3 Days 4 Nights Exploring Ili

Explore Ili in 3 days and 4 nights for 6000 RMB｜Stay in a yurt under the snowy mountains, gallop across the Nalati Grassland, and check in at "China's Most Beautiful Self-Driving Route" Have you ever seen a scene like this— A valley shrouded in morning mist, Flocks of sheep moving like clouds, Nomads on horseback herding cattle through a sea of flowers, While you sit in a colorful tent at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, Drinking freshly milked cow’s milk, waiting for the sun to dye the snowy peaks pink and gold. Welcome to Xinjiang·Ili, Known as the "South of the Great Wall," Yet wilder than Switzerland and more vast than Hokkaido. Here, there are only two seasons in a year: May to September is paradise, the rest of the time is sealed away. As a seasoned driver who has driven the Duku Highway three times, This time, with a budget of 6000 RMB and 3 days 4 nights, I’ll take you to sleep in a Kazakh yurt, Ride horses across the Nalati aerial grassland, Check out the Karaljun "Human Grassland" wonder, And then shoot nonstop along China’s most beautiful highway G218, Like the wind, freely roaming between snowy mountains, forests, and streams. No rushing through attractions, just chasing sunlight; No pre-made meals, only freshly slaughtered lamb— Let’s be western rangers here in this emerald heartland embraced by the Tianshan Mountains, Who can ride horses, understand herding, and stop for a wildflower. 🌄 Day 1: Arrive in Yining｜Slow life in a border town + the lively atmosphere of Liuxing Street 📍 Morning: Land at [Yining Airport] ✈️ Round-trip ticket (example from Xi’an) ¥1,100/person × 2 = ¥2,200 🚗 Taxi to downtown about ¥50 🏨 Accommodation recommendation: Yining Liuxing Street Folk Inn -Room type: Uyghur-style courtyard room -Price: ¥360/night × 1 night = ¥360 (breakfast included) 🌆 Afternoon: Stroll Liuxing Street + have a cup of brick tea at a century-old teahouse 📌 Three must-do things: 1. Take photos at the rainbow wall, instant Instagram-worthy shots 2. Eat a bowl of handmade ice cream (rose + creamy) ¥12 3. Enter the century-old teahouse and listen to a Uyghur uncle sing and play Muqam 🍢 Dinner: Night market feast [Han Street Night Market] ✅ Recommended: -Grilled buns with spicy skin ¥5×2 -Crispy outside, tender inside rack of lamb ¥28 -Steamed rice with horse sausage ¥32 -Yogurt dumplings with honey ¥18 Average ¥60 per person, so good you’ll need support to walk! 🏔️ Day 2: Full day at Nalati Grassland｜Horse riding + aerial grassland + sunset silhouettes 🚌 All day: Chartered car to Nalati (round trip ¥400) 🎫 Scenic area ticket + shuttle ¥135/person × 2 = ¥270 🐎 Recommended activities: -Walk the “Snow Lotus Valley” plank road (free highlight section) -Pay extra to ride horses deep into the flower sea (1 hour ¥120/person) 📸 Highlight moments: ✔️ When the sun slants, the whole grassland glows golden ✔️ Cattle and sheep return to the pen, shepherd dogs run, like a movie scene 🌅 Return to Yining at dusk, watch the Tianshan sunset on the way 📷 Snap wallpapers anytime on G218 highway 🏨 Upgrade accommodation for the night: Nalati Starry Sky Yurt Camp (experience type) Colorful yurts (private bathroom) ¥680/night × 1 night = ¥680 🌌 Open the door to the Milky Way hanging low, too beautiful for phone cameras 🌿 Day 3: Karaljun Grassland + last-minute shopping before departure 🚌 Morning: Chartered car to Karaljun Grassland (2-hour drive) 🎫 Ticket + shuttle ¥150/person × 2 = ¥300 ⛰️ Hike the “Human Grassland” viewing area—looking from afar it undulates like muscle texture, up close it’s full of wildflowers and streams 📸 Must-shoot spots: “Three-level peneplain” landform wonder Ride horses past “Falcon Platform,” with snowy peaks in the background 🛍️ Before heading back: Shop at Yining specialty stores (keep within ¥500) ✅ Recommended: Handmade lavender sachet ¥68 -Canned mare’s milk powder ¥98 -Marentang (upgraded cut cake) ¥78 -Ili old yogurt gift box ¥88 🎁 All vacuum packed, great for gifts! 💰 Total cost breakdown (for two people) Item Cost ------ ------ Round-trip airfare ¥2,200 Accommodation (3 nights: city + grassland) ¥1,040 Chartered car + transport ¥800 Meals + snacks ¥480 Tickets + horse riding ¥790 Souvenirs + miscellaneous ¥500 Emergency fund ¥190 Total ¥6,000 ✅ Perfectly on budget, still enough to buy a pack of dried beef to snack on the road! ❤️ Final thoughts: The most magical thing about Ili, Is not just its flower seas, grasslands, or snowy mountains, But when you stand atop a high mountain, Hear the herding songs drifting on the wind, Suddenly understand: The so-called “ideal life” Is just having milk in the morning, wind in the afternoon, Horse hooves in the distance, and no deadlines in your heart.