[2025 Yuli Attraction] Travel Guide for Hulu Island (Updated Jun)

This is my second time to come to Xinjiang this year Just for this short but gorgeous autumn limited poplar forest🍁 Standing in the desert and looking down When the Taklimakan Desert🏜️, Tarim River, and poplars join into a picture I was amazed by the beauty of Xinjiang! I want to tell everyone that they must come and see Xinjiang’s Populus euphratica forest! 📍Location: Huludao Scenic Area in Southern Xinjiang 🗺️Address: Bayinguoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture-33rd Regiment of Yuli County 🧭Navigation: Huludao, Yuli County-Wharf (a certain navigation) ⌚️Season: Mid-to-late October~Mid-November 🏨Accommodation: Yuli County 1.5h / Korla 2h 🎫Tickets: 80/person + 50/self-driving 🍂About Populus euphratica forest: I have been to three Populus euphratica forest scenic spots in Southern Xinjiang. The scenery of Huludao can be ranked first. The scenery of desert lake and Populus euphratica in the same frame is very shocking and worth going! But the disadvantage is that private contracting is not formal enough, and the scenic area management and equipment need to be improved and perfected~

[Opening]: Xinjiang is mainly divided into southern Xinjiang or northern Xinjiang Feel the humanities and experience the ethnic culture in southern Xinjiang, which is dominated by canyons, plateaus, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, lakes and deserts. Enjoy the natural scenery in northern Xinjiang, mainly forests, grasslands, sea of ​​flowers, lakes, and snow-capped mountains So don’t think that you can finish traveling around Xinjiang in one go. Every place in Xinjiang is beautiful, and different seasons have different scenery. Here is a recommended guide for Xinjiang throughout the year. Save it and use it at any time. ⛺【How to play】: ✅From late December to early March of the following year: Altay in Northern Xinjiang Attractions: Kanas, Hemu, Baihaba, Keketuohai ✅Mid-March to early April: Southern Xinjiang Scenic spots: Apricot blossoms in Taxkorgan County (Datong Township, Kuksiluk Township, Tal Township), Kashgar Ancient City, Pamir Plateau ✅April to May: Northern Xinjiang Scenic spots: Sailimu Lake, Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Turgen Apricot Valley (flowering period from early April to mid-late April), Kurdening, Nalati, Qiaxi East Xinjiang Scenic spots: Kumtag Desert, Tuyugou Maza Village, Huoyan Mountain, Karez, Dahaidao No Man's Land Southern Xinjiang Attractions: Pamir Plateau, Kashgar, Bosten Lake, Luobu Village, Wensu Grand Canyon, Yarkand Khan Palace, Yotgan Ancient City, Desert Highway Panoramic view of northern Xinjiang + panoramic view of southern Xinjiang Northern Xinjiang: Kanas, Hemu, Kalajun, Xiata, lavender base (flowering period from mid-June to mid-late July), Qiongkushitai, Aktas, Qiapqihai, Tangbula Hundred Miles Gallery, Mengket Ancient Road, Grassland Stone City Southern Xinjiang: Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake, Muztagh Glacier Park, Panlong Ancient Road, Bandir Blue Lake, Wakhan Corridor, Jincaotan Stone City, Taheman Wetland, Muji Crater, China's Western Pole, Oitaq Red Valley, Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon, Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves ✅Mid-to-late September to early October Altay in Northern Xinjiang Attractions: Kanas, Hemu, Baihaba ✅October to November Southern Xinjiang Populus euphratica forest Attractions: Huludao, Luntai Populus euphratica forest, Zepujin Populus euphratica National Forest Park, Kashgar, Pamir Plateau Xinjiang's four most popular highways: Duku Highway, Yizhao Highway, S101 National Defense Highway, and Desert Highway 🛬【Itinerary】: 🌲Day 1: Various Places - Urumqi Arrive in Urumqi and arrange your own activities according to your arrival time. You can go to the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, which is full of strong ethnic customs and has a variety of special products and delicacies. You can also visit the Xinjiang Museum to learn about Xinjiang’s history, culture and folk customs. 🌲Day 2: Urumqi - Tianshan Tianchi - Fuyun/Keketuohai In the morning, go to Tianshan Tianchi to enjoy the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains. You can also take a boat tour of Tianchi. In the afternoon, head to Fuyun or Keketuohai. 🌲Day 3: Keketuohai - Wucai Beach - Burqin Visit the Keketuohai Scenic Area and admire the unique geological landscape. In the evening, go to Wucai Beach to admire the colorful hills on both sides of the Irtysh River. 🌲Day 4: Burqin - Kanas Lake - Kanas Sanwan - Jiadengyu/Kanas Scenic Area When entering Kanas Scenic Area, first go to Kanas Lake and choose to take a boat tour on the lake. Afterwards, visit the three bays of Kanas, namely Shenxian Bay, Moon Bay and Wolong Bay. 🌲Day 5: Jiadengyu/Kanas - Hemu Observation Deck - Hemu Village Go to Hemu Village and climb up to the Hemu Observation Deck to overlook the entire Hemu Village and its beautiful scenery. 🌲Day 6: Sunrise and morning fog in Hemu - Wuerhe Get up early to watch the sunrise and morning mist in Hemu, and then head to Wuerhe. 🌲Day 7: Wuerhe - Devil City - Jinghe Visit the Urho Ghost City and admire the Yadan landform. Head to Jinghe in the evening. 