Previously, when looking at road trip itineraries, most followed the route of Urumqi – Yining – Bayinbuluke – Shengli Pass – Urumqi. Considering a trip to Kanas as well, we decided to go the opposite way.26Day10We set off at27Day13around400more than a thousand kilometers to Bayinbuluke.
Here are some suggestions for those planning to self-drive into Xinjiang via this route recently:
First,When crossing the Shengli Pass at an altitude of4280M, it’s more convenient for enjoying the scenery if you start from Urumqi. Since you’re ascending from the northern slope, the shaded side melts less, and facing the snow-capped mountains and glaciers is spectacular. Once you cross over, the snowy peaks are just dotted accents.
Second,Both the northern and southern slopes are gravel roads, not wide, requiring yielding when passing, but there are also few vehicles. Relatively speaking, the northern slope is steeper, with high mountain canyons and rushing torrents, but the road conditions are good, feeling thrilling yet manageable. The southern slope is slightly gentler, featuring alpine meadow wetlands with frequent potholes. We drove a Toyota Prado, so naturally there was no need for too much worry. Even local minibuses and Cherys had no problem.
Third,On the northern slope, at an altitude of3800M, there is the “Tianshan No.1 Glacier” scenic area (100RMB), extending4KM. It’s easy to miss when coming over from the southern slope. Those who aren’t in a rush can get up close, and it feels like you could even ski down if you brought your boards. The road conditions aren’t great, but it’s not life-threatening. The round trip is about1.5H.
Fourth,Most travel agencies and itineraries cover these400plus kilometers in one day, which makes it feel like you can only look at the scenery without truly enjoying it, and it’s also quite tiring. It’s recommended that those driving themselves spend a night in Baluntai at the foot of the southern slope. The hotel next to the gas station is decent (130RMB for a/standard room), and it’s better to arrange dinner and breakfast on your own.
Fifth,The road from Baluntai to Bayinbuluke hasG218many potholes, and nearly all the bridges are under repair. About60kilometers from Bayinbuluke, there is aS321, newly built and super nice. The road is good, traffic is light, the scenery is so beautiful it’s hard to drive, and speed cameras haven’t been installed yet.
6. Bayinbuluke Scenic Area: ticket 90 RMB, vehicle fee 48+20 RMB. I came here for photography. If it weren’t for shooting the Nine-Bend Eighteen Curves, there’s absolutely no point in wasting this money. The 90-kilometer round trip from the entrance to the viewing platform has very ordinary scenery. If it’s overcast, just give up entirely.
7. In Bayinguoleng Town, there’s a super shady Hui Muslim restaurant called Risumu. Their famous black-head sheep hand-grabbed meat costs 168 RMB per kilogram. The vendor shows you fresh lamb chops, but after just over ten minutes, what gets served is lukewarm broth with meat that isn’t even warm—there isn’t a single lamb chop in sight. It’s definitely leftover.