You need this guidebook to Xinjiang.

Xinjiang is located in the northwest of China, accounting for one sixth of the total land area of China. It is the largest province in China, bordering with eight countries, such as Russian, Mongolian, Indian and Kazakstan. Its strategic position is very important, with temperate continental climate as the mainstay. To put it simply, Xinjiang can be summarized in two words: "big" and "dry". ① "Big": Friends who have traveled to Xinjiang will never deny that traveling to Xinjiang is really tiring, because Xinjiang is so big! How big is Xinjiang? I roughly calculated that Beijing+Shanghai+Jiangsu+Zhejiang+Guangdong = Xinjiang area 4) The distance of scenic spots in Xinjiang is calculated by 100 km, and the tourist attractions are very scattered. Sometimes, from one city to another, from one scenic spot to another, it often takes more than ten hours by car or train. Some scenic spots cover an area of nearly 100 square kilometers and can only be reached by shuttle bus. Therefore, when traveling in Xinjiang, it takes more than 1/3 to drive almost every day. Friends who want to travel to Xinjiang must be prepared to take a long-distance bus. It is worth mentioning that the scenery on both sides of expressway in Xinjiang is really good, and sometimes the most beautiful scenery is on the road. ② Dry: Xinjiang is located in the middle of Eurasia, and the water vapor in the ocean is hard to reach. Urumqi is the farthest city from the ocean in the world. Therefore, the climate in Xinjiang is generally dry and the air humidity is low. It is really a bit difficult for friends on the eastern coast, especially on the southeast coast. Therefore, when traveling in Xinjiang, you must do a good job of hydrating and moisturizing. If you want to go to friends in Hotan area and Taklimakan desert area, you should also take measures to prevent sandstorms.

Travel time selection

The best tourist season in Xinjiang: July, August and September 65438+1October 13-April: windy, cold wave invasion, prone to sandstorms and increased precipitation. It is a good choice to go to southern Xinjiang at this time. Peach blossoms and apricot blossoms are actually in full bloom, and there is a prairie that has just recovered. You can see wild apricot flowers in Turpan and Shanshan.

② June: You can enjoy the flowers and the most beautiful lavender in Yili (the most beautiful in mid-June), but the fruits and vegetables are not yet mature.

From July to August, you can still see the vast grassland full of flowers and water plants. This mountain area is a good summer resort. At this time, the grassland welcomes Nadam and Tianma Festival. However, lavender has been harvested, and fruits and vegetables began to ripen in mid-August. April 9-10: It is the most beautiful harvest season in Xinjiang with comfortable weather. This is a real autumn season, and fruits and vegetables are very fragrant. Kanas in autumn is recognized as the most beautiful autumn scenery in China, and Populus euphratica forest in southern Xinjiang is also stained with the color of autumn, and the fruits are also in the harvest season. However, these two months are also the most prosperous tourist season in Xinjiang, and the corresponding prices and scenic spot ticket prices have also risen.

⑤ Winter: The temperature is as low as minus twenty or thirty degrees. Many places are closed to mountains and roads, and many scenic spots are closed. However, this is the off-season of tourism and the price is low. Tickets for some scenic spots are discounted, and some scenic spots can even be watched for free, and you can also see the snow scene in the northwest. But I think the ornamental value in winter is not as good as that in summer and autumn.