🌲Day 8: Jinghe - Sailimu Lake - Guozigou - Yining Arrive at Sailimu Lake and stroll along the lake to enjoy the lake view. Pass through Guozigou, enjoy the spectacular scenery of Guozigou Bridge, and arrive in Yining in the evening. 🌲Day 9: Yining - Xiata Ancient Road - Zhaosu Go to Xiata Ancient Road, hike or ride a horse to experience the scenery of the ancient road, and stay in Zhaosu at night. 🌲Day 10: Zhaosu - Kurdenin - Gongliu Visit Kurdning, enjoy the original forest and grassland scenery, and then go to Gongliu. 🌲Day 11: Gongliu - Nalati Sky Grassland - Nalati Enter the Nalati Sky Grassland, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the grassland, and participate in activities such as horse riding. 🌲Day 12: Nalati - Middle section of Duku Highway - Bayinbuluke Grassland - Sunset at Jiuqu Shibawan Drive along the middle section of Duku Highway to reach Bayinbuluke Grassland and watch the sunset over the winding grassland in the evening. 🌲Day 13: Bayin Town - Southern Section of Duku Highway - Big and Small Dragon Ponds - Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains - Kuche Continue along the southern section of the Duku Highway, visit the Big and Small Dragon Ponds and the mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon, and arrive in Kuqa at night. 🌲Day 14: Kuqa - Wensu Grand Canyon - Aksu Go to Wensu Grand Canyon to admire the spectacular canyon landscape, and then go to Aksu. 🌲Day 15: Aksu - Free travel in Kashgar Ancient City Arrive in Kashgar, and have free time in the ancient city of Kashgar to feel its charm. 🌲 Day 16: Kashgar - Baisha Lake - Karakul Lake - Viewing Muztagh Ata by car - Tashkurgan County Head to Tashkurgan County, passing Baisha Lake and Karakul Lake on the way, and seeing Muztagh Ata Peak by car. 🌲Day 17: Taxkorgan - Panlong Ancient Road - Tasha Ancient Road - Bandir Blue Lake - Kashgar Visit Panlong Ancient Trail, Tasha Ancient Trail and Bandir Blue Lake, then return to Kashgar. 🌲Day 18: Kashgar - Colorful Yadan Landform - Shell Mountain - Simhana Village - Westernmost Point of China - Kashgar Go to Simhana Village, visit the colorful Yadan landform and Shell Mountain, and arrive at the westernmost part of China. 🌲Day 19: Opening Ceremony of Kashgar Ancient City - Yarkand Han Dynasty Tomb - Hotan Night Market - Hotan Watch the opening ceremony of the ancient city of Kashgar, visit the Yarkand Han Dynasty Mausoleum, go to Hotan in the evening and visit the Hotan Night Market. 🌲Day 20: Hotan - Crossing the Taklimakan Desert Highway - Aral Cross the Taklimakan Desert Highway, experience the desert scenery, and arrive in Aral. 🌲Day 21: Aral - Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves - Kuche Grand Temple - Restan Street - Kuche Visit Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Kuche Grand Mosque and Restan Street. 🌲Day 22: Kuche - Bosten Lake - Korla Go to Bosten Lake and enjoy the lake view, then go to Korla. 🌲Day 23: Korla - Kumtag Desert - Shanshan County Arrive at the Kumtag Desert, where you can enjoy activities such as sandboarding, and stay in Shanshan County at night. 🌲Day 24: Shanshan County - Huoyan Mountain - Karez - Grape Valley - Urumqi Visit Huoyan Mountain, Karez and Grape Valley, then return to Urumqi. 🌲Day 25: Airport transfer in Urumqi Send you to the airport according to the flight schedule, and end your pleasant journey. 🧡【tips】： Bring your ID card, student ID card (if applicable) and other necessary documents Clothing The temperature difference between morning and evening in Xinjiang is large, so you need to prepare long clothes, short sleeves, jackets, and jackets, especially in mountainous areas or high altitude areas. Warm clothes are particularly important. Sunscreen products Xinjiang has long sunshine hours and strong ultraviolet rays, so be sure to bring sun protection products such as sunglasses and hats Other Items You can bring a selfie device, a small amount of cash, etc. In addition, you can also prepare some high-calorie snacks such as self-heating hot pot, beef jerky, chocolate, etc. for emergencies. + Jet lag adjustment There is a 2-hour time difference between Xinjiang and mainland cities such as Beijing. Tourists should be prepared to adapt to the time difference and adjust their work and rest schedules. Health preparation Prepare common medicines according to your personal situation, such as motion sickness medicine, cold medicine, Band-Aids, etc., and pay attention to maintaining good eating habits and adequate sleep. Respect for customs Xinjiang is a multi-ethnic area. Respect local customs and cultural traditions, protect the environment and cultural relics, and be a civilized tourist. Plateau preparation Some scenic spots in Xinjiang are located at high altitudes. Tourists may experience symptoms of altitude sickness. They should take adequate rest and drink plenty of water. Group tour suggestions It is recommended to join a tour group, because Xinjiang's scenic spots are scattered, and self-driving may make you tired and unable to enjoy the scenic spots properly due to inconvenient transportation. It is recommended to choose a local tour group or chartered car service to avoid self-driving fatigue and getting lost.

