When is the best season to travel to Xinjiang?
Overall, May to October is the most suitable: the grassland flower sea and the full opening of Duku Highway in July to August, the peak autumn colors in Kanas and Luntai in September to October; winter (December to February) is suitable for skiing in Altay and the blue ice of Sayram Lake.
The Xinjiang region is vast, and there are significant seasonal differences between northern and southern Xinjiang. May to October is the prime period for most routes:
- June to August: The most beautiful sights are the lavender in Yili, rapeseed flowers in Zhaosu, and the Bayinbuluke Grassland; the Duku Highway is fully open.
- September to October: Kanas and Hemu showcase autumn white birch, and the populus euphratica forest in Luntai turns golden; this is the peak season for photography.
- December to February: Skiing on General Mountain in Altay with pink snow, blue ice at Sailimu Lake, and snow villages in Hemu; winter special routes are organized independently.
Temperatures at the surface in Turpan are extremely high in summer. Heat-sensitive travelers are advised to avoid visiting at noon in July, or to choose early morning and evening for sightseeing.