Requesting Leave: My 8-Day Digital Detox in Northern Xinjiang (Full Itinerary)

Day 1: Touchdown in Urumqi
Check-in & Feast: Dropped bags at the hotel and bee-lined to Yang Cun Xiao Guan – an Instagram-famous spot for killer Xinjiang BBQ. Must-tries: lamb skewers, grilled tripe, paper-thin potato chips, and flaky baked buns.
Cultural Pit Stops:
Grand Bazaar: A sensory overload of spices, naan bread stalls, and nut vendors.
Lingguan Alley: Quirky market vibes with local snacks (think nut-studded qiegao cakes). Prices slightly higher than non-tourist areas but worth the atmosphere.
Dinner: Loulan Secret Grill – a photogenic mud-brick restaurant serving next-level kebabs. Go after 6 PM (sunset’s late here!) and don’t skip their signature stuffed buns.

Day 2: Heavenly Lake (Image 1-3) → Altay
Road Trip: 8 AM departure → 3-hour drive to Tianshan Heavenly Lake. Tag-team driving recommended – Xinjiang’s VAST.
Highlights:
Scenic shuttle ride to mid-mountain
Boat rides with Bogda Peak views
Ancient Wangmu Temple hike
Night: Drove to Altay for rest

Day 3: Altay → Kanas Lake (Image 6)
April Magic: Arrived by 2 PM to frozen turquoise lakes, gurgling streams, and snow-dusted pines – pure Narnia vibes
Can’t-Miss:
Fairy Bay → Moon Bay → Dragon Bay drive
Riverside wildlife spotting (herons! wild horses!)
Stay: Cozy log cabin under a galaxy of stars

Day 4: Kanas → Hemu Village
Twin Peaks?: Similar landscape to Kanas but condensed. 1.5-hour morning drive
Hemu Hits:
Wooden suspension bridges
Horseback ride to Beautiful Peak
Birch forest panoramas from viewing platforms

Day 5: Hemu → World Devil City
Road Warrior Alert: 5-hour drive to Karamay’s Devil City
Otherworldly Fun:
Dinosaur + Crouching Tiger movie sites
Crash Pad: Overnight in Karamay city

Day 6: Karamay → Sayram Lake
Epic Drive: Half-day journey to China’s “Atlantic Ocean” – sapphire-blue Sayram
Pro Move: Stop at Swan Lake for that perfect reflection shot
Night: Base in Bole

Days 7-8: Bole → Dushanzi Grand Canyon (Image 4-5) → Urumqi
Adrenaline Day
Glass skywalk over 300m-deep cliffs
Zipline thrills at Dushanzi Canyon
Finale: Urumqi Museum’s Silk Road treasures before departure

Why This Works:
Balanced driving days with active exploration
Maximized golden hour photography (Xinjiang sunsets ≈ 10 PM!)
Mixed iconic sights with local food deep dives

Note: All prices in RMB/CNY. Spring visits mean fewer crowds but pack layers – snow lingers in April!