Western Xinjiang is a winter ecological treasure house: the rime-covered swans at Swan Spring paint a vivid scene; the snowy grasslands of Kalajun and the glaciers of Xiata form vast and majestic landscapes, while the snowy views of Tekes Bagua City contain a unique beauty of ordered geometry.
This is a 7-day snow-and-ice eco journey across the Ili River Valley, linking together the rime-covered swans of Swan Spring, the snowy grasslands of Kalajun, and the glacier scenery along the Xiata Ancient Trail. You will watch knob-billed swans gliding through rime at Swan Spring, photograph a “sea of snow and waves of pines” on Kalajun Grassland, and hike along the Xiata Ancient Trail to view the Muzart Glacier up close; feel the winter order of a city “without traffic lights” in Tekes Bagua City, and listen to accordion music and enjoy local delicacies on Liuxing Street in Yining. From ecological wonders to folk customs, from horse meat mixed noodles to kvass, these 7 days take you through the winter highlights of Ili, opening an ice-and-snow eco journey that is lively, grand, and artistic all at once.
Morning Depart from Urumqi by plane to Yining. Upon arrival, check into a guesthouse near Liuxing Street in Yining. After dropping off your luggage, stroll along Liuxing Street, where colorful residential houses are covered with white snow and the streets radiate in a “six-pointed star” pattern, both unique and artistic. Check in at the Liuxing Street Accordion Museum, see accordions from different eras, and listen to live performances by the staff.
Afternoon Have tea at the “Russian-style old teahouse” on Liuxing Street, order a pot of kvass and a plate of leba bread paired with Russian pickled cucumbers, and feel the Russian atmosphere. Wander through the handicraft shops in the neighborhood and buy Kazakh embroidery and Russian nesting dolls as souvenirs.
Evening Have dinner on Liuxing Street, with recommended dishes including thin-skinned steamed dumplings, grilled lamb skewers, and horse meat mixed noodles. After the meal, take a walk around the neighborhood; you may occasionally encounter residents spontaneously playing accordion ensembles, making the snowy night even more lively.
Morning Depart from Yining and head to the Ili Swan Spring Wetland Park. After arriving, wait on the viewing platform for the rime and the swans. In winter, Swan Spring is shrouded in mist, willow branches along the shore are covered with rime, and knob-billed swans swim and take off in the water, like an “ice and snow Swan Lake”. You can capture stunning photos of swans spreading their wings and the reflections of rime in the water.
Afternoon Have lunch at a Kazakh family-run farmhouse restaurant near Swan Spring, with recommended dishes such as lamb soup and tandoor-baked meat, accompanied by milk tea. Afterwards, head to the Yining County Hui Grand Mosque to admire the unique appearance of Islamic-style architecture in the snow and to visit the wooden and brick carvings inside the mosque.
Evening Return to downtown Yining, stroll through the Hanren Street Food Grand Bazaar, and try roast whole lamb, handmade ice cream, and mianfeizi (a local noodle-and-offal specialty). After dinner, enjoy the night view of the bazaar, watching lanterns mingling with falling snow and soaking in the vibrant night-time atmosphere of Yining.
Morning Depart from Yining for Kalajun Grassland. In winter, Kalajun Grassland is blanketed in snow, like an endless white plain. In the distance, snow-capped mountains stretch continuously, while nearby pine forests are laden with rime. Take the scenic shuttle bus to the Kok-Su Grand Canyon, where you can see the ice-sealed canyon and the snow-outlined contours of the famous “human body grassland”—both unique and awe-inspiring.
Afternoon Experience snow riding on horseback on the grassland, stroll across the snowy plain, listen to the sound of horses’ hooves treading on snow, and feel the vastness of the grassland. Check in at the clusters of “snow mushroom” formations on the grassland and take fairy-tale-style photos.
Evening Stay in a herders’ wooden guesthouse with underfloor heating near Kalajun Grassland. For dinner, enjoy a Kazakh-style rustic hotpot with lamb, frozen tofu, and Chinese cabbage—warming both body and stomach. After dinner, go out into the courtyard of the guesthouse to photograph the grassland night sky; under the starry sky, the snow mountains look even more magnificent.
Morning Depart from Kalajun for Tekes Bagua City. Upon arrival, climb the Bagua City Sightseeing Tower to overlook the whole of Bagua City. In winter, the city is covered in white snow, with streets radiating in an “Eight Trigrams” pattern. There are no traffic lights, yet the traffic flows in perfect order. Here you can photograph the unique “snowy Bagua diagram” from above.
Afternoon Visit the Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop in Bagua City, where you can see Uyghur molded earthenware being made and Kazakh yurts being set up, and you may personally experience making earthenware. Stroll through the “folk-custom shops” in the city, buying handmade carpets and embroidery as souvenirs.
Evening Stay at a hotel in downtown Tekes. For dinner, enjoy big-plate chicken, stir-fried noodle slices, and baked buns. After the meal, take a walk through the city and feel the winter tranquility of this “city without traffic lights”; you may occasionally encounter residents dancing Meshrep (Maixilaifu) in the square.
Morning Depart from Tekes for the Xiata Ancient Trail Scenic Area. After arrival, take the scenic shuttle bus into the area, admiring along the way the icy scenery of the Xiata River and rime-covered pine forests. After reaching General’s Bridge, hike to the Muzart Glacier Viewing Platform to see the snow-and-ice contours of the glacier up close and feel its grandeur and purity.
Afternoon Have lunch at the Xiata Guesthouse within the scenic area, with recommended dishes including lamb soup rice and stir-fried wild vegetables, paired with corn cakes. Afterwards, visit the Xiata Museum to learn about the history and geography of the Xiata Ancient Trail and view exhibits of artifacts from the ancient route.
Evening Stay at a guesthouse near the Xiata Scenic Area. For dinner, eat hand-pulled lamb and grilled lamb skewers. After the meal, sit around the stove and chat, listening to locals tell winter stories about the Xiata Ancient Trail.
Morning Depart from Xiata for the Huocheng Lavender Estate. Stroll through the Lavender Museum inside the estate to see the process of making lavender essential oil, and buy lavender essential oil and dried flower bouquets as souvenirs. Take photos in the estate’s ice-and-snow sculpture area and feel the collision of “purple romance” with the world of ice and snow.
Afternoon Continue to Huiyuan Ancient Town to see the ruins of the Qing-era Ili General’s Office, then visit the Huiyuan Ancient Town Museum to learn about the history and military culture of Ili during the Qing dynasty. Wander along the town’s Qing-era Shopping Street, admiring the look of retro architecture set against the snowy backdrop.
Evening Return to downtown Yining, and have dinner at Yining Blue Wall Mianfeizi, with recommended dishes including mianfeizi, rice sausages, and baked buns. After dinner, stroll through the Yining Night Market, buying freshly cut fruits such as winter-stored grapes and apples, and feel the vibrant night-time energy of Yining.
Morning Take one last walk along Liuxing Street in Yining, buying accordion-themed merchandise and Russian sweets as souvenirs. Afterwards, fly from Yining back to Urumqi.
Afternoon After arriving in Urumqi, if time permits, head to the Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar to buy Xinjiang specialties. Then, according to your flight or train time, proceed to Urumqi Diwopu International Airport or Urumqi Railway Station, bringing this 7-day Western Xinjiang ice-and-snow eco journey to an end.