Embark on an exciting 5-day tour of Aksu and Bayingolin! Savor authentic Xinjiang cuisine and treat your taste buds. Our professional driver and photographer will take you to designated Trip Moments spots, capturing stunning aerial drone shots and historical sites. Plus, you'll receive all the original photos. Come and unlock your Xinjiang adventure! -------------------- 🚗Itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Korla City, also known as Pear City, and enjoy our private airport transfer service. Our travel consultants are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have. Day 2: Explore the Kuqa Grand Canyon National Geopark and marvel at the wonders of nature -> Tianshan Mystery Grand Canyon, where you can appreciate the canyon's depth and grandeur -> Visit the Subash Buddhist Temple ruins and trace the footsteps of history -> Finally, head to the Kizil Caves and experience the charm of Buddhist culture. Day 3: Stroll through Kuqa's old city and experience the local customs -> Kuqa Wangfu (Kuqa Royal Palace), where you can learn about the palace's history and stories -> Tarim Populus Euphratica Forest Park, where you can admire the beautiful golden poplar forest -> Cross the Tarim Desert Highway and feel the vastness of the desert -> Arrive at the Tarim River and enjoy the tranquility by the river. Day 4: Continue along the Tarim River and explore the river's mysteries -> Arrive at Huludao (Gourd Island) and enjoy the island's natural scenery and tranquility. Day 5: Depart from Korla, with a private transfer to the airport. Take home wonderful memories and return to the warmth of your home. Qicheng Travel looks forward to your next wonderful encounter. Goodbye! 📸This itinerary also includes a taste of Xinjiang's special cuisine, so you can enjoy a feast! At the same time, the driver doubles as a photographer for designated Trip Moments spots/aerial drone photography. You'll receive all the original photos taken at carefully selected locations, helping you unlock historical site shots and create unforgettable memories! -------------------- Must-see attractions: - 🏞️Tianshan Mystery Grand Canyon: Stroll through the canyon, where the reddish-brown mountains are as dazzling as flames, and the strange peaks and rocks display a variety of shapes, as if you are in a mysterious fairyland. - 🕌Kuqa Wangfu (Kuqa Royal Palace): This place brings together the rich Uyghur and Qiuci cultures, with colorful scenery, allowing you to appreciate different ethnic customs. - 🍂Tarim Populus Euphratica Forest Park: Here, you can enjoy the beauty of the desert and the south of the Yangtze River. The poplar forest is magnificent and magical, as if telling a thousand-year-old story. -------------------- Travel essentials: 🎒Aksu-Bayingolin packing list 👕 **Clothing**: The temperature in Aksu-Bayingolin in March is moderate, but the temperature difference between day and night is large. It is recommended to bring light down jackets, windproof coats, and long-sleeved T-shirts or thin sweaters. You can choose jeans or casual pants, which are both warm and easy to move around in. 🎩 **Accessories**: Don't forget to bring a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to resist the strong ultraviolet rays. In addition, a pair of comfortable hiking shoes or sneakers is also essential, allowing you to explore the beautiful scenery with ease. 📂 **Documents**: Be sure to bring your ID card, driver's license, student ID, and other valid IDs with you, as well as Xinjiang's health code. Be sure to prepare in advance so that you can pass through the checkpoints smoothly. 🔋 **Electronic equipment**: Mobile phones, power banks, and data cables are good helpers for travel, and cameras can capture the beautiful moments of the journey. Remember to bring headphones to enjoy music without disturbing others. 💊 **Emergency supplies**: Band-aids, motion sickness medicine, cold medicine, and other commonly used medicines should be prepared in case of emergency. If you are worried about altitude sickness, you can prepare relevant medicines in advance. -------------------- Aksu-Bayingolin trip, a close combination of beautiful scenery and culture! Don't miss it, come and experience it! Like 👍 and save 🌟, and share it with more travel partners!

