changing light reveals the warm tones and textures of the rock.
A Different Side of Northern Xinjiang
On the road: Look out for the pumpjacks of the Karamay oilfields as you continue toward Kuitun. This is scenery viewed en route rather than an industrial-facility visit.
Evening: Check into your Kuitun hotel and enjoy time to rest.
Meals: Hotel breakfast included; lunch and dinner at your own expense.
Day 7 · Sayram Lake Circuit & Afternoon Tea
Route: Kuitun → Sayram Lake circuit → lakeside afternoon tea → east-gate hotel
Spend a full day around Sayram Lake, with time for lakeside stops and an afternoon tea experience.
Today: Travel to Sayram Lake and follow the planned vehicle circuit, approximately 92 kilometres when the full route is open. Stop at permitted viewpoints for the mountain panorama, blue water and seasonal ice.
The Many Blues of Sayram
Suggested stops include the Dianjiangtai and Songshutou viewpoints. Access to individual stops, walks and sections of the lake road depends on snow, weather and scenic-area operation.
Afternoon: Enjoy the planned Sayram Lake afternoon tea. The actual location and refreshments follow local arrangements. Stay outside the east gate, allowing time for another lake visit the following morning.
Meals: Hotel breakfast included; lunch and dinner at your own expense.
Day 8 · Sayram Lake Morning & the Streets of Yining
Route: Sayram Lake second visit → Yining → Kazanqi home visit → Six Star Street
From the stillness of a winter lake to the color and character of the Ili Valley.
Morning: Re-enter Sayram Lake for a relaxed lakeside walk and another look at the winter landscape. This is a second visit, without repeating the full lake circuit.
Blue Houses & Local Hospitality
Continue to Yining and the Kazanqi neighborhood for the planned local home visit. Blue-painted houses and residential lanes introduce another side of Xinjiang. The visit may include local handmade ice cream and jam according to the host’s arrangements.
Explore Six Star Street, whose radiating streets bring together distinctive architecture, small shops and local food. Spend the evening in Yining.
Meals: Hotel breakfast included; lunch and dinner at your own expense.
Day 9 · Nalati’s Snow-Covered Sky Grassland
Route: Yining → Nalati scenic area → Sky Grassland by scenic-area transport → Nalati town
Enter a landscape of open snowfields, forested slopes and the winter peaks of the Tianshan.
After breakfast: Travel from Yining to Nalati. On arrival, use the scenic-area transport to reach the Sky Grassland, subject to winter operating arrangements.
A Grassland Transformed by Winter
Snow blankets the rolling grasslands while spruce forests and mountain ridges frame the horizon. Take time at accessible viewpoints to enjoy the wide landscape and photograph the meeting of snowfields, trees and peaks. Horses may be seen in the wider pastoral landscape, although sightings are not guaranteed.
Stay in Nalati town for the night, ready for the return journey the following day. The exact route and accessible viewpoints depend on snowfall and scenic-area operation.
Meals: Hotel breakfast included; lunch and dinner at your own expense.
Day 10 · Across the Tianshan to Urumqi
Route: Nalati → Tianshan Shengli Tunnel route → Urumqi
Return through mountain country, with winter road scenery along the way.
After breakfast: Leave Nalati for Urumqi. The planned road journey travels via the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel route, with mountain and valley scenery visible along the approach roads.
From Snowy Valleys to the City
This is a travel day. The driver will coordinate the route and stops with current road conditions, winter restrictions and the journey schedule. Tunnel travel is a through-route rather than a scheduled stop inside the tunnel.
Arrive in Urumqi for your final overnight stay. If time permits, you may independently browse for local dried fruit or other souvenirs.
Meals: Hotel breakfast included; lunch and dinner at your own expense.
Day 11 · Departure from Urumqi
Route: Hotel breakfast → Urumqi Airport → onward journey
Leave with memories of snow-covered villages, alpine lakes and the landscapes of the Ili Valley.
Enjoy breakfast and any remaining free time according to your flight schedule. Meet your arranged airport transfer at the confirmed time for your departure from Urumqi.
Please share flight details in advance so the transfer allows for winter traffic and airport check-in. Your eleven-day journey ends today, with no further overnight stay included.
Meals: Hotel breakfast included; other meals at your own expense.
III. Travel Notes
- Snow, ice, daylight and scenic-area operation can affect the visiting order and accessible viewpoints. The Urumqi–Tianchi–Altay day combines substantial road travel with sightseeing and requires careful timing.
- Jiangjun Mountain skiing is optional and paid separately. Travelers who do not ski may spend time nearby before meeting the group at the agreed time.
- Sunrise, morning mist, blue ice and sunset colors depend on weather. Bonfire gatherings and summit events follow local operating schedules.
- Hotel breakfasts are included as arranged. Breakfasts during the Hemu and Kanas / Jiadengyu guesthouse stays are at your own expense unless specifically included in your final confirmation.
- Wear warm layers and insulated footwear with good grip. Share mobility needs and dietary preferences before arrangements are finalized.
- This supplier’s winter itinerary does not accept pregnant travelers or children under three. Minors need a guardian; travelers aged 70–74 need a health certificate and an accompanying direct relative under 60. Travelers aged 75 or above are not accepted for this particular itinerary.
- Route artwork is illustrative. Photographs represent destination scenes and experiences; weather, accommodation and refreshments may differ from the images.
IV. Service Details
Ten Nights of Accommodation
Locally rated 4-diamond hotel or equivalent
Locally rated 4-diamond hotel or equivalent
Wooden cabin or equivalent
Local guesthouse
Locally rated 4-diamond hotels or equivalent
Hotel outside the east gate
Locally rated 4-diamond hotel or equivalent
Locally rated 4-diamond hotel
Accommodation uses local booking-platform rating categories and standard room arrangements. Final hotels and guesthouses are confirmed for your travel dates.
Vehicle & Driver Service
A private business vehicle is arranged for the nine touring days for groups of 2–6, together with airport pick-up and drop-off. Driver accommodation and meal allowances are included. For a two-person group, the plan specifies Chinese-speaking driver service with daily coordination and brief introductions. A dedicated guide is not included; any English-language service requires separate confirmation.
Attractions & Experiences
The listed arrangements include Tianchi admission and shuttle, the Jiangjun Mountain cable car, Hemu admission and shuttle, Kanas admission and shuttle, Wuerhe Ghost City admission, the Sayram Lake vehicle circuit, Nalati admission, the Kazanqi home visit and Sayram Lake afternoon tea. Nalati scenic-area transport arrangements are confirmed for winter operation.
Complimentary Hemu experiences include light travel photography with one set of ethnic-style clothing, without makeup or styling, and approximately one hour of horse-drawn sleigh riding. These complimentary items and the lake afternoon tea are non-refundable if unused. The village bonfire is subject to the scenic area’s schedule.
Meals & Insurance
Hotel breakfasts are included as arranged; guesthouse breakfasts, lunches and dinners are at your own expense unless specified otherwise. Travel-agency liability insurance and travel accident insurance are included under the applicable policy terms.
Not Included
Travel to and from Urumqi, a dedicated tour guide, Jiangjun Mountain ski admission and other skiing expenses, guesthouse breakfasts unless confirmed, regular lunches and dinners, unlisted activities and personal purchases are not included.
Your Xinjiang Winter Journey Starts Here
Tell us your dates, group size and favorite winter experiences. We will confirm your route, accommodation and service arrangements.
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