Tourism mode selection

Personally, I think the ranking of tourism modes to Xinjiang should be: self-driving, self-driving, go on road trip, go on road trip, self-help tour, group tour 1, self-driving: travel time is free, you don't have to catch the bus every day, and you can stop and watch the beautiful scenery on the road at any time. More than13 of the expenses of traveling in Xinjiang are spent on transportation, and the expressway charges in Xinjiang are not high, which can save a lot of money. If you are tired, you can rest in the car. 2. Accompanying: Xinjiang is a place that is not suitable for traveling alone. First of all, the food in Xinjiang is very big, like the most famous saute spicy chicken in Xinjiang. Even a medium-sized dish needs at least three people to finish. If you want to eat well and eat all kinds of food in Xinjiang, it is best to be with you. Secondly, there are no buses in some places in Xinjiang, and there is no direct bus to scenic spots. Sometimes, if you can't catch the bus or bus, you have to charter a car. If you want to carpool with others, you need to wait for the driver to attract customers, which wastes a lot of time. If you can't get together in time, you have to bear the high cost of chartered cars, which can also share the transportation costs and reduce the transportation costs. Of course, it is safer to travel together. ① Company self-driving: the highest degree of freedom, the most time-saving and the most economical. The cost of renting a car and driving together is not much more expensive than catching the bus every day. Why don't you drive to Xinjiang yourself? (2) Charter: Self-driving in a group is similar to charter in a group, except that you charter a driver at the same time. In this way, you don't have to drive for a long time by yourself, and you can still see the beautiful scenery quietly. Moreover, the chartered master is familiar with the nearby scenic spots and can take you to the most beautiful places and even be your tour guide. However, if you rent a car, it is more expensive to cover the meals and accommodation of the chartered master than to drive. ③ Self-driving alone: The benefits of self-driving are as above. If you are alone, no one will share the fare with you, but you are more free. If you have a bad trip, you can sleep in the car. Travel independently in the company: you can split the cost of food and transportation, which is cheaper and more interesting. Of course, the premise is that this person should agree with your three views:) However, traveling together is difficult. ⑤ Traveling alone: Many inconveniences make it difficult to save money on food, accommodation and transportation, especially for friends who are not good at chatting up. But a person is freer and has a deeper experience. It depends on personal choice! ⑥ Traveling with a group: Xinjiang is the least suitable for traveling with a group. Because there is a time limit for group tours, and the scenic spots in Xinjiang are very large, the tour guide can't see the depth and comprehensiveness for an hour or two, and you don't have many opportunities to get in touch with the locals, so you can experience the real Xinjiang customs in depth, so this is the last way I recommend.

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consumption level

Do you think the prices in Xinjiang are very low? In fact, you are only half right. In southern Xinjiang, prices are really low. Basically, you can eat well for more than ten yuan, and fruit is cheaper. For example, fifty cents a kilogram of watermelon in Kuqa is one kilogram! Big and sweet. So I especially recommend you to buy special products, dried fruits, souvenirs and the like. But! Focus! Prices in northern Xinjiang are not low at all, especially the level of tourism consumption is very high. I can say for sure that the level of tourism consumption in northern Xinjiang can be comparable to that in first-tier cities such as Beishangguang! ! What caught me off guard most in Xinjiang was the price of food and beverage. In northern Xinjiang, a full meal often costs at least 30-40 yuan (it is more expensive near the scenic spot), because the food eaten in Xinjiang is relatively large, so it is correspondingly expensive, and a plate costs at least 20-25 yuan. It is even more terrible if it is in a scenic spot. I saw in Kanas scenic spot that scrambled eggs with such a small dish of tomatoes actually want 48 yuan, which is not delicious:) If you want to eat meat in the scenic spot in the peak season, you basically have to start at 55-65 yuan (except barbecue). Tickets for scenic spots are not cheap, especially for well-known scenic spots with large area. The interval tickets are basically above 150 yuan, and some even cost more than 200 yuan to 300 yuan. So make sure you have enough travel expenses before you come to Xinjiang. Traveling in Xinjiang may cost a lot of money. If you don't go to southern Xinjiang but want to buy special products, dried fruits and souvenirs, I still recommend going to Yili in northern Xinjiang to buy cheap ones.

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tourist track

The classic tourist routes in Xinjiang are generally divided into four routes: east, west, north and south. If you want to travel to the Great Ring Road in Xinjiang, the order is generally: North Line, West Line, South Line and East Line.

There are four classic routes here, each of which contains the most famous and beautiful scenic spots. You can choose according to your personal preference, budget and time: ① 7-8 days on the northern line (mainly in Altay). A. Urumqi-Keketuohai-Brzin-Gardenyu-Harmony-Kanas Lake-Baihaba-Habahe County-Rainbow Beach-Brzin or B. Urumqi-Keketuohai-Brzin-Rainbow Beach-Habahe County-Baihaba-

② Tour to the west (mainly in Ili): 8-9 days Brzin-Wuerhe (ghost town)-Sailimu Lake-Guozigou Bridge-Horgos Port-Yining-Zhaosu-Tekes-Karajun-Qiongkushitai-Nalati-Bayinbuluke PS: Qiongkushitai-Kaka.