If you have missed Xinjiang's summer, you must not miss Xinjiang's autumn🍁 There are only 20 days a year to enjoy the top-level autumn scenery, golden forests, turquoise lakes, and endless deserts, just like a rich and colorful oil painting~ How to play in Southern Xinjiang in the next 20 days⁉️Follow my steps and set off together👣 . 📅Southern Xinjiang Populus euphratica viewing period Early October: Some poplar forests begin to show yellow leaves Mid to late October: Large areas turn yellow, entering the viewing period of Populus euphratica forest . 🌟New gameplay 1⃣Check in at 4 large poplar forests, full of visual shock Huludao Populus euphratica forest: From a bird's-eye view, it looks like a gourd, and the populus euphratica forest grows wildly by the water Luobu Village: Experience the ancient clan culture + check in at the Gobi Poplar Tarim Populus euphratica Forest: Large Populus euphratica Forest Park + Railway Train Tour Bachu Red Sea Poplar Forest: Small and sparsely populated, more than 6,000 poplars form a golden secret realm 2⃣ Baisha Lake Half is sand, half is water. It is hard to imagine that there is such a magical scenery in Xinjiang. 3⃣Kashgar Ancient City A living thousand-year-old ancient city, where you can walk through the streets and alleys and feel the exotic atmosphere. 4⃣ Panlong Ancient Trail 75 kilometers and 639 bends, a magical road that looks like a movie scene, the check-in points are really super photogenic 5⃣Wensu Grand Canyon The Red Bed Canyon is very easy to photograph and is also known as the "Living Museum of Geological Evolution". It is really hard to imagine if you are not there in person. . ⭐Southern Xinjiang tips: ✅ You must join a small group for pure play. Accommodation, transportation, tickets, etc. are all taken care of by the tour leader. We focus on having a relaxing and enjoyable time~ ✅ Be sure to bring a drone, so that you can take aerial photos of the many highlights of the Populus euphratica and Panlong Ancient Road~ . 🚗Niche Southern Xinjiang gameplay D1: Warm Home-Kashgar D2: Kashgar - Baisha Lake - Muji Crater - Taxkorgan - Taxkorgan Yak Beef Hotpot D3: Tashi County - Panlong Ancient Road - Bandir Lake - Jincaotan Stone City - Taheman Wetland - Tashi County D4: Tashi County - Tree Hole Road - Glacier Park - Karakul Lake - Kashgar Ancient City D5: Kashgar - Shache Khan Palace - Hotan Night Market (Various delicacies in Southern Xinjiang) PS: Starting from October 7, the itinerary for this day has been changed to: Kashgar - Zepu Poplar Forest - Hotan Night Market D6: Hotan - Yotgan Ancient City - Taklimakan Desert Highway - Aral D7: Aral - Wensu Grand Canyon - Aksu Old Street - Toksun Grand Bazaar - Aksu D8: Aksu - Kashgar - Budai Lane - Rainbow Lane - Wusitang Street - Kashgar Old Town CITYWALK - Kashgar D9: Kashgar-Warm Home . 🚙About us: ♦️Regular local first-hand travel agency, never abandon the group ♦️Experienced staff are professionally trained to ensure service quality ♦️Can withstand all the online avoidance guides, we only roll service ♦️All trips are without any routine, treat people sincerely ♦️Car rental, self-driving, chartered car travel, small group customization, take you to unlock a different Xinjiang ♦️All routes are personally checked by us to ensure the itinerary is reasonable

