Let’s Go to Xinjiang

After watching countless travel videos about Xinjiang, I’d been itching to go for ages. Now that I had some time free, why not make a trip of it❕

        To get the full experience, we drove ourselves. Over the course of a week, Sayram Lake was basically the only scenic area we visited. It’s a must-see—the scenery is beyond words. If you have enough time, I’d recommend spending a night inside the scenic area, watching the sunset and the stars, and listening to waves that sound just like the sea. In that moment, all you’ll want to do is clear your mind and take in the breathtaking scenery.

        Back to the beginning: after landing in Urumqi and picking up the car, I strongly recommend eating and drinking your fill before setting off on a road trip that involves hundreds of kilometers of driving every day.

        The pilaf, grilled skewers, yibazhua grilled meat, yogurt shaved ice, and yogurt-topped zongzi on Hotan Second Street are must-eats❕

        If you happen to know any local foodies, you’re really set. Some of the meat skewers and mixed noodles that only locals know about will absolutely exceed your expectations. As luck would have it, we knew a few.

        With our bellies full, we set off for Sayram Lake. While stopping to rest in Kuitun, I came across a video of the sights in Wenquan Town. It looked pretty good, and most importantly, there weren’t many people. After three minutes of discussion, we changed our destination and decided to head straight for Wenquan Town. Eventually, we finally got off the expressway and discovered that the scenery on both sides of the national highway ahead was unbeatable.

According to the navigation, it was National Highway 219. As luck would have it, there was hardly anyone on the road, and it was incredibly straight. Looking at the mountains on either side, I thought: isn’t this exactly the kind of trip I wanted? I didn’t really care about the destination; I wanted to see the scenery along the way. Xinjiang’s scenery is god-tier. We drove on, rounded a bend, and suddenly the scorching weather turned into a torrential downpour—all within about two minutes. That was exactly the kind of thing that got us ridiculously excited. Ten minutes or so later, the rain gradually eased. We passed a little stream and got out to stretch our backs. Only later did we realize it was a temporary stream formed by the downpour.

        The sudden downpour lifted Xinjiang’s veil. The mountains that had looked a little hazy were now so clear and bright. We continued toward Wenquan Town. I forget what I’d turned my head to look at—maybe that rainbow was calling to us. The beauty of that moment is truly hard to describe. It felt as though Xinjiang was bombarding us with one stunning view after another. Without hesitation, we turned around and drove onto a side road to admire this gift of a rainbow. We stayed until she finally disappeared, then carried on.

        This time we really were heading for Wenquan Town, but with twenty or thirty kilometers still to go, we found the road ahead closed. We learned that the downpour had washed out the road. A little regret to take with us—Wenquan Town would have to wait until next time. After thinking it over, we decided to head to Sayram Lake to spend the night and see a sky full of stars. That downpour had packed quite a punch: the road to Sayram Lake was barely passable. Any heavier, and our plans probably would have fallen through again. After a bumpy stretch, we were finally getting close to Sayram Lake. At a bend, we noticed lots of people climbing the hillside ahead. We’d been driving for a while, so we got out for a break and started climbing too. Well, that hill was a lot farther than it looked. Never mind how high it was—the slope got steeper the higher we went, and it was a little slippery after the rain. Using both hands and feet, we finally reached the top. The moment we got there, we discovered Sayram Lake right in front of us. I never expected my first glimpse of Sayram Lake to be from a mountaintop. Pretty fun, hahaha.

        Once inside the scenic area, we started looking for somewhere to spend the night. The sunset at seven or eight in the evening absolutely blew us away.

        It finally got dark around eleven. As someone from elsewhere in China, I’d genuinely never experienced anything like that. We drove along the eastern stretch of the road around the lake and chose a jutting patch of grass as our spot for the night. As we sorted out our things, the moon gradually grew brighter. It felt like the moon I remembered from childhood, bright enough to light up the whole earth. Add in the waves rolling in and out like the sea, and in that moment, all the exhaustion from a full day of driving seemed to disappear. I just wished time could slow down, and then slow down a little more.

        A starry sky and a sunrise—how could we leave out either half of that duo? After watching the stars, we started planning for the next morning’s sunrise. As expected, the sunrise delivered its usual classic beauty.

        At five or six in the morning, Sayram Lake was free of all the noise, and ours was the only car on the entire road. Watching the sun rise outside the window and feeling the gentle breeze—what bliss. It brought that saying to life: don’t rush to get somewhere; take in the journey.

        Every now and then, we saw people out on the road getting their morning exercise. I imagine they must have been enjoying that moment too.

        Oh, and don’t forget to take a look at Guozigou Bridge after leaving through the south gate. Seeing it right there in front of you is seriously awe-inspiring.

You’ve made it this far, legends—how about tapping “Wow” and giving me a follow?