③ Southbound travel (southern Xinjiang customs line): 9- 10 days Bayinbuluke-Duku Highway-Kuche-Kashgar-Hongqi Raf Port-Tashkurgan County-Tashian County-Kashgar-Hotan-Minfeng-Desert Highway-Korla-Urumqi ④ Eastern tour: 4

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security issue

Many people's bad impression of Xinjiang stems from an incident that happened a few years ago. However, a 19-year-old girl spent a month wandering in Xinjiang. I didn't meet any bad people except a few who wanted to make money, and many of the donkey friends I met along the way didn't meet or see anything bad, so I personally think that my compatriots in Xinjiang are still very hospitable and simple, especially in southern Xinjiang, which is really not as horrible as everyone imagined. There are bad people in every place, and there will always be one or two mouse droppings in every place, but believe that there are more good people than bad people. In Xinjiang, no matter where you go, even to supermarkets and markets, you have to go through security check. Railway stations and bus stations even have three or four security checkpoints, and basically every street will have a police station, so I feel very safe in Xinjiang. Sometimes I can't book a hotel or go to a city in the middle of the night, and my uncle will come to help me when wandering in the street, so don't be afraid and shy. If you have any difficulties, they will be happy to help you. Of course, there is no chance to find a better one.

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Ethnic minorities

There are many ethnic groups in Xinjiang, the most important of which are Uygur and Kazak. Generally speaking, Uighurs are distributed in western Xinjiang, including Kashgar, Hotan, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture and Aksu, and Turpan in eastern Xinjiang. Kazakhs are concentrated in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in northern Xinjiang. Han nationality is mainly distributed in eastern and northern Xinjiang, including Urumqi, Karamay, Hami and other northeastern regions. As a tourist, it is a good choice to understand and respect the differences of cultural customs of different nationalities.

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Language problem

In the big cities of Xinjiang, it is basically no problem to communicate in Mandarin, but in some ethnic autonomous prefectures in northern Xinjiang, language barriers may be encountered. When you meet ethnic minorities, you should speak Mandarin as slowly as possible. In southern Xinjiang, the language problem is more prominent. Apart from ticket sellers in scenic spots and cashiers in shops, few adults can speak fluent Mandarin. So when asking for directions and shopping, try to type with your mobile phone or write it on paper in advance for the other party to see. If the other person doesn't understand, try to ask the children, because Xinjiang is basically bilingual education now, and many children know some basic Mandarin.

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network problems

Internet access is available in major cities and some counties in Xinjiang. Most high-end hotels can provide Internet services. However, it is very difficult to get online in tourist attractions or some small places, and the network speed is slow. Even in some scenic spots, there is no signal at all. Please remember to clarify the situation with your family, keep in touch and report your safety in time to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding. PS: Xinjiang tourism website resources: ① tianshan net (www.ts.cn): Xinjiang portal website, providing news of tourism culture in Xinjiang ② Xinjiang tourism official website: www.xinjiangtour.gov.cn.