Xinjiang's super niche autumn scenery! The water desert and poplar trees are amazing||When it comes to autumn in Xinjiang Altay in northern Xinjiang and the poplar forest in southern Xinjiang are full of people But! This niche attraction has a full autumn atmosphere and fewer people!! It takes about two hours to drive from Korla🕐 There is the Taklamakan Desert🌵, the golden autumn poplar forest, and the clear blue lake🌊 The rare desert lake scenery, coupled with the golden poplar forest in late October, is very autumn! The photos are also quite good📷 💡But you need to check the time in advance, you must wait for the poplar trees to turn yellow to appreciate its beauty!!! 🎫Ticket: 80 ✅Korla Yuli County 33 Regiment Huludao 🌈You can drive by yourself (50/vehicle) or take a shuttle bus (30/person), you can take a boat tour around the island (200/person) 📷Drones can be flown in the scenic area 🏨Accommodation: You can stay in the yurt on the island, you need to book in advance, or return to Yuli County or Korla at night

Continuing north along the coast from Shanhaiguan, 120 kilometers away is Huludao, which belongs to Liaoning Province. Huludao City is very large. If you want to experience the local folk customs, in addition to playing in the sea, you can also visit the ancient towns and night markets here. Day2, Xingcheng + Huludao 📍Xingcheng Dongshan Square Night Market Because it was about seven o'clock in the evening when we arrived, the owner of the homestay recommended a very grounded night market. The cost performance is very high, and the locals love to go. All kinds of snacks and barbecue stalls are available! Three people spent one hundred and fifty, full of food and drink😃😃😃 📍Xingcheng Seaside Scenic Area Because I live in Bikini Town👙, I came out for breakfast in the morning and went for a walk by the sea by the way. I checked in the famous Chrysanthemum Girl statue. The 🏖️scenic spot is free, cars can drive in, but parking fees🅿️ are required. I didn't stay for long, so I went to the most famous scenic spot in Xingcheng, Longhuitou. 📍Longhuitou🐉Scenic Area Here you can simply imitate the Kuta Beach in Bali🏖️. From the mountain, you can overlook the crescent beach under your feet. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and very photogenic. The wooden plank road and suspension bridge are very suitable for walking and taking pictures📸. It is said that the beautiful scenery here makes the emperor look back frequently, so it is called Longhuitou🐉, which is worth checking in👍🏻 ❗Suggestion: Because there are slopes and occasional steps on the wooden plank road, it is not suitable for pushing strollers. If you have a baby👶🏻, it is best to bring a strap or hold it. 📍Hulu Ancient Town This is a scenic spot that I accidentally encountered on the self-driving journey, which surprised me. The name of the ancient town implies a good meaning - fortune. The entire ancient city extends with the gourd as the IP, and there are impressions and cultural creations of gourds everywhere🎁, which is very interesting. It is suitable for bringing babies👶🏻 to play here. The ancient town also has many wonderful performances such as shadow puppetry and marionettes. It is most appropriate to buy night tickets. Enter after four o'clock, the performances and scenery of the night scene are great

#2024TravelWish Huludao, located in Yuli County, Bayinguoleng Autonomous Prefecture, Korla, Xinjiang, is a rare tourist attraction. This oasis in the desert is so beautiful that it is unforgettable. Vast sand dunes of various shapes📸, wrapped in a pool of turquoise water📸, clusters of poplar trees in late autumn are sparsely and densely arranged📸, under the blue sky👍🌹💯📸, the desert, poplar trees and clear water, the trinity of Huludao💞📸🌷 is a colorful golden painting📸💯. The beautiful autumn leaves in front of me 📸 suddenly triggered my longing for Yili in midsummer...💖 #Autumn Places

To see Populus euphratica on water, Xinjiang has Huludao, Luoburen Village, and Shayi. Compared with Luoburen Village, there are more tourists, Shayi is more vast, and Huludao was developed later, with the desert as the background, it is considered a bit petty bourgeoisie.

Huludao in Yuli County is a newly developed scenic spot. The road leading in is all gravel. When you reach the Tarim River, there is a temporary steel bridge built over the river. You have to switch to the private car of the scenic spot owner to get to the dock, and then take a boat to Huludao. Compared to the Tarim Poplar Forest Scenic Area in Luntai County, the poplar trees in Huludao Scenic Area seem a bit more niche. However, the continuous sand dunes and lake water give the poplar trees scattered among them a unique charm. We took a boat to Huludao and looked at the poplar trees in the water from a distance. With the nourishment of water, the poplar trees have an extra bit of elegance. When we arrived at Huludao, we climbed up the sand mountain. The picture of poplar trees, blue sky, clear water, and sand mountain is quite unique. Eating on Huludao is not very convenient. There is only one kitchen in the scenic area. We had mutton pilaf for lunch. You can stay overnight on the island. Staying on the island for one night and watching the sunrise and sunset should be a good choice. Due to the group arrangement, we had to rush back to Korla in the afternoon. We have to catch a plane early tomorrow morning.