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Here is Xinjiang - KM's 4th Visit
(2006, 2015, 2025 & 2026) |
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| Urumqi, Xinjiang, China |
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| Fuyun, Xinjiang, China |
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| Beitun, Xinjiang, China |
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| Altay City, Xinjiang, China |
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| Burqin, Xinjiang, China |
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| Jiadengyu, Xinjiang, China |
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| Karamay, Xinjiang, China |
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| Kuytun, Xinjiang, China |
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| Yining, Xinjiang, China |
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| Nalati, Xinjiang, China |
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Tekes Baqua City
Xinjiang, China |
" Sunsets are proof that ending can often be beautiful too. Every sunrise brings you a new hope & begins with new eyes "
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Sunset in Downtown Urumqi
Xinjiang, China (5 Sept 2026) |
Global warming, drastic climate change, extreme weather looks like everywhere, glacier meltdowns (a fault line has already occurred near the Himalaya Nepal / China border recently), volcanic eruptions & earthquakes shaking the earth every moment, hazardous haze making our daily life hazy & crazy, torrential rains, severe flooding & wild fire, on-going regional war conflicts etc; sound like for Aug / Sept 2026, the world's weather had made a dramatic change (turn turtle) as though it never rains but it pours (the red flag & warning signs are there) ! Thus travelling is no longer a fun & easy thing but full of challenges these days so you need an "oomph" & an extra ounce of mental, physical & spiritual strength / energy plus a weather watch in order to keep your passion in travelling alive & burning so that your desire to see the world after retirement could still be ambitiously pursued & fulfilled ! I often reminisce My Good Old Days (15 & 20 years ago) travelling solo in Europe, Scandinavian countries, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Jordan, Türkiye, UAE, Oman & South East Asian countries (Brunei, Thailand, Laos) etc; a little sightseeing, a little eating in each of these countries were all that I aimed for without worrying so much of climate change but these days a little hotter & a little more rain each year could throw one's travel plan off the balance or in the worst case scenario, it can be life threatening !
Against all the odds, here goes my northern Xinjiang story ..... 2 seniors (aged 76 & 63) "dancing" to Xinjiang rhythm taking public transport (trains, long distance & public buses) from one county town to another, thriving to see the best of the natural landscapes & cultural traits of northern Xinjiang, China on a 29 days free & easy trip, eating simple Xinjiang & Chinese food along the way & last but not least, a decent hotel room for a peaceful slumber in each city in the wild, wild northern Xinjiang !
Towards the end of our 29 days Xinjiang trip, my travel buddy started counting the "dinosaur eggs" we visited; we came, we saw & we left our footprints in these wonderful places of northern Xinjiang, most were my 1st time visits (except Urumqi, Burqin & Kanas National Geopark). Well done KM & Boon ! Following are the major tourist attractions (6 of these are 5As level National Tourist Attractions of China) we visited:
- Urumqi International Grand Bazaar, Urumqi
- Heavenly Lake, Urumqi (5As)
- Koketuohai, Fuyun (5As)
- Irtysh Grand Canyon, Fuyun
- Wu Bai Li Commercial Street / Night Market, Altay City
- Five Color Beach (Wucaitan), Burqin
- Kanas National Geopark, Jiadengyu (5As)
- Hemu Village, Jiadengyu
- Urho Devil City (5As)
- Karamay 100-mile Oilfield
- Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Kuytun
- Ili Oldtown, Yining
- Sayram (Sailimu) Lake, Yining (5As)
- Gouzhigou Bridge, Yining
- Tekes Baqua City
- Nalati Grassland (5As)
Not to forget the numerous walking & food streets, night & wet markets, museums, shopping malls, riverside boardwalks, gardens & parks etc we had the liberty to explore in each of the city we stayed overnight ....... I ponder & ponder, is walking a man's best medicine ?
Expenses incurred (29 days): Rm4,310 + CNY2,341 = Rm5,738 (US$1,400)
- Airfare (Cathay Pacific, KL > Urumqi > KL): Rm2,236
- Hotels (28 nights, twin sharing): @Rm1,646
- Trains (5 rides): Rm214
- Long distance buses (18 rides): CNY870
- Cable car: CNY110
- Town Bus (34 rideas): CNY34
- Private car hire (Wucaitan & Dushanzi): CNY50 + CNY80
- Shuttle bus: CNY110
- Entrance fees: FOC (Senior above 70s)
- DiDi (23 rides, twin sharing): CNY297 @CNY149
- Food: CNY938
- Groceries: Rm50
- Sim Card: Rm48
- Airport Bus / Grab: Rm10 + Rm36
- Travel Insurance (Annual Plan, pro rata):Rm80
Exchange Rates: US$1 = Rm4.10; CNY1 = Rm0.6064
My travel buddy: Boon from Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Boon was a member of my Klang buddies & together, we visited Thailand & Cambodia in March & Aug 2018.
