Winter in Ili｜The Ice and Snow I Found in Xinjiang

Winter in Ili｜The Ice and Snow I Found in Xinjiang❄️ So beautiful it leaves you speechless!! Just got back from Ili! Can't wait to share this hidden gem with you all! I originally thought winter in Xinjiang might be a bit niche, but I was moved to tears by the beauty😭 What a magical place!! 【My 7 Days】 📍Day 1-2: Urumqi - Skiing ▪️ Visited the Xinjiang Museum, very few people in the off-season, great experience, remember to book in advance ▪️ Ate casually downstairs at the hotel, more exploring in Yining later · 📍Day 3: Sailimu Lake + Yining ▪️ The driver took us on a self-driving tour around Sailimu Lake, winter only shows blue, white, and pink ▪️ Arranged a tea brewing around the stove, very cozy ▪️ Went straight to Kazanqi Folk Street upon arrival in the afternoon ▪️ Local aunties were super friendly, taught us how to make naan, warm naan with milk tea was amazing! · 📍Day 4: Galloping on Nalati Snowfield ▪️ Finally fulfilled my dream of horseback riding on snow! 🐎 ▪️ The Kazakh guy was super nice, helped take photos and guided poses ▪️ Stayed in a cabin at night, looking up at a sky full of stars ▪️ Ate lamb hotpot around the fireplace, happiness overload · 📍Day 5: Kuerdening ▪️ The most beautiful part of the trip! ▪️ Snow weighing down green firs, the forest is super dense, just as beautiful as in summer ▪️ Must ride horses through the forest! Perfect for photos · 📍Day 6: Swan Spring ▪️ Morning fog + swans + rime, looks like a fairyland ▪️ Phone storage warning popped up, every photo is wallpaper-worthy ▪️ Warm tip: definitely use heat packs, toes will get numb from the cold - 【Practical Tips】 ✅ Clothing: Down jacket + thermal underwear + snow boots are a lifesaver combo ✅ Gear: Power bank is a must! Phone battery drains super fast ✅ Skincare: Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize! Important enough to say three times ✅ Others: Bring plenty of heat packs, camera warm covers are very necessary This trip was truly worth every penny! Not many people now, ladies, hurry up and go!