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travel notes

1, Weather: As the saying goes, "Wear cotton-padded jacket early and yarn at noon, and eat watermelon around the stove." The weather in Xinjiang is changeable, and the four seasons can be changed in one day. Please be sure to prepare sun protection, cold protection and rain protection equipment. 2. Clothing: The temperature difference between day and night in Xinjiang is large. Even in July and August, it is very cold at night. Clothing should be breathable and warm. Also, try to wear loose cotton trousers. Don't wear sandals barefoot if you want to ride a horse. It won't be long before the stirrups wear out your feet. 3. Sunscreen and heatstroke prevention: Some areas in Xinjiang have high altitude and strong ultraviolet rays. Please take sunscreen (such as high-altitude sunscreen and sunglasses), preferably long-sleeved trousers, or you will definitely get a layer of skin at the end of the day. In addition, the highest temperature in Turpan in summer can reach above 40 degrees, so it should be equipped with drugs or granules for clearing away heat and heatstroke; 4. Transportation: Straight roads in Xinjiang are prone to fatigue and speeding; The roads in places like Daban in Tianshan Mountain are steep and the road conditions are very poor. Drive carefully. Moreover, most of Xinjiang is a pastoral area, and there are often cattle, sheep and other livestock on the road. You should pay for driving into livestock and apologize. Friends who go out to go on road trip, please pay attention to safety! In addition, the time on the road may be longer, and passengers with motion sickness need to pay attention. 5. Rent a car: It is best to rent more than one car, because Xinjiang has a vast territory, and it is normal for each scenic spot to be separated by five or six hundred kilometers. Driving alone will be very tiring. Usually three or four people share a cross-country jeep 15 days, 500-600 yuan/day. It costs about 7500-9000 yuan to rent a car in Xinjiang, with an average of 1875-2250 yuan per person. At the same time, because there are few cars on expressways in Xinjiang, many people will overspeed, so we must pay attention to safety. 6. Shopping: Everything sold in Xinjiang is in kilograms. You ask how much a catty, and I'll kill you. Even if the other party says 1 kg, it means 1 kg. Make no mistake, pay people twice their salary. 7. Accommodation: Generally speaking, except for modern hotels in a few cities such as Urumqi and Karamay, the accommodation conditions in other parts of Xinjiang are relatively simple and the prices are relatively expensive. Many places don't have air conditioning, and some places don't even have showers and separate toilets. Before we go, we must have these basic understandings. Although the conditions are simple, it is a different experience from another angle. Of course, some scenic spots also have modern hotels with luxurious decoration, but it is said that the prices are all three digits close to four digits. In sparsely populated remote areas, accommodation is not very convenient. In some places where tourists are scarce, there are not only hotels or guest houses, but also no residents. Only they are equipped with cars, their own tents and other means of transportation. 8. Banks: There are many kinds of banks in state capitals, such as China Bank, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank and so on. But there are few county and township banks, so we should prepare some cash. Most places can pay by WeChat or Alipay, but not necessarily in some remote places with poor signal, so please prepare enough cash and store it separately to reduce the risk of loss. 9. Time difference: There is a two-hour time difference between Xinjiang and the mainland. The working hours of most service agencies and government departments are different from those in the Mainland. Generally, I go to work in the morning 10 or 1 1, and I have a long break at noon, so I usually go to work after 15. In addition, although passenger stations are based on Beijing time, local minority drivers are used to saying Xinjiang time, so pay special attention to confirming the time when renting a car or taking a bus. 10, acclimatized: the water in Xinjiang is alkaline and hard, and people who are not used to it will be constipated. Orientals eat all kinds of mutton products and dairy products in Xinjiang, which is easy to have diarrhea. Being too fresh has its disadvantages. In the same way, the sugar content of fruit far exceeds that of mainland China, so don't eat too much at a time. 1 1. security check: the security check in Xinjiang is very strict (it may have to be checked repeatedly on the way). At the airport, after hollowing out your pockets and taking off your shoes, you must scan the soles of your feet and have a second security check in the boarding passage; Railway stations, bus stations and other transportation hubs generally have to go through 3-4 security checks, so you should go at least one hour in advance, whether by plane, train or bus. Even if you go to supermarkets, bazaars and markets, as long as there are many people, you have to go through the security check. 12. Due to the dry climate in Xinjiang, it is especially reminded not to wear contact lenses. Especially in some areas, the accommodation conditions are not good and it is not convenient to wash, so if you want to bring it, you should also bring more backups. 13, border: There are many military restricted zones and border lines in Xinjiang where visiting and taking photos are forbidden. Please keep this in mind, otherwise it will bring unnecessary trouble; To go to Baihaba, Horgos, Hongqilafu and other places, you need to go to the Armed Police Frontier Brigade in Burqin County, Huocheng County and Tashkurgan County to apply for border passes, or you can go to the police station where Hukou Ben belongs in advance, otherwise it may take a long time to go to the local area to apply for a queue again. 14, Insurance: Because accidents and diseases may occur at any time during the trip, especially when going to special areas for special activities, such as mountain climbing, desert crossing, hiking on ancient roads, etc. Even if you are strong and agile, you'd better have relevant insurance before you travel. 15, riding is recommended if there is an opportunity. Ili horse is the best horse in Xinjiang. If the price is above 50 (one hour), you can bargain (if you can talk, it will be much lower). Remember, if you ride a horse, you'd better not go to the scenic spot because it's too expensive. If there are children riding, you can lower the price. But not if it is officially operated.