Travel Itinerary: Kuala Lumpur > Urumqi > Fuyun > Beitun > Altay > Burqin > Jiadengyi > Burqin > Karamay > Kuytun > Yining > Nalati > Yining > Tekes Baqua City > Yining > Urumqi (total mileage on ground transport by trains & buses / MPV vans = approx 3,560km)
1) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Urumqi (transit in Hong Kong) > Kuala Lumpur (by air)
2) Urumqi > Fuyun > Beitun > Altay > Burqin > Jiadengyu (by train & public buses / MPV vans, approx 1,000km)
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Urumqi > Fuyun > Beitun > Altay City
> Burqin > Jiadengyu, Xinjiang, Chinas
(approx 1,000km) |
3) Jiadengyu > Burqin > Karamay > Kuitun > Yining (by trains & public buses, approx 620km)
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Jiadengyu > Burqin > Karamay
> Kuytun, Xinjiang (approx 620km) |
4) Kuitun > Yining > Nalati > Yining (by train & public buses, approx 1,000km)
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Kuytun > Yining > Nalati > Yining
Xinjiang (approx 1,000km) |
5) Yining > Tekes Baqua City > Yining (by public buses, approx 230km)
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Yining > Tekes Baqua City > Yining
Xinjiang (approx 230km) |
6) Yining > Urumqi (by train, approx 710km)
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| Yining > Urumqi, Xinjiang (approx 710km) |
Travel Highlights:
1) Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
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Hongguangshan Scenic Area
Urumqi, Xinjiang |
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| Hongshan Park, Urumqi |
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| The Central Asia Park, Urumqi |
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| Grand Bazaar Walking Street, Urumqi |
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| International Grand Bazaar, Urumqi |
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| Erdaoqiao, Urumqi, Xinjiang |
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| First Street, Minjie, Urumqi |
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May First (Wuyi) Starlit Night Market
Urumqi, Xinjiang
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2) Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), Xinjiang, China
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| Tianshan Tianchi, Xinjiang, China |
3) Fuyun, Xinjiang, China
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Fuyun Walking Street / Night Market
Xinjiang, China
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| Fuyun County by Night |
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Fuyun Riverside & Irtysh River, Xinjiang
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| Fuyun Museum, Xinjiang |
4) Koktokay, Xinjiang, China
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| Keketuohai, Xinjiang, China |
5) Irtysh Grand Canyon, Xinjiang, China
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Irtysh Grand Canyon, Xinjiang
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6) Beitun, Xinjiang, China
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Monument of Genghis Khan
Deren Park, Beitun, Xinjiang |
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| Beitun, Museum, Xinjiang, China |
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| Longjiang Xiaozhen, Beitun, Xinjiang |
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Yudai River Waterfront Leisure Area
Beitun, Xinjiang, China |
7) Altay City, Xinjiang, China
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| Altay Swan Lake Park, Xinjiang |
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| Aletai Museum, Xinjiang, China |
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Wu Bai Li Commercial Street
Altay, Xinjiang, China |
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Kelan River & Kelan Park
Altay, Xinjiang, China |
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Hualin Park, Kelan River Valley
Altay, Jinjiang, China |
8) Burqin, Xinjiang, China
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| Burqin Museum, Xinjiang |
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Burqin Hedi Night Market
Xinjiang, China |
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China-Russia Old Wharf Style Street
Burqin, Xinjiang
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| Kanas Tower Bridge, Burqin, Xinjiang |
9) Five Coloured Beach (Wucaitan), Xinjiang
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| Wucaitan, Xinjiang |
10) Jiadengyu, Xinjiang, China
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Silk Road International Food Bazaar
Jiadengyu, Xinjiang
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11) Kanas National Geopark (UNESCO), Xinjiang, China
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Fish Viewing Platform
Kanas National Geopark, Xinjiang |
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Wolong Bay, Kanas National Geopark
Xinjiaqng |
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Moon Bay,
Kanas National Geopark, Xinjiang |
12) Hemu Village, Xinjiang, China
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Hemu Bridge, Altay Mountains
Xinjiang
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13) Karamay, Xinjiang, China
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The Hundred-Mile Oilfield, Karamay
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| Nine Dragon Pool, Karamay, Xinjiang |
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Black Oil Mountain
Karamay, Xinjiang |
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Karamay River Scenic Spot
Karamay, Xinjiang
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Karamay No 1 Oil Well Monument
Karamay, Xinjiang
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Jixian Lu Pedestrian Street,
Karamay, Xinjiang |
14) Urno Devil Town, Xinjiang, China
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Urho Devil City (Ghost City)
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15) Kuitun, Xinjiang, China
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Kuytun Botanical Garden, Xinjiang
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Lian Hua Temple, Kyutun
Xinjiang |
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Lin Zhexu Memorial Hall
Kuytun, Xinjiang
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16) Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Xinjiang, China
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Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Xinjiang
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17) Yining, Xinjiang, China
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| Light of The Silk Road Tourist Town, Yining |
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| Yili Oldtown, Yining, Xinjiang |
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| Yili River Tourist Resort Area, Yining |
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Hanren Street Grand Bazaar
Yining, Xinjiang |
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| Liuxing Street, Yili, Xinjiang |
18) Sayram Lake (Sailimu Hu), Xinjiang, China
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| Sayram Lake, Xinjiang |
19) Guozigou, Xinjiang, China
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| Guozigou, Xinjiang, China |
20) Nalati Grassland, Xinjiang, China
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| The Valley Prairie, Narati, Xinjiang |
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| The Sky Prairie, Narati, Xinjiang |
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| Nalati Town, Xinjiang |
21) Tekes Baqua City, Xinjiang, China
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Tekes Baqua City, Xinjiang
(Eight Diagram City)
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