Blend the galaxy into Sayram Lake, embroider the grasslands at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains

With Xinjiang's vast landscapes, here's a 3-day travel guide to explore its wonders. 🚗Transport & 💰Budget 🚄• High-speed rail: Urumqi-Turpan round trip ~¥100/person, frequent departures (hourly from 8am-9pm), book 1 day in advance. 🚌• Private car: Turpan day tour ~¥400-600/car (5-seater), covers Flaming Mountain, Karez Well, Grape Valley, flexible itinerary. 🎫• Tickets: Heavenly Lake (¥120) + Flaming Mountain (¥40) + Karez Well (¥40) + Jiaohe Ruins (¥70), total ¥270/person (student discount 50%). 🏩• Accommodation: Urumqi 4-star hotel ~¥400-600/night, Turpan budget hotel ~¥200-300/night. 🍽️• Food: Daily ¥150-200/person, featuring pilaf, kebabs, laghman noodles. 💰• Total budget: 2-day trip ~¥1500-2000/person, 3-day ~¥2000-2500/person. ☘️Itinerary Day 1️⃣: Urumqi + Heavenly Lake (Natural Wonders) Morning • 08:00 Arrive in Urumqi, check-in at downtown hotel (recommend Atour Hotel or Conrad), store luggage. • 09:00 Visit Xinjiang Museum (free, booking required), explore 4000-year history through mummies and artifacts, highlight: "Five Stars from the East" brocade. Afternoon • 12:00 Lunch at Osman Pearl Pilaf King (Nanchang Road), try lamb shank pilaf with pomegranate onion salad. • 14:00 Private car to Heavenly Lake (1.5hrs), admire Bogda Peak. Take shuttle to lakeside, hike "West Lake Trail" for stunning views. • 17:00 Boat to "Dinghai Shenzhen" rock, witness rare moraine lake. Optional cable car (¥120) for panoramic views. Evening • 20:00 Return to city, dinner at Meet Tianshan (innovative Xinjiang cuisine), try salt-crusted lamb. • 22:00 Night visit to Grand Bazaar, shop for souvenirs under lights, buy fresh naan at Abula's. Day 2️⃣: Turpan Cultural Exploration Morning • 08:00 Take D8802 train to Turpan (08:40-09:26, ¥49), experience dramatic temperature shifts. • 10:00 Visit Flaming Mountain (¥40), see giant thermometer (70°C ground temp). Wear breathable clothes. • 12:00 Explore Karez Well (¥40), learn ancient irrigation system, touch cool underground water. Afternoon • 14:30 Lunch at Toksun No.4 Restaurant, try laghman noodles with iced kvass. • 16:00 Grape Valley (free, shuttle ¥25), taste seedless grapes, visit Uyghur homes. • 19:00 Jiaohe Ruins (¥70), witness sunset over ancient earthen city. Evening • 21:05 Return train D8870 to Urumqi (21:05-22:01). Day 3️⃣: Urumqi Deep Dive (Optional) Morning • 09:30 Stroll Xinjiang Folk Street, buy ethnic handicrafts. • 11:30 Bargain at Erdaoqiao Bazaar for dried fruits. Afternoon • 13:00 Lunch at Hotan Alijan Naan Pit BBQ, feast on lamb skewers. • 15:00 Visit Hantengri Mosque, contrast with Shaanxi Mosque. • 17:00 Food crawl at Lingguan Alley: meat naan + saffron ice cream. 🍜Food Guide 1.Must-try: ·Urumqi: Grand Bazaar lamb skewers (¥3), baked buns (¥5), yogurt zongzi (¥3). ·Kashgar: Lamb stew, roasted pigeon, handmade ice cream (¥5). ·Ili: Six-Star Street ice cream, Kazakh borsok with milk tea. ·Burqin: Cold-water grilled fish, kvass drinks. 2.Restaurants: ·Loulan Secret Grill (Urumqi): Naan pit meat, mint tea. ·Fat Old Man Spicy Chicken (Urumqi): Signature spicy chicken. ·Granny's Secret Spicy Chicken (Ili): Locals' favorite. ·Toksun No.4 Restaurant (Turpan): Spicy big plate chicken. ✨Essential Tips 1. ID card required for attractions. 2. Sun protection: SPF50+, hat, sunglasses, reapply every 2hrs. 3. Temperature: Day 35°C+, night 15°C, pack light jacket. 4. Timezone: 2hrs behind Beijing, adjust schedule (lunch 14:00-16:00, dinner 20:00-22:00). 5. Etiquette: Remove shoes in mosques, ask before photographing locals. May this guide help you unlock the magic of Xinjiang in the most efficient way.