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sensitive

1, saute spicy chicken (depending on the number of people, at least three people can finish the middle plate, and it is best to serve noodles and juice after eating) 70- 150 yuan.

2, mutton skewers (remember, Xinjiang's mutton is not bad! ) 3- 10 yuan/skewer 3, roasted buns (mutton stuffing), thin paper bags 3-5 yuan/piece 4, naan below 5 yuan (dry food necessary for long-distance travel) 5, roasted whole sheep 6, hand-grabbed rice (with mutton) 20-25 yuan starts 7, mixed noodles with oil and meat (recommended wall crack! The best mixed noodles! ) 20-8 from 25 yuan. Cut the cake (actually, it feels very sweet) 9. Yili handmade ice cream (only a few dollars, but I think it is comparable to Haagen-Dazs, and the walls are cracked! ! ) 3-8 yuan 10, kawas/ Gowasu from Yili (kawas and mutton kebabs are better matched) 4-8 yuan/Cup 1 1, yogurt, yogurt pimples (sour to teeth, It's best to add some sugar) 12, Na Ren 13, Brzin's roasted dog fish 25 yuan 14, Altay's cold fish (personally feel better steamed), 25 yuan's 65 bean jelly (Ili is the best) 5- 10 yuan 20, milk, mare's milk (bargaining 20 ) 28, steamed stuffed bun 29, cold noodles (also called yellow noodles, which are not as delicious as Ann's) rice noodles1from 5 yuan 30, Ili horse sausage meat, smoked horse meat 3 1, bean noodles 32, milk tea (very distinctive) Note: ① lactose intolerant people should not try any local milk in Xinjiang easily, including yogurt. Otherwise, you will vomit and diarrhea all day, don't ask me how I know:) Is the brand yogurt in the store made in the factory or can I eat it safely? Don't waste food. Guests should not compete with their hosts for jobs, especially teapots. Wash your hands before meals. Don't splash water. It is considered impolite to splash water. Please dry or dry. ③ Because mare's milk is fermented, there will be alcohol. It's better for drivers to drink after driving (kawas will get a little drunk if he drinks too much). But remember, mare's milk usually has a short shelf life and should be drunk as soon as possible.

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Fruits and dried fruits are measured in kilograms.

In Xinjiang, there is a well-known jingle: grapes in Turpan, melons in Hami, pears in Korla and pomegranates in Yecheng are the best. Here is the prestigious hometown of melons and fruits, and there are many dried and fresh melons and fruits all year round. 1, walnuts and figs in Qira, Hotan, grapes and raisins in Turpan (grapes only ripen in mid-August), almonds in shache, Kashgar, mulberries in southern Xinjiang, "rock candy heart" apples in Aksu, watermelons in Kuqa (fifty cents a catty), cantaloupes in Hami, pomegranates in Yecheng and fragrant pears in Korla.

shopping guide

In Xinjiang, people often go shopping in Grand Bazaar, which means Grand Bazaar. If you want to shop in Xinjiang, bazaars and farmers' markets all over the country are good choices. Featured goods:

1, dried fruit 2, flower hat 3, carpet 4, Yengisar knife 5, Hetian jade (Hetian jade bought the best, 6. Lavender products (essential oil, mask, sachet, etc. 7. Musical instruments (Dongbula, drums, Dutar, etc. 8. Adelaide silk 9, Hami paper-cut 10, Osman eyebrow pencil 1 1, Xinjiang earthenware 12, and various jewelry tips. There is a duty-free shop on the border between China and Kazakhstan at Horgos Port. Don't miss friends who like to chop hands. There are goods from Central Asian and European countries here. For ladies who like to buy cosmetics, this is your paradise.