There are many fun places to visit in Urumqi, such as the Tianshan Grand Canyon in Urumqi, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, the Xinjiang Tianshan Wild Animal Park, etc. There are also many fun places to visit in the surrounding areas of Urumqi. Below, the editor recommends several off-the-beaten-path attractions for self-driving tours.
1、Sulaxia Valley
It is about 60 kilometers away from Urumqi, about a 1.5-hour drive.
Sulaxia is located in Baiyanggou Village, Chaiwobu Township, Urumqi County. The valley is densely vegetated, with lush poplar tree clusters, a typical topographic feature of the southern slope of the Tianshan Mountains.
The road in the valley is relatively flat, making it relatively easy to travel and suitable for a relaxing hiking trip. Some outdoor experience is required.
2、Wolf Valley in Tori Township
It is about 60 kilometers away from Urumqi, about a 1.5-hour drive.
Located in the Tori Township of Aiwiergou, Nanshan, Urumqi County, there is a canyon called Wolf Valley, so named because wolf packs often appear there.
The grassland is full of blooming flowers, the streams are clear, the pine trees are vast, and the view is wide open. Some netizens call this place “small rivers, wild flowers and fir trees accompany each other, the forest is wide and the peaks are high, a feast for the eyes.”
At the entrance of the valley, there is a 100-ton boulder standing on a small hill, forming a spectacular sight. Local herdsmen call it “the flying stone.”
3、Wutonggou Desert
It is about 60 kilometers away from Urumqi, about a 1.5-hour drive.
The Wutonggou Desert Scenic Area in Fukang City is located 28 kilometers north of Fukang City, on the edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert. The scenic area covers an area of 20 square kilometers, with convenient transportation, smooth communication and electricity, and abundant water resources.
The main attractions and sightseeing projects in the scenic area:
① Walk the “Tang Dynasty Road” and find traces of the ancients;
② Ascend the “Observation Tower” and overlook the Gurbantunggut Desert and the Bogda Snow Peak;
③ Stroll through the “Desert Botanical Garden”;
④ Walk into the “Desert Garden” and taste green fruits and vegetables;
⑤ Visit the “Military Reclamation Site” to recall the glorious years; explore the “Reed Beach” and appreciate the different charm of the desert oasis.
Amusement facilities and projects in the scenic area:
Camel riding, go-karting, desert six-wheeled vehicles, self-driving off-road vehicles, beach volleyball, sand motorcycles, sand therapy, desert hunting, ice skating.
Dining services in the scenic area:
You can taste local delicacies such as desert native chicken, wild goose, and red willow skewers.
4、Solbasitao
It is about 100 kilometers away from Urumqi, about a 2.5-hour drive.
Solbasitao Scenic Area is located in Miaolugou Township, in the middle of the Tianshan Mountains, 80 kilometers south of Changji City, at an altitude of over 2,500 meters. There is a lagoon here, with spring water overflowing, the water is bitter and salty, hence the name.
The grassland here is vast, with endless silver snow peaks in the distance. Every year in May and June, the water and grass are lush, the wildflowers are vying for beauty, the surrounding peaks are towering, and the mountains are full of green pines and cypresses, a scene of lush greenery.
5、Daqingshan Geopark
It is about 80 kilometers away from Urumqi, about a 2-hour drive.
Daqingshan Geopark is located 40 kilometers south of Changji City, with a width of about 20 kilometers from east to west and a width of about 20 kilometers from north to south, with the highest altitude of 2,000 meters.
The Daqingshan area is located in the middle section of the landmark area of China’s Danxia landform. From afar, it looks like a winding, undulating dragon galloping across the vast grassland.
6、Quanzigou
It is about 180 kilometers away from Urumqi, about a 3-hour drive.
Quanzigou is located in the Qingshuihe area of Manas, combining red mountains, green fields, and forests to form a unique landscape. Red mountains and green fields complement each other; mountains and forests, grasslands, beautiful scenery.
7、Kangjiashimenzi
It is about 170 kilometers away from Urumqi, about a 3-hour drive.
Kangjiashimenzi is located on the cliff of Kizil Tashishan, 13 kilometers west of Qiergou, Hutubi County, Changji City, and became famous for the discovery of a group of rare primitive fertility worship large-scale rock carvings in 1987.
The mountain where the Kangjiashimenzi rock paintings are located is majestic, with reddish-brown mountain colors. After tens of millions of years of wind and rain, the mountain shape is bizarre, like piles and stacks. Standing with your back to the rock paintings, the mountains rise and fall, the distant mountains are covered with snow, and the nearby grass is verdant.
8、Shawan Dongdatang
It is about 210 kilometers away from Urumqi, about a 3.5-hour drive.
The Dongdatang Scenic Tourism Area is located in Shawan County, within the Tianshan North Slope Economic Belt of Xinjiang. The mountain climate is humid, warm in winter and cool in summer, with a maximum temperature of 22℃ in summer and a minimum temperature of -22℃ in winter, making it a good place for leisure, summer vacation, health preservation, mountain climbing, and scientific expeditions.
The altitude here is 1,600 meters to 5,300 meters, the huge drop creates a unique landscape of sunny and snowy within a day and between two mountains. The distant peaks are covered with ice and snow all year round, and the most beautiful thing is the 100-kilometer glacier and ice waterfall on one side of the peak.
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