Where to Go in Urumqi for a 2-Day Trip: Best Itinerary Recommendations

During many holidays, many friends go to Urumqi to travel. It is known as the “Capital of Central Asia” and has many interesting tourist attractions. So where can you go in Urumqi for a two-day trip? Here are two-day itineraries recommended by the editor.

Itinerary One

See Windmills, Visit the Ancient Town

Dabancheng – Donggou Township River Valley Secondary Forest Hiking Trail/Xigou Mohe Rural Comprehensive Body – Baishuijian Ancient Town – Gaoyazi Observatory (1-day trip, 2-day trip)

【Dabancheng】Here, there is a long history and profound cultural heritage, as well as the magnificent Baishuijian Ancient Town and the salt lake known as the “Dead Sea of Xinjiang.”

【Donggou Township River Valley Secondary Forest Hiking Trail】The trail is 10 kilometers long, with lush wildflowers of various colors and pavilions and pavilions scattered on both sides.

【Xigou Township Guaiyu Valley Mohe Ecological Park】This park is dotted with ancient elm trees and is a leisure and ecological base that integrates leisure, sightseeing, and science education.

【Baishuijian Ancient Town】Located at the southern end of the Chaiwobu-Dabancheng Basin, at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, it is a pass guarding the entrance and exit of the Tianshan Mountains and has been a must-pass on the Silk Road since ancient times.

【Gaoyazi Observatory】The Dabancheng Gaoyazi Astronomy Science Education and Practice Base is only 120 kilometers from Urumqi and is a top stargazing destination for astronomy enthusiasts. Here, children can experience the modern technology of space exploration.

Itinerary Two

Desert and Water Town Adventure

Shengxian Lake Farm – Rice Science and Technology Park – Dongdaohaizi (1-day trip, 2-day trip)

【Shengxian Lake Farm】The autonomous region’s three-star farmhouse and autonomous region science education base – Shengxian Lake Farm, specifically learn about the growth of rice and the processing of rice, participate in some of the production process, and purchase various types of rice products (there are also product displays in winter).

【Rice Science and Technology Park】Rice Science and Technology Park, watch the growth of rice on site, and appreciate the beautiful patterns of colorful rice art planting in the Chinese rice fields.

【Dongdaohaizi】Dongdaohaizi Tourist Area, have a small meal by the lake; hike, bird watching, and if you are lucky, you can see wild animals, enjoy the desert sunset, and camp in the desert to watch the stars. The water area is about 12 square kilometers. The surrounding area of Dongdaohaizi is rich in animal and plant resources, mainly water birds and ungulates. It is an excellent place for off-roading, hiking, bird watching, fishing, exploring, and wildlife watching. (Friendly reminder: The tourist area is undeveloped, and off-road vehicles are required to enter and exit. There are no restaurants in the core area, and tourists need to bring their own simple food and drinking water that can be eaten directly. Accommodation tents are self-provided, and if bad weather occurs at the camping site, return. )

Itinerary Three

Watch Waterfalls, Tianshan Grand Canyon, Leisurely Town Relaxation Trip

Tianshan Grand Canyon – Silk Road International Resort – Xibaiyanggou Scenic Area – Xianlai Town (1-day trip, 2-day trip)

【Tianshan Grand Canyon】Here you can enjoy the mysterious snow-covered fir, verdant valley grassland, magnificent snow-capped glaciers, deep mountain canyons, rushing valley streams, and clear snowmelt lakes. You can also experience outdoor activities such as expansion sports, ice skating, self-driving exploration, and hiking and photography.

【Silk Road International Resort】Located in the Nanshan Scenic Area National Forest Park, the winter temperature is only around minus 10 degrees Celsius, and the average summer temperature is 26 degrees Celsius. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, sunny, fresh air, and pleasant climate.

【Xibaiyanggou】Xibaiyanggou has mountains, forests, grasslands, and waterfalls. The approximately 2-meter wide waterfall plunges down from a 40-meter high cliff, spectacular and magnificent.

【Xianlai Town】Stroll through Xianlai Town, where various Xinjiang delicacies will greet you, sure to satisfy everyone’s taste buds.

Itinerary Four

Stargazing, Salt Lake, Wildlife Park Trip

Xibaiyanggou/Tianshan Grand Canyon – Chinese Academy of Sciences Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory Nanshan Base – Tianshan Wildlife Park – Salt Lake (1-day trip, 2-day trip)

【Xibaiyanggou】Xibaiyanggou has mountains, forests, grasslands, and waterfalls. The approximately 2-meter wide waterfall plunges down from a 40-meter high cliff, spectacular and magnificent.

【Tianshan Grand Canyon】Here you can enjoy the mysterious snow-covered fir, verdant valley grassland, magnificent snow-capped glaciers, deep mountain canyons, rushing valley streams, and clear snowmelt lakes. You can also experience outdoor activities such as expansion sports, ice skating, self-driving exploration, and hiking and photography.

【Chinese Academy of Sciences Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory Nanshan Base】Located in Gangou Township, Urumqi County, it is an important VLBI station internationally and a major pulsar, centimeter-wave molecular spectral line, and active galactic nucleus observation and research base domestically. It is also a science and technology, and science education base for the country, the autonomous region, and Urumqi.

【Salt Lake】The lake water is azure, the same color as the sky, the salt mountains in the near distance and the Tianshan Mountains in the distance are reflected here, and floating is a popular choice for tourists. The salt lake has a long history, and the ancient Silk Road passed through here.

Itinerary Five

Ecological Sightseeing and Picking Trip

Hongguangshan Ecological Culture Park – Baiyanghe Village Picking Base – Bieyoudongtian Tourist Villa (1-day trip, 2-day trip)

【Hongguangshan Ecological Culture Park】Covering 10,000 mu, the scenic area is based on greening, led by ecology, supported by tourism, and has been developed into an ecological culture tourism scenic area that integrates ecological sightseeing, leisure vacation, human living environment, sports entertainment, and scientific research education after more than ten years of unremitting efforts.

【Baiyanghe Village Picking Base】Located in Team 1 of Baiyanghe Village, Midong District, Urumqi City, it is a strawberry picking tourist base built on the premise of maintaining the original natural landscape of Baiyanghe Township, Midong District. Visit, taste, and buy strawberries, ginseng fruit, and other seasonal fruits at the Baiyanghe Village Picking Base.

【Bieyoudongtian Tourist Villa】The national model household for rural tourism, the national gold medal farmhouse, and the autonomous region’s five-star farmhouse – Bieyoudongtian Tourist Villa, visit the park construction, and taste rural delicacies (different scenery and delicacies in all four seasons, and winter activities also include snow and ice activities).