Winter in Xiata, the best time for a winter hike

Winter in Xiata, the best time for a winter hike The road is no longer bustling with summer tourists, and peace returns. As the car drives by, the mountains change their appearance in a second, and I capture them all with my camera. The mountain stream, blue sky, spruce, cattle and sheep, snow-capped mountains, and roads form a series of vivid canvases. 🏔️🌲🐎 The deeper you hike into Xiata, the more expansive the forest becomes. The sun changes the angle of light and shadow, and the spruce and the earth change their appearance. The sound of cattle and sheep, birds, snow falling on branches, and spring water flowing under the frozen riverbed, Every step is a gentle healing. After crossing mountains and ridges, Finally, Muzart Glacier is right in front of you. The snow water of Tianshan nourishes all things in Xiata, Even the dead wood, fallen leaves, and ravines are full of vitality. 🌲: Xiata, Ili, Xinjiang 🧭: Navigate to "Xiata Ancient Road National Forest Park" 🚙: In winter, you can drive into the scenic area, but snow tires are required. You can drive up to General Bridge, and a four-wheel drive can go a little further, then you need to hike or ride a horse into the mountain. 🛣️ Ili winter self-driving route: D1: Urumqi - Kuitun ▫️ Dushanzi Grand Canyon, watch the sunset and blue hour D2: Kuitun - Jinghe - Yining ▫️ Drive around Sayram Lake, chase swans ▫️ Guozigou, enter another landscape, snow-capped spruce D3: Yining - Kuerdening ▫️ Yining Swan Lake, get up early to see the rime and swans ▫️ Stay at Kuerdening camp D4: Kuerdening - Tekes ▫️ Kuerdening, horseback riding, forest hiking ▫️ Aerial view of Bagua City D5: Tekes - Xiata ▫️ Light hiking, see Muzart Glacier D6: Xiata - Yining - Urumqi 🤸🏻‍♂️ Winter hiking tips in Xiata: ▫️ If you want to see the golden mountain, calculate the return time. It gets dark quickly in winter, and the mountain road is difficult to walk on the way back. ▫️ Ili in winter is suitable for hiking on sunny days. When we went there, it was -8°C to 3°C, and a three-in-one jacket was just right for the weather around zero. ▫️ Be aware of icy roads when hiking in winter. The river you pass by when hiking in Xiata is frozen, so be careful if the ice is solid. ▫️ You can bring snow goggles, which can block the light on sunny and snowy days. ▫️ Trekking poles will also make snow hiking more comfortable, so bring foldable ones when traveling. ▫️ Non-slip and high-top hiking boots are important. Snow hiking can be uncomfortable if snow gets into your shoes. ▫️ On the way back from Xiata to Yining, you can visit Zhaosu Yuhu Lake, where the icy blue water is beautiful in winter and freezes around January.