Just got back from Yili, and I really recommend going there in April or May, because

👫 Yili in April has fewer tourists, which means less crowding and more beautiful scenery! Plus, the apricot blossoms in Yili are blooming at this time, with green grasslands and hillsides covered in a sea of pink flowers, making it a superb spot for taking photos! 📍Must-visit attractions: 1️⃣ Turgenev Apricot Valley - The largest primitive wild apricot forest dating back to the 14th century 2️⃣ Narat - Known as 'Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall', it's hailed as a paradise on earth 3️⃣ Sayram Lake - The last tear of the Atlantic 4️⃣ Daxigou Fushou Mountain Apricot Blossoms - The number one leisure valley with Western Region charm 5️⃣ Dushanzi Grand Canyon - A secret realm of Duku, a spectacle billions of years old 6️⃣ S101 Baili Danxia - 'Tianshan Geographic Scenery Corridor' 📅 Itinerary: Day 1️⃣: Stay in Urumqi Day 2️⃣: Urumqi ➡️ Sayram Lake as the ice and snow begin to melt/ice cap flowers ➡️ Stay at Sayram Lake apartment/hotel Day 3️⃣: Sayram Lake ➡️ Guozigou Bridge ➡️ Turgenev Apricot Valley ➡️ Stay at a Narat guesthouse Day 4️⃣: Narat ➡️ Narat (wild lilies) ➡️ Kazanqi 16 Star Street ➡️ Stay in Yining Day 5️⃣: Yining ➡️ Daxigou Fushou Mountain Apricot Blossoms ➡️ Stay in Kuitun Day 6️⃣: Kuitun ➡️ Dushanzi Grand Canyon ➡️ Kenswat Reservoir ➡️ S101 Baili Danxia ➡️ Stay in Urumqi Day 7️⃣: Urumqi 💡 Travel tips: ✅ It's best to visit Xinjiang during off-peak seasons for a better experience and to save money ✅ Xinjiang has a 2-hour time difference from mainland China, so be mindful of the time when going out for meals or sightseeing ✅ Due to Xinjiang's vast territory, travel times can be long, so bring a power bank as phones may run out of battery ✅ The water in Xinjiang is hard, so it's essential to drink boiled hot water, preferably from a thermos ✅ Xinjiang's climate is dry with long sunshine hours, so remember to stay hydrated and apply sunscreen ✅ Fruits in Xinjiang have a higher sugar content than those in mainland China, so don't eat too much at once ✅ In daily life in Xinjiang, the kilogram is the standard unit of measurement for both fruits and meats ✅ The Duku Highway is generally open from June to October, so don't make a wasted trip, and note that buses are prohibited; only vehicles with 7 seats or fewer are allowed