Xinjiang | How to Enjoy Winter in Yili (Including Comparisons)
Time⏰ Around New Year's
I've experienced Yili in summer, autumn, and winter, and my favorite is still winter in Yili. There are fewer tourists, it's relatively peaceful, and hotels offer great value for money. Hotels that cost 700-800 yuan in summer average around 200 yuan in winter, making the overall travel experience very pleasant.
Especially for someone from Hubei who has no heating in winter, a place where there is snow outside the window and you can eat ice indoors is simply so comfortable—that's what winter should feel like.
🚶🏻♀️A relatively relaxed, unhurried itinerary🚶🏻♀️
D1️⃣ Arrive in Yining City
Six Star Street, Kazanqi (not as beautiful as in summer, but since you're here, might as well visit)
D2️⃣ Yining City - Sailimu Lake (stay at Sailimu Lake; if pressed for time, return to Yining for accommodation)
One day at Sailimu Lake is enough, but if you have time, you can stay overnight in the scenic area to catch the sunrise and sunset. The Sailimu Lake ticket is valid for 24 hours. We entered in the afternoon, stayed one night, and left the next afternoon. This way, we experienced the moody atmosphere of the lake on a cloudy day and the bright, clear lake the next day.
(Must mention the hotel—on New Year's Eve it was only about 300 yuan, and the hotel held a New Year's event, spending a fortune on a half-hour fireworks show in the square at the entrance 🎆, costing tens of thousands. The value for money blew me away on the spot.)
D3️⃣ Sailimu Lake - Yining - Kuerdening
I had a very poor impression of Kuerdening; after one visit, I don't want to go again. It's not fun, the road is bad and muddy all the way.
We stayed at my favorite hotel of the trip, which also gave free Kuerdening tickets. Luckily the tickets were free, otherwise, I would have thought 20 yuan was too much.
D4️⃣ Kuerdening - Tekesi (passing by Chabuchi Lake on the way)
Chabuchi Lake is more beautiful than Kuerdening.
D5️⃣ Tekesi - Kalajun (stay in Tekesi)
Big shoutout to Xianhuatai in Kalajun! The Wild Snow Park has complete infrastructure, natural scenery including snowy mountains and pastures, and various snow-related recreational activities including a ski resort. It’s the most worthwhile place to visit in Yili during winter!
Arrive at noon, play all afternoon, and in the evening on the way back, you can watch the sunset. The pink sky I missed at Sailimu Lake was made up for by Kalajun.
D6️⃣ Tekesi - Qiongkushitai
In previous years, Qionku was deserted in winter, like a forgotten village, and the village had water shortages, making food and accommodation relatively troublesome.
But this winter, many homestays are reportedly open, so the situation should be much better. The scenery on the way and in the village is quite nice. If you have time, you can stay a night. The road from Tekesi to Qiongkushitai is rough; self-driving requires snow chains.
D7️⃣ Tekesi - Yining
About Clothing 🧣
Except for the ice piles at Sailimu Lake (extremely cold 🥶, around -15 to -20°C) and Qiongkushitai (no heating), normal winter clothes are fine elsewhere. I wore clothes thinner than what I wear in Hubei, just added a hat and scarf.
It’s cold on cloudy, snowy, and windy days, but when the sun is out and there’s no wind, the sunlight reflected by the snow feels warm on your body.
All indoor places have heating, so people from central and southern China should have no problem.